Rising slippage means only 228 new tankers are expected to be delivered into the global fleet this year compared with 348 vessels that were scheduled for delivery.
It would help to reduce tanker supply as the industry struggles with overcapacity weighing down on freight rates.
Slippage, which is the discrepancy between expected and actual deliveries, has risen considerably since 2009, said US-based McQuilling Services in a new tanker report, Balancing Act.
Data from the consultancy’s report showed that slippage rose from 5% in 2009 to as high as nearly 30% in 2010 before dipping back down to just above 15% in 2011.
“Tactics include outright cancellations, foregoing options, taking delivery of a different vessel class or inspection delays,” said McQuilling’s report.
At the end of the first quarter, around 25%, equivalent to 57 ships, of the 228 expected total to arrive this year should have been delivered.
However, so far this year deliveries have only reached 18%, or 40 vessels, of the 228 total, McQuilling noted. Most of these have been in the very large crude carrier, suezmax and aframax segments.