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Special measures have been taken by the Maersk Line to combat what it sees “as an unprecedented shortage of containers” during the traditional peak season for cargo.

Lars Reno Jakobsen, a member of Maersk Line’s Management Board, said in mid-June: “The present market situation is unique. We are experiencing a demand surge in most trades, which is a development that is both unprecedented and unexpected by us and our customers.”

“For example, the Asia - Europe trade is growing by 23 per cent compared to the market’s single digit expectation just six months ago.”

“Therefore, we already see a very tight equipment situation, and we expect an even more pronounced and serious shortage of containers in the coming months as we enter the peak season.”

Explaining how the problem arose, Mr Jakobsen said that following the recession in the market at the end of 2008 and through 2009, many container shipping and container leasing companies stopped sourcing and producing equipment.

As carriers and shippers did not expect the current surge in demand, the necessary equipment had not been ordered in 2010, resulting in the global shortage. In response, the Maersk Line had initiated production of new containers and leasing of containers. The line had also re-activated laid-up container ships to assist in repositioning containers as fast as possible, for example, from the east coast of North America and Latin America to Asia.

“We have been working hard the last couple of months to minimise the inconvenience for our customers,” Mr Jakobsen said. The Maersk Line expects the equipment shortage to last through the third quarter of this year.

More on this and other news in Sea Breezes Magazine - August 2010 Issue
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