News / Threat to peak season extra loader services as desperate carriers hunt tonnage

© Vladimir Serebryanskiy

Ocean carriers are said to be “scraping the barrel” to find enough container tonnage for their extra loaders from Asia.

A dearth of ships becoming available – owners having their heads turned by astronomically high offers for short-term fixtures – is putting the extra loader plans of carriers for the peak season in jeopardy.

Alphaliner’s inactive fleet update on 2 August recorded 164 ships, for 585,105 teu, as idle, eight more than in its previous assessment on 19 July.

However, the consultant noted, ...