London classification society Lloyd's Register says 24,000 TEUer will soon be plying the world's oceans,reports Copenhagen-based ShippingWatch.

"Twelve years ago researchers were looking at Malaccamaxes, 18,000 TEU vessels named after the Malacca Strait," said Lloyd's Register container segment manager David Tozer.

"People thought that this was absolutely crazy. But things have developed since to the extent that we'll soon see ships of 24,000 TEU. The volumes are there, so it's going to happen," said Mr Tozer.

Today, the biggest are China Shipping's (CSCL) new 19,100 TEUers, which will take the crown from Maersk's 18,000 TEU Triple-E series.

"Our customers need to understand what the future is going to look like, and they need to take control and become part of it," he said, reported Vancouver's Ship&Bunker.

Mr Tozer said that with companies such as Maersk Line, CSCL, Evergreen and CMA CGM having already invested in 17,000 to 19,000-TEU ships, 24,000 TEU was only a matter of time as the commercial pressure to put more cargo on ships rises.