The global container fleet continues to expand in both vessel size and capacity
According to shipping industry analyst Alphaliner, as of the middle of August, 133 new containerships had been delivered into service this year, bringing the global containership fleet to over 4,900 vessels, representing 15 million teu of capacity.
Alphaliner says another 659 boxships, representing another 4.5 million teu, are still awaiting delivery.
Halfdan Ross, MD of Crane & Engineering Services in Shanghai, said: “The vessels themselves are just one factor in the global shipping industry.
“Without the proper equipment – that is, cranes – the productivity potential of the expensive new larger vessels cannot be properly utilised, and those larger ships cost nearly $200 million each so the need to make every minute count is compelling”.
The introduction of ultra-large containerships, of over 10,000teu capacity, is changing the economics of the industry and putting new pressure on terminals to be able to not only provide deep-enough draught, but also tall-enough cranes with sufficient reach to span these up to 23-container-wide giants.
Vessels of 10,000teu and above account for nearly a quarter of all ships awaiting delivery, with 159 currently on order.
Another 111 vessels of 7,500-9,999teu will also be delivered over the next few years, and by the end of 2014, more than half of the world’s container fleet will comprise vessels of 5,100teu and above – up from 40% at the end of 2010.
Ports and terminals will have to invest in new and larger cranes to accommodate these vessels.
Alphaliner predicts investment will not only be at the world’s major load ports and transhipment hubs, where the largest vessels will be calling, but also at regional facilities where vessels currently in service on transpacific and transatlantic trades will cascade down to north-south routes, as they are replaced by the newest containerships entering service on the main east-west trade lanes.
The need for experience and expertise in ship-to-shore (STS) crane design, manufacture and installation, as well as inspection and maintenance training and performance, will become an increasingly larger part of terminal operators’ financial equation.
Ross said: “The largest STS cranes represent an investment of about $8 million each and equipment life-cycles and downtime become even more important cost factors of terminal profitability and productivity.
“In 2010, there were about 4,900 STS cranes operating around the world, with just over 1,000 capable of a greater than 22-container reach or more. Half of them are in the Far East, but in all of Africa there are just 199 STS cranes of panamax-size or above, 143 in all of South Asia and 138 in all of South America. Clearly, this is a situation which will have to be addressed, and quickly.”
Source: IFW
