Container Shipping

JAXPORT says strong demand for vehicles and consumer goods contributed to a solid first fiscal quarter.

Due to shipping snarl and container congestions, delays in retail inventories will be felt from Christmas through Easter.

Maersk, the world’s largest container carrier, just reported record quarterly results. And its next quarter looks even better.

Inland Port Greer records its best January and ocean-carried container moves increase year-over-year.

Third-party logistics provider Radiant Logistics beat expectations for its second fiscal quarter. The company’s improved results and low-debt profile are allowing it to pursue acquisitions.

Korean container carrier HMM expects equipment and capacity shortages to continue at least through the end of the first quarter.

The Port of Long Beach may need to start filling out its record book in pencil as new numbers keep replacing those on top.

“ZEBOX will assist innovative startups in developing new technologies in transportation, logistics, mobilities and industry 4.0,” says CMA CGM CEO Rodolphe Saadé.

The discharging of damaged containers continues nearly two months after the storm-battered ONE Apus arrived in Japan.

Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero delivers a melodious annual report.

California calls on feds to protect exporters. Shipping groups claim California export cure will worsen congestion — including for importers.

“It’s been really easy to get the band back together,” says CEO Jason Provonsha.

Ocean Network Express takes giant profitability leap — from $5 million to $944 million year-over-year.

Call Cainiao the Amazon Logistics of China. When most of China normally takes a break for the Lunar New Year, Cainiao will still be delivering packages to Hong Kong this year.

Container lines score huge negotiating advantage as spot-rate surge set to persist through annual contract season.

“Demand in the intermodal and trucking sectors is at an all-time high, which makes this an ideal time to optimize FYX’s many assets and take it to the next level,” says new CEO Kenneth Forster.

1999: To avoid the costs and delays of processing stowaways at destination ports, some ships’ crews have been known to shove stowaways overboard and set them adrift at sea.

ZIM just completed the first U.S. shipping IPO in over five years. Here’s a look back at shipping’s wild multidecade ride on Wall Street.

China’s latest maritime measure to control the spread of the coronavirus will add to the clog of containers at ports.

Hapag-Lloyd credits higher freight rates and lower bunker prices as “the main drivers of these positive business developments.”

Asia-U.S. liner sailings are now being canceled because too many container ships are stuck at anchor off California.

U.S. ports have seen “month-over-month strength across multiple business segments.”

The Georgia Ports Authority is adding capacity in anticipation of another busy year.

In Africa, one seafarer is dead and 15 have been kidnapped. Worldwide, more seafarers are being barred from travel as COVID fears rise.

“Not only are we at the height of the Christmas season, but we’re at the height of the Y2K concern as well. Importers and major trading houses are trying to move their goods now to beat any chance of problems with the changeover to the new millennium.”

Nearly 700 dockworkers in California have COVID. Hundreds more are out due to quarantines. Pleas for fast-track vaccinations intensify.

FreightWaves identifies importers who use the Asia-West Coast service.

Ocean carrier ZIM has hiked its fleet capacity with new charters and is planning to price its New York IPO next week.

“These best practices are needed now more than ever to relieve pressure on the supply chain due to the ongoing surge,” Port of LA Executive Director Gene Seroka says.

Asia-West Coast spot rates are up 173% year on year. Rail and trucking volumes from ports are up double digits.

Higher fuel prices are bad news for box shippers. Higher fuel spreads are good news for owners with scrubber-fitted fleets.

The 8,113,315 TEUs moved in 2020 stacked up as a record year for the Port of Long Beach.

The December rates subindex jumped 13% year-over-year, setting the stage for big rate hikes in 2021, according to Cass data.

“The way we responded to the challenges, kept commerce moving and preserved jobs is a story that we will all remember for a long time to come,” says Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka during his State of the Port address.

There are more container ships stuck off California than at any time since 2004. What’s behind the pileup? When can it be cleared?

Deutsche Post DHL’s Express and E-Commerce units report strong numbers.

Thanks to a resurgence of imports that began in late summer, Port Houston moved 2,989,347 TEUs in 2020.

An electronic bill of lading must be in a format that ensures interoperability across multiple user interfaces.

The opening of the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal and deepening of Charleston Harbor are expected to make for an even brighter 2021.

Even after a wave of just-ordered container ships is delivered by yards, cargo shippers are unlikely to see lower freight rates.

The division of work between state employees and union members at the new South Carolina container terminal goes to the labor board.

A Biden administration teamed with a Democratic Congress should lead to even more stimulus, a recipe for even more container imports.

Like clockwork, liner operators sharply reduce their sailings each year during the Chinese New Year holiday. Not in 2021.

Successful IPO by ZIM would offer investors direct exposure to trans-Pacific freight-rate craziness, but not without risks from debt load.

Cranes arrive, environmental prizes are awarded and cruise ships are welcomed.

The Port of New York and New Jersey is committed to fluid operations during cargo surges.

Railcar lessor GATX acquires tank container lessor Trifleet in 175 million euro deal.

Asia-U.S. container rates had held firm at a record high since September. Now they’re on the move again — and headed even higher.

A look back at 2020’s shipping roller coaster: how container sector emerged as ‘surprise rock star’ and tankers peaked early, then plunged.

Ocean carrier Maersk says it is “working closely with the Agriculture Transportation Coalition and local trucking associations to address their concerns of equipment availability and detention and demurrage issues.”

