A REVIEW OF THE WORLD CONFERENCE LINER FLEETS

Many general cargo vessels are being made obsolete because of changes in the liner trades. This suggestion is one of the main conclusions emerging from the study. The review points out that while problems associated with age, such as loss of performance and increasing maintenance and repair are contributing factors, the situation has also arisen because of the changes required in the design of conventional liner tonnage to meet current trading conditions. "The role of the conventional liner has become very much the clearing house for those residual commodities not covered by the special purpose vessel", says the review. This demands more exacting choice of ship management skills and experience. The study points out that despite competition from specialised tankers and reefer ships, there continues to be demand for cargo capacity for liquid and refrigerated cargoes in conventional liner sevices. The provision of heavy lift equipment is another area where an increasing demand is leading to the establishment of a special fleet of vessels. However, all these changes are minor in consequence compared to containerisation but here too the liner vessel is changing and is now often able to carry a moderate number of boxes either on deck or in one or more holds. An examination of the conventional liner fleet shows that over 40% of the operating vessels are more than 15 years old, and a further 15% are over 20 years old. At mid 1975, Westingform states that the world conventional liner fleet numbered 2,418 ships of 25.9m dwt and cubic capacity of almost 27m sq metres. Of this total 1,133 were over 14 years old with another 143 near to 14 years old, which is the average age of the feet.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Reviewed in Seatrade, v7 n6, June 1977, p 25. Price $50.00
• Corporate Authors:

  Westinform Service

  ,    
• Publication Date: 1977

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Equipment replacement; Fleet management; Liner shipping; Merchant vessels; Ships
• Uncontrolled Terms: Ship replacement
• Old TRIS Terms: Competitive merchant ships
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Maintenance and Preservation; Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00157610
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Seatrade Publications Limited
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 20 1977 12:00AM