Record VLCS deliveries in 2010
The number of VLCS and ULCS (Very/Ultra Large Container Ships) of above 7,500 teu delivered this year has reached a new record according to a report issued by Alphaliner.
Some 61 V/ULCS units have been delivered in 2010, matching the previous record of 61 units delivered in 2006. However, 29 units delivered this year are above 10,000 teu compared to only two units in 2006. The total capacity of V/ULCS delivered reached 657,000 teu, or 48% of the 1.38 Mteu that were delivered in 2010.
An even larger number of these giant containerships is due to be delivered next year. 76 V/ULCS units are expected to join the liner fleet in 2011, of which 49 of these will be over 10,000 teu. These new V/ULCS will add a total of 860,000 teu of additional slot capacity, or 63% of the 1.38 Mteu that are due to be delivered in 2011.
The majority of the V/ULCS units delivered in 2010 have been assigned to Asia-Europe routes, while most of the remaining units have joined FE-US routes. The expected VLCS deliveries in 2011 are sufficient for carriers to mount some four to five new high capacity Asia-Europe strings and five Asia-US strings, with most of these expected to be launched in the first half of the year. There will also be significant cascading of 5,000-8,000 teu ships, which are expected to be redeployed on the Middle East and South American sectors.
Of the V/ULCS units delivered this year, MSC took in charge a whopping 19 units. They provided the bulk of the 370,000 teu gained in total capacity this year, as the MSC operated fleet grew from 1.49 Mteu in January 2010 to 1.86M teu at the end of the year. MSC has narrowed the gap between itself and top-placed AP Møller-Maersk Group, which saw a much smaller increase of 110,000 teu in capacity operated from 2.04 Mteu in January to 2.15 Mteu currently.
A large number of the V/ULCS deliveries in 2011 were deferred from 2010, with most of them due to be delivered in the January-May period, coinciding with the launch of new linehaul services in spring.
In 2011, CMA CGM is expected to receive the highest number of V/ULCS, with 16 units due. Eight of these ships will be above 10,000 teu and their deliveries will likely lead to the introduction of a new Asia-Europe string in May. Maersk Line has 9 units of 13,000 teu due between January and June, which are also likely to be deployed on a new Asia-Europe string. They will be joined by CKYH who has already planned for the launch of its new NE-6 FE-Europe string and AWE-6 FE-USEC string in April, largely with Hanjin tonnage.
MSC will continue to add to its V/ULCS tonnage next year with 14 units of between 12,500 and 14,000 teu to be delivered in 2011. MSC has already substantially upgraded its Asia-Europe ‘Silk’ and ‘Lion’ services and could launch a new North Europe string with its new ships in the second half of the year. CSCL will also receive its first 14,000 teu ULCS, with six units planned for delivery in 2011 starting from January and two more units due in 2012. CSCL could launch a new Europe string before the end of the year, potentially with another partner carrier.
Two major groups are noticeably absent from the VLCS delivery schedule next year - Evergreen and the New World Alliance carriers (APL, HMM and MOL) will not receive any V/ULCS in 2011 and will most likely not launch any new linehaul services next year.
