Drewry: Inflexible mega-ships strain carriers' creativity

Cosco's order for a series of ultra-large container vessels illustrate the increased pace in orders for ULCVs, more of which are likely to be announced in the coming months.

BY KATRINE GRØNVALD RAUN

Published: 14.09.15 at 15:45

Just as it was never a good feeling to be picked last for schoolyard football games, container carriers are worried about falling behind in the race to secure ultra-large container vessels, so-called ULCVs.

Last week China Cosco confirmed that the carrier had also placed a billion dollar order at Chinese shipyards for 11 container vessels of around 19,000 teu apiece, and by today's count nine carriers either have ULCVs in their fleets, like Maersk Line and French CMA CGM, or are set to take delivery of the giant vessels in the coming years. This situation requires quite a lot of creativity from the carriers going forward, notes analyst agency Drewry in a new analysis. We will return to this fact later.

Already a subscriber? Log in.

Read the whole article

Get access for 14 days for free.
No credit card is needed, and you will not be automatically signed up for a paid subscription after the free trial.

Access all locked articles
Receive our daily newsletters
Access our app

Start a free company trial today

"The challenges we face as an industry require more skills and competencies"

Foto: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

They are a generation of future maritime leaders shaped both by Covid-19 and shutdowns and now by a world filled with tension. Four potential future managers enrolled in the Blue MBA program give their take on why it is important to improve your skills.

Leading shippers prepared to pay 10% extra for sustainable transportation

Shippers are willing to pay more for ”green” transportation if it’s reliable. But they have to state their wishes more clearly, and prices have to be lowered, writes McKinsey in a new report, which provides suggestions for how to accelerate decarbonization.