A difficult market is in prospect for liner operators in 2012 according to Tung Chee Chen the chief executive of the company that controls Orient Overseas Container Line.

Tung said OOCL had cut capacity on its Far East to Europe service operated in the Grand Alliance partnership by 20% and suggested prospects were deteriorating.

CC Tung
"The outlook will eventually depend on Europe's situation, and whether the debt crisis can be resolved.