The absence of open containerships on the charter market has resulted in carriers being forced to conclude fixtures months into the future.
Moreover, the duration of time-charters has lengthened considerably, it is becoming increasingly common to see terms agreed for 24 or 36 months as carriers gamble on a long bull-run for the liner industry.
For example, OOCL has just concluded a 36-month extension of the 8,533 teu Seamax Stratford at $38,500 …