Laid-up containerships have fallen to 8.9 per cent of the global fleet, dropping below nine per cent for the first time since February 2009, according to Paris-based Alphaliner's fortnightly survey.
This is in spite of the anticipated 150,000 TEU in new deliveries this month, because new services and service resumptions are expected to employ 60 vessels between 3,500-6,500 TEU.
There were 455 idle ships at the end of March, totalling 1.18 million TEU, said the report. The recent increase in demand led to a rapid reduction of idle tonnage with the idle fleet falling below 1.2 million TEU for the first time in 13 months.
Carrier-operated lay-ups fell faster than the non-operating owner (NOO) ships, falling from a record 1.04 million TEU in March 2009 to 596,000 TEU today.
Alphaliner also expects a new round of reactivations of idle tonnage in the coming month could see the carrier-controlled fleet fall below 500,000 TEU as carriers line up for the forthcoming summer peak season.
This is in spite of the anticipated 150,000 TEU in new deliveries this month, because new services and service resumptions are expected to employ 60 vessels between 3,500-6,500 TEU.
There were 455 idle ships at the end of March, totalling 1.18 million TEU, said the report. The recent increase in demand led to a rapid reduction of idle tonnage with the idle fleet falling below 1.2 million TEU for the first time in 13 months.
Carrier-operated lay-ups fell faster than the non-operating owner (NOO) ships, falling from a record 1.04 million TEU in March 2009 to 596,000 TEU today.
Alphaliner also expects a new round of reactivations of idle tonnage in the coming month could see the carrier-controlled fleet fall below 500,000 TEU as carriers line up for the forthcoming summer peak season.
