DNV GL: 24,000 TEU Box Ships Possible, But Will Encounter Numerous Obstacles

Mega ships will face problems in having to adjust to port infrastructure, seaways and bridges.

DNV GL says 24,000 TEU-capacity container ships are both possible and on the horizon for the near future, but are still likely to face "numerous navigational obstacles."

The mega-ships are likely to be limited by existing port infrastructure and seaways, in addition to being limited overhead by bridges, according to the classification society. 

“We are slowly approaching limits in ship size development,” said DNV business director Jost Bergmann. 

Previous reports have also reportedly found that larger ships may experience more arrival delays, and will also make the job of ports and terminals tougher as they grapple with an increased number of containers during a single port call. 

“The carriers save cost per box in their supply chains on the shoulders of everybody else,” the JOC reported one anonymous senior terminal executive as saying.

Despite reservations from various parts of the industry however, many still see mega containerships as being inevitable in a business environment where shipping companies are rushing to cut costs. 

“Such vessels, whilst not inevitable, are seen as very likely to be sanctioned in the next three-four years,” said Andrew Penfold, project director for Ocean Shipping Consultants.

In September China Cosco Holdings Co. (Cosco) Board Secretary Guo Huawei warned the giant containerships were a "double edged sword" referring to the fact that "the ships need to be filled for the cost savings to be achieved," a challenging feat in the face of a continuing capacity glut in the box market.

Nevertheless, when they are filled, building bigger box ships are seen as key to reducing bunker costs per TEU.

"There are three priorities for carriers, 1, bunker, 2, bunker, 3, bunker,” Thomas Lutje, managing director of HHLA Container Terminals, told the JOC Port Performance-Europe conference last week.

The world's largest container ship is currently China Shipping Container Line's (CSCL) 19,000 TEU ship, which the company took delivery of last week. 

Development for bigger and bigger vessesls is also well underway, with the Korea Ship and Offshore Research Institute having announced earlier this month that it is currently developing a 25,000 TEU containership.