The steady flow of ultra-large containerships (ULCS) into the Asia-Europe tradewill ease briefly in 2016, as the number of new deliveries will slow down temporarilybefore resuming its climb in 2017.
A total of 37 ships of 13,800-20,000 teu have been delivered so far this year,all of which deployed on the Asia-North Europe route. Another 13 ships withinthis size range are due to be delivered by December, all bound for the sametrade, bringing the tally to 50.
For 2016, deliveries of ships of this size will fall to ‘only’ 37. This number includes13 units of 19,000-20,000 teu, of which 11 for MSC’s account and theUASC's two remaining of its six A-18 ’BARZAN’ class ships of 19,870 teu. The24 other units are 14-15,000 teu class ships for Evergreen, Yang Ming, NYKand UASC.
At 19,870 teu, the UASC ships are currently the world's largest containershipsin terms of nominal container intake. Nevertheless, UASC officially only declaresthem as 18,800 teu units (see sidebar on nominal capacity differences).