For example, in early 2009, some container lines dropped their freight rates to zero on the Asia-Europe route, charging shippers only a surcharge to cover operating costs.[1] They decreased their overcapacity by lowering the ships' speed (a strategy called "slow steaming") and by laying up ships.[50] Slow steaming increased the length of the Europe-Asia routes to a record high of over 40 days.[50] Another strategy used by some companies was to manipulate the market by publishing notices of rate increases in the press, and when "a notice had been issued by one carrier, other carriers followed suit".[87]