Ocean Transportation

Longshoreman Pay Dwarfs That of Most Employees in Transportation Industry

March 17, 2015

More than 4,400 ships bring nearly $400bn worth of goods through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach every year, a crucial link in the global supply chain of factories, warehouses, docks, highways and rail lines. Most blue-collar workers along the chain have seen their wages slashed with the quick rise of global trade. But the longshoremen who move the goods the shortest distance, between ship and shore, have shrewdly protected pay that trumps that of many white-collar managers.

The Grimaldi Group Enhances Med-West Africa Service

March 16, 2015

The Grimaldi Group

The Grimaldi Group has enhanced its Mediterranean Express (MEX) service, which links points in the Mediterranean to West Africa.

Container Shipping Today: Mega-Ships and Mega-Problems

March 16, 2015

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

If we're to believe the big container lines, ever-larger ships are the remedy for their financial woes. Why, then, are so many of them still losing money?

Imports Continue to Rise as West Coast Ports Work on Backlog

March 12, 2015

NRF

Import cargo volume at the nation's major retail container ports is expected to rise an unusually high 16.9 percent this month over the same time last year as West Coast ports begin to dig out from a backlog of cargo that built up during just-concluded contract negotiations with dockworkers, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

Rates Expected to Continue to Drop This Year in Chemical Tanker Shipping

March 12, 2015

Drewry

Chemical tanker shipping faces another challenging year of falling freight rates in 2015, but the trade is expected to recover next year, according to the latest edition of the Chemical Forecaster, published by global shipping consultancy Drewry.

Hard Lessons in Disruption: What the West Coast Port Slowdown Really Taught Us

March 9, 2015

Suhas Sreedhar, Manager, Supply Chain & Technology Thought Leadership, GT Nexus

With a tentative agreement in place between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), the 7-month-long West Coast port crisis has come to an end. What comes next is the final body count - what percentage of GDP shrank because of the slowdown? What was the impact on the trade deficit? Who got hit hardest, and just how hard? Then what? There may be a collective sigh of relief in the air, but can things really go back to normal? Should they?

Waking Up From the West Coast Port Nightmare: Where Do We Go From Here?

March 9, 2015

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

Assuming that the rank and file of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) ratifies the new five-year contract negotiated with terminal operators, West Coast ports can finally focus on getting container-handling operations back to normal. So is everyone happy?

Moving Heavy Machinery in the Cloud

March 6, 2015

Challenge: With a supply chain spanning the farthest reaches of the globe, it wasn't uncommon for this heavy equipment manufacturer to lose sight of its shipments, resulting in frequent delivery delays and headaches for its dealers. Traditional point-to-point solutions were falling short in the supply chain.

Denmark Looks to Tunnel Its Way to Germany

March 3, 2015

Maritime Executive

Denmark's government laid out details of a plan to build a tunnel connecting the Nordic region to Germany and cutting traveling time, saying in a bill that it will cost 65bn Danish crowns ($10bn) and be in use by 2024.

Ports on West Coast Could Remain Congested for Months

February 27, 2015

Maritime Executive

Congestion at the U.S. West Coast ports could take as much as two months to unwind, according to port and trade group officials, with retailers and other companies bracing for further shipment delays after the apparent resolution of a months-long labor dispute.

Ocean Transportation

The latest news, analysis, services and systems regarding ocean transportation and its impact on global supply chains. Today’s companies are transporting and delivering container shipments in a more efficient manner than ever before using new services and technologies that provide information en route - allowing them to stay ahead of the competition in their industries. As ocean cargo services continue to evolve, businesses are discovering new ways to increase efficiency and cut costs. Learn how companies are using ocean shipping solutions to power their supply chains.