Ocean Transportation

Three Cargo Brokers Join to Form Global Charter Alliance

April 27, 2012

Three cargo charter brokers have joined to form the Global Charter Alliance, reportedly the world's first consortium of independent brokers. Founding members are Pacific Airlift of Singapore, The Charter Store of the U.S., and NEO Air Charter of Germany.

Why No Interest in Low-Interest Loans for the Merchant Marine Fleet?

April 27, 2012

Tony Munoz, Editor-in-Chief, Maritime Executive and MarEx Newsletter

A recent S&P credit-rating report on the end-of-life of the U.S. merchant marine fleet over the next few years read more like an obituary than a financial analysis: "Weak credit quality, challenging capital market conditions and reduced access to government-guaranteed loans could spell doom for many U.S. shipowners," said S&P analyst Funmi Afonja.

Moller, Danish Shipping Patriarch, Dies; Execs Say Company Strategy to Remain the Same

April 20, 2012

Maritime Executive

Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller, who transformed his Danish family shipping business into the world's biggest container shipping company, has died at the age of 98.

Container Key Performance Indicators Coming from Drewry and CargoSmart

April 19, 2012

Drewry Maritime Research

Drewry Maritime Research and CargoSmart Limited will introduce a wider range of container key performance indicators to help importers and exporters benchmark their carriers' service levels.

U.S. Vessel Imports in March Increase 11.9 Percent

April 18, 2012

Zepol Corp.

U.S. import shipment volume for March, measured in TEUs, increased 11.9 percent from February, according to trade intelligence company Zepol.

Retail Container Traffic to Increase 3.2 Percent in April

April 16, 2012

National Retail Federation

Import cargo volume at the nation's major retail container ports is expected to increase 3.2 percent in April compared with the same month last year, and year-over-year gains should continue through the end of summer, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

Cuba: Your Logistics Hub in the Caribbean?

April 14, 2012

Wall Street Journal Market Watch

With the Panama Canal expansion on schedule for completion in 2014, supply chain specialists are anticipating a logistical hub to surface in the Caribbean Basin.

Opening of New Panama Canal Locks Gets Pushed Back at Least Three Months

April 13, 2012

JOC Sailings

The Panama Canal's new locks will probably not be ready for their scheduled opening in October 2014, but will be ready for a trial run by a vessel in December, said Jorge Quijano, the engineer in charge of building the canal's third set of locks.

Somali Pirate Activity Reaches 15-Month High

April 11, 2012

Maritime Executive

Ten ships were hijacked by Somali pirates in March, making this the most attacks in one month since December 2010. Four of the seized ships were used to make more attacks, rather than the usual holding for ransom acts. Maritime security experts believe that pirate groups will be encouraged by the latest hijackings and will be moved on organizing more attacks over the next several weeks.

Going Global: Building a Sustainable Logistics Model in the Age of Globalization

April 2, 2012

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

This white paper reviews what companies that want to go global must master in transportation and logistics to capitalize on these opportunities.

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.