News / Port congestion keeps boxships sailing, but there's no upswing in charter rates

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Chronic congestion at container terminals in Asia, the US and Europe has provided some overdue good news for boxship owners, with many smaller ships that would otherwise have been consigned to lay-up now finding employment.

According to the latest Alphaliner idle tonnage report, there were just 114 containerships laid-up as at 20 October – a four-year low, and especially surprising given the start of the winter slack season.

Port congestion aside, Alphaliner notes that ocean carriers are “adamant about keeping services open ...