Charter rates for “old” panamax boxships of 4,250 teu have dropped to about $8,000 per day, while their wide-beam rivals of around 5,000 teu are earning more than $15,000 per day.
The disparity is attributed to the limited supply of wide-beam designs that are capable of carrying more cargo and trading to more ports than older narrow-beam vessels.
Their improving fortunes contrast with the growing idle fleet of traditional panamax containerships, which again face an uncertain future.
