The Top 10 ocean carriers currently have 431 container ships on order for a total capacity of more than 5.9 Mteu.
With several major newbuilding deals currently under negotiation, and with a number of big orders from non-operating owners not formally attached to a confirmed charterer yet, this figure is bound to increase over the course of the remaining year.
Today’s orderbook is the largest it has ever been in terms of teu capacity, and this year’s ordering frenzy was, at least in part, driven by the carriers’ ambition to increase vessel efficiency and make greater use of alternative fuels such as LNG or methanol.
Apart from cost reductions, the overall aim is to decrease CO₂ emissions per container over a given distance.
This week’s analysis by Alphaliner, however, also confirms that some carriers simply need new tonnage to rejuvenate their fleets. Today, the Top 10 container lines still operate 683 vessels aged 20 years or older, representing a capacity of more than 2.6 Mteu.
Source: Alphaliner
