Recently, models of two super-large container ships GIGAMAX and TERRAMAX ships were released. Data shows that the load capacity of the two is as high as 28840TEU and 32230TEU respectively. The world container ship rankings are about to be refreshed again.
Specifically, the GIGAMAX type ship is 425 meters long, the width is 63.3 meters, and the depth is 33.2 meters; the TERRAMAX type ship is 454 meters long, the width is 66.1 meters, and the depth is 36 meters. Based on construction costs, fuel costs and other operating costs (including tolls, pilotage fees, etc.) and emission reduction efficiency, the GIGAMAX type ship and its changing types (GIGAMAX-25 and GIGAMAX-26, with 25 and 26 respectively) may be one of the largest ships suitable for the shipping industry.
When a container ship with 18,000TEU becomes the "standard configuration", a container ship with 32,000TEU is already close. Where is the "ceiling" of the ship's large-scale "ship"?
Why do you all build big ships?
In recent years, the surge in global freight demand has prompted ships to continue to develop in the direction of large-scale, and the carrying capacity of container ships has developed from the original 750TEU to the current 20,000TEU. According to Alphaliner statistics, there are currently about 139 18000TEU-24000TEU-type ships in , and about 50 similar-scale transport capacity is in the under-construction stage or order status. As more and more large ships are put into the market, it is not difficult to see from this that the advantages of large-scale ships are very obvious.
first saves costs . On the one hand, the single-ship cost of container ships is not much affected by the load capacity. A container ship with a 13,000 TEU on the market is priced at US$120 million to US$130 million, while a container ship with a 24,000 TEU is priced at US$150 million. When the price is similar, it is naturally not a small one. On the other hand, the fuel consumption of large ships is not much different from that of small ships. The larger the container ship, the smaller the average fuel consumption per TEU.
followed by market competition . When ship companies in major alliances begin to build large ships to expand their capacity, the competitive advantages of shipping companies with insufficient capacity or too small ship size will be gradually weakened, and their living space will be further squeezed.
Is the bigger the container ship, the better?
Although there are many advantages to large-scale ships, more and more people are beginning to "stop" the large-scale ships. Why is this?
First, the larger the ship, the higher the requirements for the captain and seafarer . Judging from the current situation, sea accidents occur frequently, and crew members’ ability to deal with accidents in large ships is not yet mature. Are people who are used to driving cars suddenly driving trucks? The risks naturally follow.
Secondly, after the ship is large, the losses when encountering risks will also expand . In recent years, ship accidents have caused frequent accidents of thousands of containers to fall into the water. Once the ship encounters an accident and cannot arrive at the destination on time, all the goods on the ship will be stranded together, causing supply chain congestion.
Third, because large ships have high requirements for channel and water depth, they can only place on some routes. Taking the current frequent trade routes as an example, the water surface of the Suez Canal is 345 meters to 280 meters, the depth is 22.5 meters, and the maximum tonnage is 210,000 tons; the Panama Canal is 304 meters to 152 meters, and the height limit is 57.91 meters. When container ships become larger and larger, the requirements for the waterway are getting higher and higher. Once there is a turbulence, "black swan" events like congestion in the Suez Canal will follow one after another.
The big ship is here, is the port ready?
In May, the Suez Canal announced the widening of the waterway. Today, when the trend of large-scale ships is becoming more and more prosperous, this seems to be a decision that most ports must make.
When more and more large ships berth, the pressure on ports is increasing day by day. Some ports with insufficient water depth conditions are directly squeezed out of the first battlefield, while the remaining ports need to quickly solve problems such as terminal equipment upgrades, waterway widening, and yard expansion. You should know that these "big guys" on the dock are not cheap. ship is here. Although the port is reluctant to let go of this big business, it really needs to think about for every expense of tens of millions or even hundreds of millions.
In addition, the arrival of large ships puts higher requirements for port operations. From the perspective of economic benefits, loading and unloading container ships of about 7500 TEU is the best choice for ports. Once this box volume exceeds, port operations will face challenges, and the waiting time of cargo owners will be infinitely extended. From this perspective, the large-scale shipization of has transmitted the pressure of ship companies to both the cargo owners and the port.
port circle (ID: gangkouquan) believes that there is nothing wrong with large-scale ships. When the port's loading and unloading capacity and channel conditions allow, the investment of large container ships is the optimal solution to the current collection and transportation heat. However, in the current market environment, large-scale ships should still be gradually improved and a balance board should be stepped between flexible market demand and future trends.
