Operators should exploit cost savings in box maintenance and repair

摘要

The never-ending search for efficiency and economy of scale is well established throughout our sector, but there are still some areas that have been largely unexploited. Tapping into these opportunities can deliver additional savings for carriers, and in a climate of squeezed margins and aggressive cost containment, any savings are welcome. Vessels themselves and their associated operating costs are obvious targets but container stock and the cost of maintenance and repair also offer savings, which are sometimes surprising. The average container ship operator will usually hold between two and three times the number of boxes than the onboard slots they have available. Most commentators place a value of around US$1 per box per day to cover all leasing, depreciation, storage, repair and re-positioning costs. This means that, for example, a 10,000 teu slot operator holding around 30,000 boxes in total would be carrying costs of US$30,000 a day or nearly US$11 million a year, according to the industry average. This is a substantial amount. And, of course, as the operator begins to grow its fleet, so this cost rises.