14-metre boxships 'here in a decade'

A prominent ports industry consultant has warned that Australian Ports may have to brace themselves for considerably larger containerships entering the trade much earlier than previously envisaged.

David Bayne of Drewry Shipping Consultants, said growing demand in several trades in the last three years had resulted in a bullish market. Some 180 post-panamax containerships are on order worldwide, he told a Company of Master Mariners dinner in Melbourne last week. 

Mr Bayne said that by the time these vessels come on stream, it was likely that the major shipping lines would be exerting pressure on Australian ports to accommodate "trickle-down" ships of the next generation to those now entering the Australia trade. 

This next generation, with container capacities of up to 7,500 teu, would have draughts of 14 metres - well in excess of the depths envisaged by most of Australia's container ports today.