A record 61 container ships of more than 7,500 TEUs capacity were delivered in 2010 and even more will join the world box ship fleet in 2011, according to Paris-based Alphaliner, a leading industry analyst.
The high number of deliveries of Very/Ultra Large Container Ships [VLCS/ULCS] is expected to lead to a significant increase in capacity on the key Asia-Europe and Asia-North America liner routes in 2011.
The 2010 deliveries matched the previous record set in 2006, but 29 of the ships delivered this year are more than 10,000 TEUs compared to just two vessels four years ago.
The total capacity of the 61 V/ULCS reached 657,000 TEUs, or 48 percent of the 1.38 million TEUs shipyards handed over to ocean carriers and charter ship-owners in 2010.
Alphaliner said 76 V/ULCS are scheduled for delivery in 2011, of which 49 exceed 10,000 TEUs.
These new vessels will add a total of 860,000 TEUs to the world fleet, or 63 percent of the capacity slated for delivery in 2011.
The majority of the large vessels delivered in 2010 have been deployed on Asia-Europe routes while most of the remaining units have been assigned to Far East-US trades.
The scheduled deliveries for 2011 have sufficient capacity for carriers to add four to five major Asia-Europe strings and five Asia-US strings, with most expected to be launched in the first half of the year.
There will also be sufficient “cascading” of 5,000-8,000 TEUs ships, which are likely to be deployed on the South America and Middle East trade sectors.
Geneva-based MSC took on 19 ships of more than 7,500 TEUs in 2010 and will receive a further fourteen in 2011, according to Alphaliner.
French carrier CMA CGM added nine V/ULCS to its fleet in 2010 and is due to receive an additional 16 through 2011.
The high number of deliveries of Very/Ultra Large Container Ships [VLCS/ULCS] is expected to lead to a significant increase in capacity on the key Asia-Europe and Asia-North America liner routes in 2011.
The 2010 deliveries matched the previous record set in 2006, but 29 of the ships delivered this year are more than 10,000 TEUs compared to just two vessels four years ago.
The total capacity of the 61 V/ULCS reached 657,000 TEUs, or 48 percent of the 1.38 million TEUs shipyards handed over to ocean carriers and charter ship-owners in 2010.
Alphaliner said 76 V/ULCS are scheduled for delivery in 2011, of which 49 exceed 10,000 TEUs.
These new vessels will add a total of 860,000 TEUs to the world fleet, or 63 percent of the capacity slated for delivery in 2011.
The majority of the large vessels delivered in 2010 have been deployed on Asia-Europe routes while most of the remaining units have been assigned to Far East-US trades.
The scheduled deliveries for 2011 have sufficient capacity for carriers to add four to five major Asia-Europe strings and five Asia-US strings, with most expected to be launched in the first half of the year.
There will also be sufficient “cascading” of 5,000-8,000 TEUs ships, which are likely to be deployed on the South America and Middle East trade sectors.
Geneva-based MSC took on 19 ships of more than 7,500 TEUs in 2010 and will receive a further fourteen in 2011, according to Alphaliner.
French carrier CMA CGM added nine V/ULCS to its fleet in 2010 and is due to receive an additional 16 through 2011.