The global shipping industry is constantly evolving, and the COVID-19 pandemic began a marked shift in how container shipping operates. Disruption caused by the pandemic has forced the industry to expand its capacity and reduce costs to remain profitable.
At the peak of the pandemic, containers essentially stopped moving. As manufacturers went into lockdown and closed factories, many of the containers used to ship those manufactured goods were left stranded at ports or storage depots, where they weren’t needed. Simultaneously, freight shippers were reducing the number of vessels in use due to the manufacturing slowdown. This limited global shipping capacity and disrupted the worldwide flow of containers and goods. As a result, some regions were left with an excess of stored containers, while other places were left with no containers at all.
As the pandemic slowed and the global economy began to rebound, labor shortages and congestion at ports have left many of these stored containers stuck where they aren’t needed. Now, instead of a shortage of shipping containers, the industry is dealing with too many. Many container storage depots are turning away new clients due to lack of space, and some shippers are even giving containers away to make room. Blank and cancelled sailings are increasing as well, as shippers decide to skip a port or cancel a trip altogether in order to manage changes in demand and capacity.
Check back here for the latest news and insights on the state of the container shipping industry. You can also visit our maritime news archive to learn more about cargo shipping, or our American Shipper archive for air cargo shipping industry news.
The 12 members of Reopen Jacksonville will advise the Florida city’s mayor on the easing of stay-at-home restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
While suffering a significant drop in cargo volume during the coronavirus pandemic, the seaport stands “ready to help position America’s industries for future success,” says Executive Director Gene Seroka.
The 24,000-TEU Algeciras will make maiden voyage from Qingdao, China, on Monday.
“We expect that more shippers will shift from just-in-time supply chains to just-in-case supply chains,” U.S. CEO Mark McCullough said.
Maersk plans sudden switch from Staten Island to New Jersey. The Staten Island terminal is fighting back.
Final steel floor beam lifted into place two years after assembly of main span got underway.
The German shipping line says it has cut CO2 emissions per transported TEU by about 50% since 2008
Container equipment shortage exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic stresses upper-Midwest soybean exporter trying to fill his springtime customer orders to Asia.
Here it comes: Ports will soon feel full force of canceled box-ship sailings.
The Jacksonville, Florida-based ocean carrier finds continued demand for reefers among Central American and Caribbean fruit and produce shippers.
Some reports say crew killed Spirit of Hamburg mariner, while others point to an intruder.
COVID-19 has not hurt cargo flows between the Pacific Northwest and Anchorage.
Portsmouth Marine Terminal will be closed while import volumes are down as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The duty deferment applies to qualifying importers facing “significant financial hardship,” Customs and Border Protection said.
The longer the coronavirus crisis continues, “the longer it’s going to take to get the ship righted,” says GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch.
Big April gains at Southern California container terminals are deceiving.
Short-sea shipper says economic impact of COVID-19 has forced service disruption and employee layoffs.
The 19,200-TEU MSC Anna is retrieving empty containers piling up during the coronavirus crisis to return to Asia.
Pandemic yet to heavily impact Caribbean container transshipment but fallout looms.
Less-than-containerload services offer forwarders and their shippers an alternative to more expensive air freight and full-container transport services, industry experts say.
Ports of Seattle, Tacoma, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Houston, Jacksonville and Charleston all report drops in March.
Pandemic pressures on tourism, oil and textiles squeeze Caribbean cargo demand.
The Supply Chain Intelligence Center pinpoints trouble spots on the nation’s highways and ports to U.S. humanitarian relief providers responding to the health crisis.
World’s second-largest box carrier resolves its website woes.
Good news for box carriers: Freight rates haven’t collapsed. Bad news: Volumes have.
Global maritime insurer promotes international adoption of container packing and declaration practices to reduce losses.
Ocean shipping post-pandemic: What changes lie ahead for supply, demand, stocks and debt?
Problem-solving supply chain bottlenecks is the way to build customer loyalty, freight experts say.
Fee-based storage offered at five North American terminals to assist importers dealing with supply chain disruption caused by coronavirus pandemic.
The number of empty containers returned to Asia from the California port dropped 23% in March.
The global logistics giant said its Q1 profits among its five business divisions suffered from the coronavirus upheaval.
Website and the online booking platform of MSC have gone offline but fallout appears contained.
North American rail volumes last week were approaching levels normally seen during Christmas and New Year’s, according to the Association of American Railroads.
Coronavirus and tariffs blamed for lowest total in more than a decade.
Cargo flows face worst hit in a century but have potential to bounce back fast.
