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Average size of boxships heading to Europe doubles this decade

The average size of boxship sizes the heading from Asia to Europe has doubled this decade, and the supersizing is not over yet, latest data from Alphaliner shows.

This year saw the departure of the last 4,200 – 5,500 teu ships from the Asia – Europe routes. Ever larger ships have entered service in 2019, culminating in MSC’s series of 23,700 teu record-breakers.

The average size of boxships on the Asia-north Europe route now stands at 16,100 teu, almost exactly double the average size of ships in 2010, with Alphaliner stating in its latest weekly report that the average box shipsize will reach 17,000 teu by September next year, with more 23,000 teu class ships set to hit the water.

MSC also deployed the first 19,000 teu megamax units on the Asia – Med route from March this year, pushing the average vessel size on that tradelane to 12,600 teu, again about double the size from the start of the decade.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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