Hapag-Lloyd and ONE have ordered 12 ultra large container ships, all of which will be able to carry more than 23,500 TEUs.

Top 10 lists dominate the end of any year. American Shipper’s Top 10 stories list is voted on throughout the year by readers simply by reading our stories on americanshipper.com. Here are the stories you read the most in 2020.

Drugs valued at more than $411 million are offloaded at Port Everglades, and the new Long Beach bridge shines bright.

Chances slim for 2021 shipping equity offerings, but a container-liner IPO prospect remains on the table.

Drayage provider ContainerPort Group announces intermodal terminal operator FSI Inc. will start operating under the CPG banner at the beginning of the year.

Container imports far exceed sales, raising concerns that 2020’s transport binge could lead to a big headache in 2021.

“Sharing this information is highly beneficial for the supply chain, especially as we cope with both seasonal and unanticipated peaks and valleys in cargo volume,” says Executive Director Mario Cordero.

The Agriculture Transportation Coalition is grateful to the Federal Maritime Commission for its support of American shippers.

B2B orders can be fulfilled on one site rather than switching to a logistics provider’s platform, Freightos says.

Using artificial intelligence to cull insights from freight transportation’s massive amounts of data can not only encourage safe environments, It also has the potential to improve productivity and efficiency, as well as provide supply chain visibility that benefits all stakeholders, says a tech executive.

Will your cargo ship arrive on time? Globally, the chances are now 50-50. In the Asia-U.S. container trade, it’s less than one in three.

CN has partnered with other organizations to develop a plastics resins export facility in Alabama near the Port of Mobile. The facility will open in late 2021.

Container flows into U.S. ports have grown faster over the past three months than they have at any other time in the past decade.

Removal of dislodged containers is expected to take more than a month, and none of the 1,816 units that fell into the Pacific have been recovered.

“In November, 50 of the 88 vessels coming to Los Angeles first went to anchor and averaged two and a half days there.”

Vaccine distribution won’t delay deliveries of your Honey Baked Ham and toilet paper, says CNBC’s Lori Ann LaRocco.

The Port of Los Angeles is still working to get toys to retailers’ shelves in time for Christmas.

Ocean carriers toed the line on capacity control in 2020. What does this new normal mean to shippers, yards and leasing companies?

Empty containers returning to Asia jumped 55% to 283,563 units.

CN joins other Class I railroads in courting automotive and container shippers in the Upper Midwest through this latest offering.

“Additional stress on an already-overloaded system tends to further destabilize the system.”

The all-time best month tops the mark set in just October.

The trans-Pacific surge will persist through Q1 and January could see all-time-high container volumes, predicts Flexport’s Nerijus Poskus.

“This is one of the most difficult seasons we’ve been facing trying to move our cargo out of the United States,” says a California almond producer.

“We’ve had to add on logistics support staff for appointments, to take pictures of the long lines.”

“We’re able to reach virtually 100% of our customers in Florida overnight from Jacksonville, which was a real selling point for us,” says aftermarket auto parts retailer.

Trans-Pacific spot index rates haven’t budged from the same peak band for the past 10 weeks. How is this possible in a competitive free market?

Trade group representing drayage drivers calls the move “huge”

The state of customers’ freight remains unknown as inspection of the 14,052-TEU vessel begins.

CEO Jim Newsome calls Walmart’s $220 million investment a signal that SCPA is “prepared to be a force in retail distribution.”

E-documentation initiative establishes data and process standards for bill of lading preparation and issuance.

Sixty-four missing containers carried liquid ethanol, batteries and fireworks.

Container shipping stocks are back to pre-COVID levels whereas many tanker and bulker stocks are down by double-digits year-to-date.

There will be no letup in booming container imports in 2020. The only question now is how long it lasts into 2021.

Bill Freidel of AIT Worldwide Logistics expects 2021 to be another challenging year for freight as the COVID-19 vaccine is prepped for release. He encourages logistics companies to invest in cold-chain technologies and continue to meet customer expectations.

The pandemic is driving people to drink more. Bulk ocean shipments of wine in flexitanks are up 30% this year.

First, Spire collects the ship-movement data from orbit. Then algorithms use that data to reveal the patterns of global shipping.

Surviving cargo that was bound for the U.S. now is headed back to Asia.

CP will serve Hapag-Lloyd at the New Brunswick port through 2025.

Regardless of a transport or logistics manager’s objectives, the digital age name of the game is to estimate the dollar savings provided by an application like this.

Panama Canal congestion is not impeding transits of container ships but it is pumping up spot rates for LNG and LPG carriers.

The total market capitalization of U.S.-listed ocean shipping stocks has plunged 34% in 2020, but there are reasons for hope in 2021.

The feel-good story appears above Cardi B’s party apology.

The $229 million deal comes as CAI International seeks to focus on its containing leasing business.

Transportation PACs offer a way for trade associations — and the smaller companies they represent — to have a political voice, proponents say.

Hapag-Lloyd and ONE chief executives will lead the “unified voice of liner shipping.”

Bulk soybean and corn exports are way up, but containerized ag exports are waylaid by equipment shortfalls and Chinese inspections.

“While COVID-19 has fundamentally shifted how many American families will celebrate Thanksgiving this year, we are very proud to be providing a bit of home.”

Mirroring bullish comments by Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, container line CMA CGM reports a strengthening market in the fourth quarter.

CP’s partnership with Maersk is starting early, with the first vessel coming into Vancouver in December versus March 2021.