"Mega-alliances" bring age of the big ship to port

[unhappycamper]

http://hamptonroads.com/2014/04/megaalliances-bring-age-big-ship-port

"Mega-alliances" bring age of the big ship to port
By Robert McCabe
The Virginian-Pilot
© April 20, 2014

NORFOLK

A new challenge is facing the port of Hampton Roads: the arrival of the port’s largest-ever container ships.

“Mega-alliances” formed by the largest ocean carriers are putting gargantuan ships into service on the busiest trade lanes – vessels big enough to carry 18,000 20-foot containers. That’s three times the capacity of the biggest ships only two decades ago.

Though these giants are plying the Asia-Europe routes, they’ve shoved other smaller, yet-still-massive vessels into other trade lanes.

Hampton Roads and many other ports that already have been struggling to handle cargo surges have begun to feel this cascade effect.

[Sherman A1]

1. Interesting

article not only in respects to port capacity, but with regard to the mega alliances of shipping companies and what I believe could be potential for some collusion between them.