Numerous container trades face major changes these days as increasingly bigger vessels are deployed. Delivery of the ultra-large container ships of up to 20,000 teu push smaller vessels onto other trades, and this brings both advantages and detractors.

In a new analysis, SeaIntel has studied the routes between Asia and Australia, where the five largest container ports can currently handle handle ships of max 5,500 teu. However, this will change next year when a new container port in Melbourne looks set to be inaugurated, opening the port to vessels of 8,000 teu. And according to SeaIntel, this will spur several of the deep sea carriers to push bigger vessels onto the routes in order to draw on the lower slot costs.