Global containership capacity grew 6pc to 16.3 million in 2012

CELLULAR containership capacity has increased by six per cent to 16.3 million TEU, according to Alphaliner data.

The increase brought the idle fleet up to 810,000 TEU compared to the beginning of 2012, the level of capacity surplus to carriers' requirements remains a key concern for the industry at a quarter of 921,100 TEU.

Of the global fleet, 18,000 TEU was added due to upgrading existing vessels. Maersk leads with its 8,200-8,600 TEU S-class vessels to its postpanamax ships in the 9,600 TEU range.

Alphaliner noted that the transpacific tradelane saw the biggest increase in 2012 by 10 per cent from 2.4 million TEU to 2.7 million TEU.