With all the new EBB's and ECV's plus the 4 premium ships for the US that is 13 ships puls 7 reg. ships and you are looking at 20 ships plus any dock expansion you may have per nation to cycle through for HA or any other event.

I'm not saying you're wrong, and I haven't counted to be sure, but I'm pretty sure I have way more than the stock limit.  I bought all the regular ships I wanted and then added premium ships, and it's never stopped me.

Yes i know they dont take up dock space but to cycle through all of them takes alot of time and it would be nice to place them back in the item list untill needed again.

Just look at the EBB/ECV list for the US that will be 9 ships which i will have all of them after this event.
Now add the 4 premium ships and the 7 reg ship and any other dock space you may have won during events = 20 plus ships to go through every time a new update comes around and screws up the order you placed them in.