News / Frantic spending spree in S&P containership market has left the well dry

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Ocean carriers have sucked dry the S&P containership market, outbidding one another to acquire tonnage to insulate themselves from skyrocketing daily charter rates.

According to Alphaliner, some 301 containerships representing just over 1m teu, changed hands in the first six months of the year, as carriers and non-operating owners (NOOs) looked to beef up their fleets to take advantage of the disconnect between ship values and charter rates.

“Despite the sharp increase in asset prices this year, there remains a significant lag ...