News / Liners' deep pockets mean they can outbid charterers for 'anything that floats'

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Ocean carriers are using their skyrocketing profits to outbid non-operating shipowners (NOOs) for second-hand tonnage, and risk disrupting both the charter and feeder markets, it is claimed. 

The liners have been on a buying spree for containerships in the past few months, initially to support their networks in the absence of open charter tonnage, but latterly seeing  an opportunity for gains from the continued surge in vessel values. 

One S&P broker source told The Loadstar he had instructions from a major shipping line to ...