The world's idle containership fleet remained at 1.6 per cent, or 128 vessels totalling 224,000 TEU in late September, despite a slackening growth in demand in recent months, reported Alphaliner.
Compared with the figures in mid-September, at 213,000 TEU or 1.5 per cent of the fleet, the Paris-based maritime research agency said the slight increase was mainly because of the arrests of three 5,100-TEU ships, owned by Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) affiliates (operated by HDS Lines) in Singapore.
Most carriers were so uncertain whether trade in the winter season will perk up due to unexpectedly weak autumn demand, which has attributed to the recent continuous decrease in freight rates.
So far, shipping companies are waiting to discover how the market is going to change, so no major services have yet closed, except for one peak season Asia-Australia service (AAUS-AAP) that ended in August.
Compared with the figures in mid-September, at 213,000 TEU or 1.5 per cent of the fleet, the Paris-based maritime research agency said the slight increase was mainly because of the arrests of three 5,100-TEU ships, owned by Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) affiliates (operated by HDS Lines) in Singapore.
Most carriers were so uncertain whether trade in the winter season will perk up due to unexpectedly weak autumn demand, which has attributed to the recent continuous decrease in freight rates.
So far, shipping companies are waiting to discover how the market is going to change, so no major services have yet closed, except for one peak season Asia-Australia service (AAUS-AAP) that ended in August.