Container Ship Deliveries Increase as Demolition Accelerates

2013 is set to be the biggest year ever for containership deliveries.  In Braemar’s latest Quarterly Container Ship Fleet Statistics, it is estimated that in region of 1.7m teu is scheduled to be delivered during 2013. In terms of annual fleet growth Braemar Seascope estimates the cellular fleet will expand in the region of 9.5 per cent in 2013. Previously, the biggest year for cellular deliveries was 2008, with approximately 1.5m teu of new tonnage commissioned. Cellular deliveries in 2012 are estimated to total 1.3m teu.

In the post-Panamax segment of 10,000 teu or more, 2013 deliveries will total 48 ships with a combined teu capacity of 650,000 teu. The container industry is becoming accustomed to accommodating large work horses of 10,000 teu or more.  In 2011-14, annual deliveries of ultra large container ships in excess of 10,000 teu will average at approximately 50 units per year.  

Jonathan Roach, Braemar Seascope’s container analyst comments on the effect of fleet management this year: “With fleet management at the fore front of ship manager’s minds, supply growth this year has been actively countered with plenty of cellular demolition.  During the first three quarters of 2012, containership demolition reached in excess of 220,000 teu and we estimate by the end of the year the teu capacity scrapped will reach the 300,000 teu level. This represents the equivalent of approximately two per cent of the 1stJanuary 2012 fleet. Historically, the biggest year for cellular scrapping was 2009, with 370,000 teu was sent for recycling.”