Container lines look set to be sailing in 'choppy water'

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The prospect of new employment for smaller containerships with expiring charters is deteriorating at pace, with owners now facing the prospect of lengthy idle periods for their tonnage.

Moreover, open tonnage lists are being swelled by sub-lets, where long-term charterers of surplus vessels endeavour to mitigate some of the liability of their hire contracts by re-letting ships to third-party operators, usually at reduced daily rates.

Alphaliner reports that there are some 20 ships in the 1,500 to 1,900 teu segment, mainly in ...