Containerships could be heading for an even larger capacity as designers begin their discussions to construct 22,000 TEU containerships. The move comes after doubts expressed by shipping lines that 22,000 TEU ships may not be feasible or have any overall value in the marketplace, according to the Journal of Commerce.
PTI previously reported on speculation that the 24,000 TEU ship could be on the way, sparking concerns that insurance and safety could be some of the biggest issues with this size of vessel.
However, despite concerns, 24,000 TEU ships are an imminent possibility with liners holding the monopoly and looking to slash costs with larger capacities.
Andrew Penfold, Project Director at Ocean Shipping Consultants, said that ships over 20,000 TEU in capacity are already progressing.
Container shipping line Maersk recently placed a mega-ship order for around eleven 19,630 TEU ships. However, it has recently been leap-frogged by OOCL which placed a record-breaking order for six 21,100 TEU ships to be delivered by 2017.
As container lines order more mega-ships, there has been much speculation in the industry regarding whether terminals will seek to form their own alliances to alleviate congestion and higher cargo volumes.
