Active Container Vessels in 2026 — How Many Ships Each Shipping Line Runs
How many container ships are actually working this year, and how are they split between the shipping lines? Every number on this page is read live from our active container vessel table when you open it — nothing is typed in.
The rule: what counts as an active container vessel
A ship is on the list only when all three statements are true. The list is rebuilt from scratch every Monday, so the count below always follows this one rule.
It is a container ship
The ship's type in the AIS ship register is Container Ship. Bulk carriers, tankers, ro-ros and general cargo ships are left out, even when they carry some boxes.
It has a valid IMO number
The seven-digit IMO number stays with the hull for life, so a ship is counted once, even after a rename or a change of flag.
It has been seen in 2026
The ship has sent at least one AIS position since 1 January 2026. Ships laid up or scrapped before then are not counted.
Frequently asked: active container vessels
Quick answers, written from the same live numbers as the chart above.
How many container ships are active in 2026?
Which shipping line runs the most container ships?
What share of the fleet do the ten largest lines run?
Live — read from our active container vessel table each time this page opens.