The second half of this year is expected to see an alarming containership delivery programme unfold, with over 30 vessels in the so-called megaship capacity bracket emerging from shipbuilding yards.
According to latest statistics provided by PR News Service, there will be 32 vessels of 10,000 TEUs and above, delivered bet-ween the beginning of July and the end of December.
Alarmingly, all of them will either be heading for the Asia-Europe trade, or even for lay up. With most Asia-Europe services
running on a "slow steaming" basis, and requiring at least nine vessels to operate weekly, theoretically, the newbuilding programme for the rest of this year could see at least three further East-West strings introduced on this trade.
The data also shows that by the end of 2012 a further 131 megaships are expected to be delivered, meaning again, that unless there is a huge growth in the transpacific trade demand and the US West Coast ports gear up to handle these vessels, the number of new strings being introduced on the Asia-Europe trade could be as many as 15.
It is interesting to note that the orderbook is headed up by Mediterranean Shipping Co with a staggering 36 vessels expected to be delivered by the end of 2012.
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