INDUSTRY OPINION MSC Elma Larger box ships - a regular sight or once-off? Maritime analyst Peter van Duyn examines the implications of the arrival in Australia of two Bosporus-class container ships THE RECENT ARRIVAL OF TWO as a number of cranes did not have the the global container fleets are in the 5000 9400 TEU container ships, the MSC Elma clearance to go any higher. TEU to 15,000 TEU-range or smaller feeder and Maersk Skarstind, has heralded the The limitations on these ships were due vessels in the sub-3000 TEU-range. arrival of a new class of container vessel restrictions on the draft to which the vessel Maersk CEO Soren Skou, as well as to visit Australia. Both vessels are of the could be loaded at some of the ports. For other shipowners, thinks 20,000+ TEU is so-called ‘Bosporus’ class, so named as their example, the Westgate Bridge in Melbourne about the upper limit of container vessel overall length, 300 metres, is the maximum caused a problem for the MSC Elma. To size as there are only a small number of size for a vessel to transit the Bosporus Strait have sufficient clearance to pass under the ports which can handle these behemoths without special permission. The Bosporus bridge careful calculations and additional efficiently. One of the issues is that while Strait connects the Black Sea with the measures had to be taken. The Maersk the width (the MSC Gulsun can carry 24 Aegean Sea and divides the City of Istanbul Skarstind however, had a collapsible mast containers wide on deck) and depth of into two halves. The Bosporus class vessel’s which made the pass easier. these vessels is getting bigger, the overall beam (width) is 48 metres that translates From comments made by the shipping length is approximately 400 metres, which into 19 containers wide on deck. lines involved and looking at their forward limits the number of quay cranes that can Both vessels have called at most major schedules it seems that these vessels were fit over the vessel whilst working alongside. Australian ports but with varied levels of once–off only and were used to test the This in turn affects the berth rate and success. The draft, the width and height of ability of Australian ports and stevedores how quickly these vessels can be turned the container stack on deck as well as the to handle vessels of this size. No doubt around whilst in port. To fill these vessels air draft (height from the waterline to the Maersk, MSC, port authorities, harbour also requires more port calls meaning an top of the mast) of these vessels have all masters and stevedores will be analysing increase in inventories costs. And let’s not been issues that have limited the efficient the results of the vessels’ calls and see if forget the logistical problems if one of these working of the vessel. Due to their size the using this type of vessels on a regular basis ships is involved in an incident such as the berthing and unberthing of the vessels in will be an option. Further simulations will grounding of the 19,000 TEU CSCL Indian some ports was restricted to daylight hours also be done to investigate whether vessels Ocean in the River Elbe in 2016, or if there only as well as light wind conditions. of up to 346 metres in length are able to is a fire on board. enter certain ports. Shipping lines will no Considering our market conditions and STEVEDORING CHALLENGES doubt want to keep bringing larger vessels port infrastructure I doubt if we will see one Patrick Port Botany and VICT at Webb to Australian ports due to the reduction in of these vessels in Australia anytime soon as Dock are currently the only operators cost per TEU. However, it’s unlikely that our container market is just too small to fill in Australia that have quay cranes large enough to reach 19-containers-wide, consequently the stowage of containers on deck had to be adjusted for other ports as the outer cell could not be reached. Both Patrick and DPWA have on order quay cranes that are able to reach in excess of 19-containers-wide. The first of these cranes are expected to arrive in early 2020. The stacking height of containers on deck had to be limited to seven-high in all ports this reduction will be passed on to the importers and exporters. GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE Globally it’s a different story. The largest containership presently afloat is the 23,000 TEU MSC Gulsun, which recently entered service, the first one of a batch of six ordered by MSC in 2017. While the new building order market for 18,000+ TEU is currently healthy, the major workhorses in them, even 50 years from now. Peter van Duyn, maritime analyst, Centre for Supply Chain and Logistics (Deakin University) Ian Ackerman; Brett Patman, Lost Collective 60 <strong>September</strong> <strong>2019</strong> thedcn.com.au
DARWIN CONVENTION CENTRE 29 - 30 october SPONSORS AND PARTNERS
Change language