News / Smaller feeder ships look doomed, caught in a 'Catch 22 scenario'

© Richard Van Der Pluijm

The majority of the feeder fleet in Europe is more than 20 years old and, with a dearth of newbuild orders to shipyards in the past few years, the sector is facing a chronic shortage of tonnage.

According to an Alphaliner analysis, the age profile of the smallest feeder vessels, of up to 500 teu, is now 26 years, while the average age of ships of up to 700 teu is 22 and for those up to 999 teu in size ...