With the most recent maxi-neo-panamax designs now optimized to nominal intakes of around 16,500 teu, and megamax capacities approaching 24,500 teu, a gap of some 8,000 teu has opened up in the global portfolio of mainline container ship types.
Alphaliner believes that ocean carriers will increasingly look at ships of a ‘new’ in-between size class, when it comes to newbuilding orders.
With optimized hull shapes and engines of the latest generation, ships of this post-neo-panamax class could potentially rival the slot costs of 400 m long first-generation megamax vessels which typically carry between 18,000 and 19,000 teu.
At the same time, ships of this size category will likely outperform modern neopanamax designs, while being more flexible in terms of trades they can serve, than the latest 24,000 teu giants.
Source: Alphaliner
