Unfashionable classic panamax containerships could offer owners “distressed play” opportunities in the short term, taking advantage of low prices, according to ­VesselsValue.

It said that although the market is booming for bigger post-­panamax vessels, including neo-­panamaxes and above, their smaller sisters should not be discounted.

The analyst’s chief operating ­officer, Adrian Economakis, told TradeWinds: “Panamaxes are a ­declining sector, but they might have a few years left in them yet.”