Unblanked Sailings Show Renewed Confidence From Container Lines

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Wednesday July 29, 2020

Container lines have reinstated several previously cancelled journeys scheduled for the third quarter of this year, according to consultancy Sea-Intelligence, in a sign of improving bunker demand and renewed confidence among shipowners.

On the Asia-North America West Coast route, carriers have unblanked 30 sailings in the third quarter, the company said in an emailed statement Tuesday. A further 11 sailings have been reinstated on the Asia-North Europe route.

"On Asia-North America West Coast, the unblanked capacity pushed the overall deployed capacity on the trade lane past the 2019 levels and into a Y/Y growth phase," Sea-Intelligence said.

"From the carriers' deployment considerations, coronavirus is no longer as big a challenge.

"This can either be due to a demand pickup, or an expected pickup in the coming weeks."

Container lines are the biggest consumers of bunker fuel within the shipping industry.