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Rotterdam's inland terminal box scanning pilot to improve visibility A barge is handled at Maasvlakte in the Port of Rotterdam. Photo credit: APM Terminals. Greater access to digital data has been identified as a key component in the drive to tackle the Port of Rotterdam’s barge congestion issues that create delays at the deepsea terminals […]

Lack of inland container depots threatens Chittagong's growth Inland container depots (ICDs) are responsible for stuffing and unstuffing export and import containers on their premises. If Bangladesh does not add more ICDs, cargo delays and missed shipments are likely to increase at/near Chittagong Port. (Above: Containers at Chittagong port.) Photo credit: Shutterstock.com. An inadequate number […]

Brazil shippers concerned about higher post-strike truck rates The Temer administration’s deal to end the truckers’ strike included minimum freight rates that some shippers argue favored truckers too much. (Above: A container ship in Guanabara Bay, Brazil.) Photo credit: Shutterstock.com. Slowly, Brazil is recovering from the truckers strike and will likely continue to a gradual […]

Hamburg aims to boost tiny barge penetration of hinterland Only a small percentage of Hamburg’s container traffic is transported to and from the hinterland via the network of inland waterways, something the German port wants to change. (Above: The Port of Hamburg.) Photo credit: Shutterstock.com. With just a sliver of the Port of Hamburg’s volume […]

MSC joins free container weight database   Shippers using the BoxTech database to track container weight and other information will get greater reach through the database, which now contains information on 40 percent of the world’s containers after Mediterranean Shipping Co. added its information. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com. Mediterranean Shipping Co., the world’s second-largest container ship […]

FMC rule allows NVOCCs to respond faster to BCO needs Federal Maritime Commission final rule issued Wednesday will simplify the contracting process between non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs) and their beneficial cargo owner (BCO) customers, concluding almost 15 years of petitioning by NVOCCs to allow them to negotiate with BCOs under the same terms enjoyed […]

US 3PLs expect e-commerce, compliance, trucking to drive strong 2018 With respect to e-commerce, a new report by Armstrong & Associates estimates that e-commerce logistics costs in the United States reached $117.2 billion in 2017. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com. Strong market demand, tightening capacity, higher pricing, and data-driven technology have combined to give third-party logistics providers […]

NVOCCs signing contracts to lock up chassis capacity Non-vessel operating common carriers are signing exclusive deals with chassis providers, counting on these deals to offer shippers more reliable service at a lower cost. Truckers are worried that these restrictive contracts will increase chassis splits and shortages, which they consider a colossal waste of time. Photo […]

Damco makes digitalization push in India via Twill Twill, which commenced global operations in early 2017, is designed to offer instant pricing/booking, cost transparency/cargo tracking, simplified/centralized documentation, and proactive/round-the-clock customer services. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com. Damco, Maersk Group’s logistics and freight forwarding arm, Wednesday rolled out its online freight forwarding platform — dubbed Twill — in […]

Forwarders offer new LCL service to meet rising demand German and European less-than-containerload (LCL) market leader Dachser announced this week that it will be launching 26 new LCL services and increasing the frequency of six services from every fortnight to weekly. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com. Forwarders continue to launch new less-than-containerload (LCL) shipments to capitalize on […]