23.10.2015
Pace of ULCS deliveries set to pick up in 2017
The steady flow of ultra-large containerships (ULCS) into the Asia-Europe trade
will ease briefly in 2016, as the number of new deliveries will slow down temporarily
before 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 within
this size range are due to be delivered by December, all bound for the same
trade, bringing the tally to 50.
For 2016, deliveries of ships of this size will fall to ‘only’ 37. This number includes
13 units of 19,000-20,000 teu, of which 11 for MSC’s account and the
UASC's two remaining of its six A-18 ’BARZAN’ class ships of 19,870 teu. The
24 other units are 14-15,000 teu class ships for Evergreen, Yang Ming, NYK
and UASC.
At 19,870 teu, the UASC ships are currently the world's largest containerships
in terms of nominal container intake. Nevertheless, UASC officially only declares
them as 18,800 teu units (see sidebar on nominal capacity differences).