PUBLISHER: The Load Star (www.theloaadstar.com)
Ad-hoc carriers prepared to pay colossal daily rates for three-month hire of panamax containerships have disrupted the charter market, obliging liner companies to raid services for tonnage to start new loops.
The workhorse 4,000-5,000 teu ships – destined for the scrapyards just a few years ago – have a new lease of life, due to a dearth of open tonnage and a huge spike in global freight rates that reset the economy-of-scale ship selection criteria across tradelanes.
US niche logistics operator Pasha Hawaii continues to push the envelope with its latest three-month charter of the 4,308 teu Ionikos (ex-CMA CGM Jasper), fixed at a massive new record of $230,000 a day.
Pasha Hawaii has previously been linked to several other record-breaking charter fixtures, understood to be on behalf of retailer client Costco.