THE global idle fleet of containerships has risen within a week to 280 units, from an aggregated 739,000 TEU to 804,000 TEU, led by an increasing number of idle units over 5,000 TEU which is expected to continue until the summer peak season begins.

According to Alphaliner, the slowdown and growth in the idle fleet is attributed to the post-Chinese New Year but will continue to grow against newbuilding deliveries at as much as 400,000 TEU by the end of the first quarter.

Maersk holds the highest number of idle units at 14 without assignment and 12 of over 6,000 TEU. The crippled 15,550-TEU Emma Maersk is now idle due to a flooding of its engine room during a transit through the Suez Canal to Asia and will be out of service for at least a few months while in repair at Palermo.

Vessels over 5,000 TEU are mainly carrier-controlled with only eight out of the 31 units controlled by a non-operating owner (NOO). This is due to an unexpected decline in cargo demand, which created an unexpected capacity surplus.

This has been the case for Maersk's FE-North Europe AE-9 service which leaves an idle surplus of ten units in the 6,000 to 7,000 TEU range.

In the global cellular fleet there are 23 units between 5,000 and 7,000 TEU and seven between 8,000 TEU and 9,600 TEU.