Ocean Transportation

App Designed to Help Ports Better Handle Disruptions Caused by Weather

June 7, 2013

MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics

As another "extremely active" hurricane season kicks off the U.S. national ports system is better able to cope with weather-related disruptions thanks to an online application called Port Mapper.

Growth in Coal Market Has Been Boon to Dry Bulk Shipping Industry

June 6, 2013

Drewry's

Drewry's latest Dry Bulk Forecaster reports that coal has been the recent saviour of the dry bulk market. Global GDP grew by 3.2 percent in 2012, following growth of 5.2 percent and 4.0 percent in the post-recession years of 2010 and 2011. This slowdown blighted dry bulk cargo volumes and in turn tonnage demand. Global steel production, reflecting industrial and growth activity around the world, grew by only 1.3 percent in 2012, with a subsequent impact on iron ore and coking coal trade.

Shippers Rely More on Collaboration to Manage Freight, NASSTRAC Study Reveals

June 4, 2013

SupplyChainBrain

Brian Everett, executive director of NASSTRAC, reveals results of a shipper study on freight management and discusses other NASSTRAC initiatives.

As Oil Interests Move Into West African Waters, So Do Growing Numbers of Pirates

June 4, 2013

Maritime Executive

While the frequency of pirate attacks off the Horn of Africa has fallen to its lowest level since 2009, this is no time to celebrate. Somali pirates still hold two vessels for ransom with 60 crew members as hostages. More alarming, however, is the increase in the capabilities of pirate groups in West Africa's Gulf of Guinea, now challenging Somalia as the world's most dangerous place to sail.

Initiatives in Florida to Enhance the State's Position as a Transportation Hub

June 3, 2013

SupplyChainBrain

Bob O'Malley, CSX Transportation's resident vice president for Florida, discusses initiatives to improve the state's transportation infrastructure and the importance of advocacy at the state level.

Shipping Rates on Asia-to-Northern Europe Trade Lanes Continue Their Fall in May

May 31, 2013

Xeneta

The average container freight rates from Asia to North Europe continues to drop, to $2,352 per 40-foot container and to $1,359 per 20-foot, as of tracking on May 24, according to Xeneta, a sea freight price comparison service. Due to overcapacity and various types of economic turmoil in the market, the market index for 40-foot containers has taken a massive dip with it being down 52 percent from May 2012.

Arctic Sea Lanes Become More Attractive to Europe-to-East Asia Traffic

May 31, 2013

Maritime Executive

Shipping along the Arctic northern sea route is set to grow more than 30-fold over the next eight years and could account for a quarter of the cargo traffic between Europe and Asia by 2030.

CaroTrans Expands Services Into Baltic and CIS Region

May 30, 2013

CaroTrans International

CaroTrans International, a non-vessel operating common carrier and ocean-freight consolidator, is expanding its service network with entry into the Baltic and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) markets, including Russia.

Extra Logistics Launches Web-Based Booking for Ocean and Air Freight

May 28, 2013

Extra Logistics LLC

Extra Logistics LLC, an international provider of logistics and freight-forwarding services, has launched Web-based ocean and air-freight booking services.

Can Index-Linked Contracts Bring Sanity to the Liner Trades?

May 28, 2013

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

On October 13, 2011, the Federal Maritime Commission launched a rulemaking that proposed to allow rate levels within oceangoing service contracts to be linked to industry freight indices. Some carriers and shippers had pushed for the change in hopes of achieving greater rate stability in the notoriously uncertain liner trades.

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.