AN analysis
of the order book by IHS Maritime & Trade shows that
the largest container vessels on order have more than sextupled since 1975 and
are set to expand by at least 13 per cent by the end of the decade.
The analysis
explained that the rapid rise in ship sizes reflects the growth of
globalisation in the last four decades, rise of containerisation at the expense
of breakbulk and bulk shipping, and carriers" need for greater economies
of scale to compete with each other and gain fuel efficiencies.
The trend of
shipping lines ordering larger vessels shows no sign of abating, and the
competition among ocean liners to amass fleets of ever more mega-ships is so
fierce it has been likened to an "arms race".
Just in this
first half, CMA CGM placed an order for six vessels with capacities of
14,000 TEU, after an earlier order of three 20,000 TEU ships, while Maersk
placed an order for 11 ships with capacities exceeding 19,500 TEU and
G6 Alliance members MOL and OOCL have each placed orders for 20,000-TEUers.
It is yet to
be seen if carriers will benefit from the increased economies of scale, and the
mega-ships have been accused of causing delays at ports and problems for
terminal operators and shippers.
Ports have
had to increase the depths of their channels, a multi-year, multi-million
dollar expense. And with mega-ships typically calling at fewer ports than their
smaller predecessors, this leads to surges of unloadings.
To cope with
congestion, terminal operators must make a Sophie's choice between costly
automation, estimated at between US$200 and $500 million, or expensive changes
to operations, such as extra night and weekend shifts. Additionally, many
operators must invest in larger cranes capable of reaching across these
monolithic ships.
Shippers
suffer because of an increased likelihood their products will be delayed due to
port congestion and ultimately, someone must pay for the expensive upgrades to
infrastructure that these ships necessitate.
Source :
SN-TR, Cairo Post.
