Lines sucking boxship market dry of small to midsize vessels

The charter market is facing a looming shortage of small and midsize boxships.

That could further lift the charter market for vessels in the 1,000-teu to 5,300-teu range, where rates have jumped by as much as 50% in the year to date.

Rates for traditional panamaxes of 4,400 teu have risen from $8,000 per day to $12,000 per day in the year to date, while feeder vessels of 1,700 teu to 2,750 teu have seen an improvement of 20% to 32%, according to figures from Clarksons.