News / Charter vessels 'auctioned' as war among carriers for 'any' tonnage heats up

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Containership owners are holding “charter vessel auctions” for ships under contracts that expire next year – with new five-year fixtures going to the highest bidder.

Shipping lines’ vessel operation desks are seeing the workhorses of their fleets depleted by these vessel charter bidding events or “taken from under their noses” through confidential ship purchases by competitors.

One broker contact told The Loadstar: “It seems some carriers previously reluctant to commit to charter periods over two years have had a change of heart, and ...