News / Cost advantages of ultra large container vessels are disappearing due to low oil prices and overcapacity

The continuing cost-per-slot supremacy of ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs) was called into question by speakers at last week’s TOC Container Supply Chain event in Hamburg.

With bunker prices still at low ebb, and daily charter rates at some of the lowest levels seen for many years, the cascading of tonnage out of the Asia-Europe trade by the introduction of 18,000 teu-plus vessels has resulted in a raft of large tonnage being available to carriers at rock bottom rates.

Andrew Penfold, director at ...