In January 2013, 20 per cent of all seagoing merchant
ships were younger than 5 years, representing 40 per
cent of the world’s deadweight tonnage (see table 2.3
and figure 2.3). Ships delivered in more recent years
are on average larger than older ships. New container
ships are on average three times the size of those
built 20 or more years ago, and only 5 per cent of
the container ship tonnage is older than 20 years. Oil
tankers, too, tend to be replaced relatively early; only
4 per cent of the existing oil-tanker tonnage was built
more than 20 years ago.
The average age (per ship) in January 2013 was highest
for general-cargo ships (25 years), followed by other
types (22.6 years), oil tankers (16.7 years), container ships
(10.8 years) and dry-bulk carriers (9.9 years). Following