Blog

When it comes to transport, companies such as ours that offer freight solutions had a rough time in the first two quarters. But, Q3 seems promising. As the world is out of quarantine and shipping starts working like a well-oiled machine, we think that we’re in an excellent place to provide everything our potential clients may need. …

From the start of the year, the whole world has been facing a situation it hasn’t encountered before. The Coronavirus has spread everywhere, and there isn’t a business or an individual that isn’t affected by it. Many experts say that this is the biggest crisis that the world has met since WW2 regarding the shake of the worldwide economy. …

At the start of this year, nobody foresaw a global virus outbreak. Everything we believed we knew about the world's business scene seems very distant from this point of view. Today, we are facing enormous challenges, particularly small business owners and shipping companies. …

It would be easy to assume, in the current circumstances, that the US - China trade conflict is likely to seriously damage the position and status of Hong Kong as a major business centre and transshipment port for Chinese trade. With the ever worsening relationship between the two countries, the tension is rising with little prospect of improvement. …

The easing of European lockdown is helping container freight gradually recover and move towards recovery. So far this year, demand for manufactured goods has faded away, to be replaced by online purchasing which is mostly delivered by air. Therefore, the re-opening of a limited number of retail outlets, with more expected in the coming weeks, has resulted in a surge in demand by the public. …

“Seafarers are unsung heroes who everyday throughout this COVID-19 crisis are going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that countries are kept supplied with the goods they need. We are working with the airlines to come forward with solutions. We now need governments to support our seafarers and facilitate safe passage for them to get home to loved ones and be replaced by crew members ready to keep supply chains open,” said ICS Secretary General, Guy Platten. …

Looking back over the last 30 years at the development of global trade, cracks were already beginning to show after the financial crash of 2008/9 followed in recent times by the trade war between the USA and China . The current pandemic with its lockdown, social distancing and closed borders, has dealt a yet a further severe blow to globalised world trade. …

Despite the gloomy and worrying state of international trade under the COVID 19 yoke, the shipping industry witnessed, on April 23, the launch in Korea, of the biggest container ship of all time, namely the 24000 TEU HMM Algeciras. The high-tech vessel is some 400 m long, 60 m wide and 70 m high, weighing 215,000 tons gross and is designated as an Ultra large Container Vessel ( ULCV). …

Communication is crucial to the shipping industry, just like any industry. Sometimes, the written word is not enough and there is a need for a meeting to happen. Whether it’s negotiating a quote or a simple informative conversation, talking in person can be much more effective than written communication. …

Whilst shipowners are always searching for ways of improving efficiency and cost saving, the current coronavirus pandemic with its heavy financial losses, has accelerated the search. One of the areas under investigation is improving methods of restricting the biofouling on a ship’s hull, which causes increased drag leading to higher fuel consumption. …

Although most customers typically will not notice any change in their ability to purchase goods and receive shipments from digital or brick-and-mortar suppliers, they should be aware that the shipping industry is working hard to keep business as usual in the light of the outbreak of Coronavirus virus (COVID-19). …

The spread of coronavirus, COVID19 has clearly impacted on the entire world, with no country unaffected. But in order to keep the supply chains for food, medical and other daily essentials moving, the transport and logistics industry is working flat out. Whilst the airfreight operators are using existing freighter aircraft and converted passenger equipment to fulfil their part of the supply chain, ocean freight is still doing its best to maintain regular deliveries. The health and safety of ships’ crews is becoming a vital element in maintaining operations. …

China is back in business with the majority of its manufacturers working in some capacity. However, this regeneration after the impact of Covid 19, faces a new set of challenges. Supply of raw materials and the shortage of skilled labour are pushing manufacturers to resort to new and sometimes untested suppliers which in turn may affect production quality. …

One of the surprise results of the coronavirus disaster has been the dramatic fall in scrubber installations. Carrier operators are considering the liability of scrubber retrofits in the light of several factors. The serious delays at Chinese shipyards has left many vessels lying idle coupled with the slump in oil prices. …

As more industries introduce hi-technology solutions for a wide range of situations, the shipping industry is also adopting various technologies, including robotics for different purposes. …

It is now universally recognised that the entire world has been severely impacted by the coronavirus and nearly all areas of trade are affected. …

NVOCC stands for Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier. This indicates that they are an ocean carrier with no ships. They lease space at a special price from ocean carriers and sell the spaces to their clients. …

NVOCC stands for Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier. This indicates that they are an ocean carrier with no ships. They lease space at a special price from ocean carriers and sell the spaces to their clients. …

In order to get comprehensive information and the complete quote on your potential shipment communication is key. Getting all the necessary information from the shipping company is crucial when choosing your freight forwarder. …