Monthly Archives for March 2017

Simplified carrier service contract rule takes effect May WASHINGTON — A new rule simplifying container line service contracts and non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) service arrangements will go into effect May 5, US maritime regulators announced Thursday. The US Federal Maritime Commission voted unanimously on March 6 to scrap a historic rule requiring container lines […]

Berard Transportation handles ‘anything big and heavy’ When Roy Berard Sr. was offered $50 to move a small house in South Louisiana, he was thrilled. It was 1945, and he was making less than $10 a week as a sugarcane farmer. That house-moving job launched Berard Transportation, a heavy-haul specialist in petrochemical construction modules, offshore […]

Scope of carrier alliance changes comes into view A complete restructuring of the container shipping business is about to begin.   New analysis of the vessel sharing agreements has revealed the scope of the changes that are going to hit the market from this weekend, while highlighting again the cut back in routes, port calls […]

Container traffic rebound points to market uptick Stronger consumer spending in the United States played a large role in global container trade growth in the fourth quarter. A 5 percent increase in global container port traffic in the final quarter of 2016 points to an uptick in a market that has viewed modest growth over […]

Trailer Bridge extends Dominican Republic niche service Trailer Bridge will soon be the sole operator of barges on the US-Puerto Rico trade. Trailer Bridge is developing a new niche with 53-foot containers on a twice-weekly service to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, while weathering a difficult US mainland-Puerto Rico market. The Santo Domingo service was launched […]

Rhenus acquires 40 percent of Arkon Shipping Rhenus Group wants to expand its presence in European short-sea shipping. German logistics operator Rhenus Group has acquired a 40 percent stake in Arkon Shipping, which manages a fleet of more than 120 seagoing vessels in European coastal and container feeder services and global heavy lift and project […]

Shippers seek China-Europe rail option from forwarders Asia-Europe railway services continue to grow in popularity. Forwarders are reporting increasing demands from shippers to include the China-Europe rail option in their portfolio of services as the intercontinental land bridge becomes a viable alternative to air and ocean transport.While the vast majority of containers on the rail […]

Shippers fear disruption from new alliance rollout Capacity shortages between Europe and Asia tied to preparation for the new alliances have only increased shipper fears over disruption. SHANGHAI — There is mounting concern from shipper groups and forwarders that the new mega alliances launching in just over a week will create significant disruption to their […]

Rates soar on space-constrained Europe-Asia trade European shippers have blamed preparation for the new shipping alliances for the lack of capacity from Europe to Asia. SHANGHAI — Freight rates on the capacity constrained backhaul trade from North Europe to Asia are soaring ever higher with a new round of increases testing the patience of shippers. […]

Just how big is China's Belt and Road? The various forms Belt and Road investment takes makes it difficult to put an exact value on how much has been invested. China’s Belt and Road program continues to generate high-levels of interest in the global shipping community as its unprecedented scale and heavy focus on trade […]