Paris-based market researcher Alphaliner reported that the idle containerhip fleet (charter-free vessels and liner-controlled vessels without service assignment) contracted from 334,000teu as per June 1 to just 228,400teu (1.2% of global cellular fleet) on June 15.

This is the lowest level in five years, resulting from recent strong demand for Panamaxes and Post-Panamaxes for new Asia/US East Coast and Asia/Middle East services.

"We were stunned to see a sharp drop like this as the charter market [quietened] over the past fortnight," explained one Hamburg chartering broker. Charter hire rates for containerships trended a bit lower in June after strong increases from February until April, although they are still much higher than operating expenses in most segments.

Given the latest drop in slack charter ship capacity, charter rates could start to rise again either before or after the summer holiday period in July/August, the broker pointed out. Latest fixtures for both Post-Panamaxes and Maxi-Panamaxes of around 5,100teu already showed a slightly firmer trend.