Ocean Transportation

The World Economy Is Suddenly Running Low on Everything

May 18, 2021

A year ago, as the pandemic ravaged country after country and economies shuddered, consumers were the ones panic-buying. Today, on the rebound, it’s companies furiously trying to stock up.

Ports on U.S. West Coast Race to Clear Ship Backlog by August

May 17, 2021

Bloomberg

Ship congestion outside the busiest U.S. gateway for trade with Asia showed glimmers of easing as port officials race to clear a backlog of arriving cargo before peak season begins.

Over 700 Barges Stuck in Mississippi River From Bridge Crack

May 13, 2021

Bloomberg

A crack in a bridge over the Mississippi River has stranded more than 700 barges, cutting off the biggest route for U.S. agricultural exports when the critical waterway is at its busiest.

How to Prepare for the Next Supply Chain Disruption

May 13, 2021

Amir Taichman, SCB Contributor

Recent supply chain disruptions exposed many gaps in the global trading system and geopolitical forecasting, while underscoring dangerous and expensive weaknesses in supply chain management.

EDITOR'S Q&A

Will the Giant Containerships Cause More Supply Chain Disruptions?

May 12, 2021

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

The blockage of the Suez Canal by the Evergreen Line containership Ever Given sent a dire warning to global supply chains. As they outgrow transportation infrastructure, modern-day mega-vessels threaten to cause further disruptions to the flow of cargo.

VIDEO

Watch: The Cost of the Suez Canal Blockage for Global Supply Chains

May 6, 2021

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

Brian Alster, general manager of third-party risk and compliance with Dun & Bradstreet, shares the firm’s research on the continuing global impact of the Suez Canal blockage by a giant containership.

World’s Biggest Brands Adopt Checklist to Rescue Stuck Seafarers

May 6, 2021

Bloomberg

Unilever Plc and other big retail brands are among consumer giants adopting a toolkit to audit their shipping supply chains in an effort to help bring seafarers stuck on commercial vessels back home and eliminate human rights risks.

In Trans-Pacific Trade, Does the U.S. Exporter Stand a Chance?

May 5, 2021

Natalie Brandlova, SCB Contributor

Prior to 2020, American exporters benefited from unreasonably low ocean rates on trans-Pacific westbound lanes.

Summer of Sold-Out Ships Awaits as Sea Cargo Chaos Intensifies

May 4, 2021

Bloomberg

Container shipping rates are heading higher again, driven to new heights by unrelenting consumer demand and company restocking from Europe to the U.S. that are exhausting the world economy’s capacity to move goods across oceans.

Shipping Containers Are Falling Overboard at a Rapid Rate

April 29, 2021

Bloomberg

Containers piled high on giant vessels carrying everything from car tires to smartphones are toppling over at an alarming rate, sending millions of dollars of cargo sinking to the bottom of the ocean as pressure to speed deliveries raises the risk of safety errors.

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.