THE 24,004-TEU Ever Atop – the world’s biggest box ship – has transited the Suez Canal riding high in the water on its maiden voyage because it was less than three-quarters full, reported London’s Loadstar.
The ship was the last to be delivered of an order of the ten A24 series design for Taiwan’s Evergreen, and along with sister ships Ever Aria and Ever A lot.
The latest newbuild on its maiden voyage westbound on its Asia-North Europe run, but just as noteworthy was its lack of cargo given the vast overcapacity now plaguing the market in recent months.
Evergreen will make every effort to maximise the load on a vessel’s maiden call, even topping up the deck with empties to give a fully laden look.
Earlier arrivals of Ever Atop’s sister vessels were greeted with all the normal ceremony surrounding the world’s largest containerships, when they arrived at their first port of call in North Europe, laden to the gunnels.
But a few months on, carriers are racking up some serious voyage losses on ships that do sail, and bleeding from high overheads with no revenue from the sailings they blanked.