Third-party logistics providers engaged in international trade are facing the difficult decision of whether to thin staff or even close altogether in the face of a prolonged economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
No collapse yet for ocean container spot rates. In fact, they’re up.
World Shipping Council issues reminder that seafarers are the backbone of international supply chains.
Plunging demand on land has yet to be fully felt by ocean shipping
“The coronavirus is delivering a shock to the supply chain,” said port chief Mario Cordero.
Members of the Washington, D.C.-based National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America interviewed by American Shipper this week generally praised CBP for permitting the flow of legitimate trade across the continent.
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission said there has been no shortage of container-shipping industry members willing to participate in its initiative to identify ways to overcome supply chain obstacles caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
VC funding has evaporated, wooing new customers is extremely difficult and existing customers’ focus has changed.
Carriers slash even more ocean services in bid to prop up rates as demand crumbles.
The Justice Department said joint logistics operations among five American medical supply distributors to provide protective medical gear to virus hot spots does not violate antitrust law.
In an interview with FreightWaves, TRAC Intermodal President and CEO Jennifer Polli describes how her company is handling its business operations against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mayor taps Gene Seroka to locate and deliver medical supplies critically needed during coronavirus pandemic.
Despite COVID-19 concerns, the Port of Alaska and ocean carriers calling Anchorage insist that ships loaded with containers will continue to arrive on schedule.
On this week’s Drilling Deep podcast, host John Kingston welcomes Mike Baudensitel of FreightWaves to discuss whether the nation’s rail and intermodal sectors are getting any sort of lift from […]
No one was prepared for the global shipping disruption caused by COVID-19, but Mike Meierkort said Damco’s resiliency program is “the closest thing to having a playbook.”
Coronavirus will inevitably infect more seafarers. How ports respond will be pivotal.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it will do its part to keep imports of medical gear flowing efficiently into the country.
FIATA questions the reasonableness of assessing demurrage and detention charges against shippers and forwarders during pandemic.
French carrier reports entire 500-vessel fleet is free of coronavirus cases.
Canceled sailings surge, schedule reliability sinks and import demand evaporates.
Coronavirus-caused supply chain disruption has led to port congestion but has not burned reefer market.
Global container carrier sails deeper into North American warehouse and distribution services.
Assistant Commissioner Todd Owen said additional reimbursable services agreements help Customs and Border Protection facilitate commerce during COVID-19 pandemic.
CNBC’s Lori Ann LaRocco provides commentary on how the Phase One trade deal between the U.S. and China has not worked as thought, at least to date….
Leader of container and chassis provider organizations heartened to see cooperation during the coronavirus crisis “to minimize the impact for the greater good.”
Sick seafarer has been isolated on board the container ship off the coast of Spain.
Commissioner Rebecca Dye will lead the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission effort with industry to identify “operational solutions to cargo delivery challenges” caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
CEVA and DHL free themselves from contractual constraints to realign operations and facilitate pricing flexibility during pandemic.
More booking cancellations equal more ocean-service cancellations equal more delivery uncertainty.
Crew members evacuated from container ship, tested for coronavirus and hospitalized in China.
An in-depth look at coronavirus risks to Panama Canal transits.
Maryland port’s Seagirt Marine Terminal will not move cargo Monday and Tuesday.
If confirmed, these would be the first reported cases of COVID-19 on board a container ship.
Carrier generates $815 million in cash with sale of stakes in eight port terminals.
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission’s legal staff is expected to deliver its final demurrage and detention rulemaking assessment to the commissioners in the next several weeks.
Social distancing will wreak havoc on trans-Pacific and Asia-Europe box volumes.
Critical cargo initiative launched to quickly process imports needed in the fight against the coronavirus.
Best February ever recorded despite challenges from coronavirus pandemic.
An exclusive interview with Nerijus Poskus, global head of ocean freight at Flexport.
The second-shift change will provide time to clean handling equipment to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
One of the world’s largest suppliers of disposable rubber gloves may resume exports to the U.S. after resolving forced labor concerns, Customs and Border Protection said.
International Maritime Organization secretary-general stresses that world trade during the coronavirus pandemic depends on the mariners who move goods.
China-to-U.S. box rates are losing steam after last week’s rise.
“It’s important for us to keep the supply chain fluid” during the coronavirus pandemic, Executive Director Gene Seroka says.
The contractor dismantling the capsized Golden Ray car carrier responds to vice president’s plea to help fight the spread of the coronavirus.
Washington governor also asked Trump for hospital ship’s help during coronavirus pandemic.
“This agreement will help our farmers and ranchers by maintaining export markets, which will reduce the overall impact of an outbreak to our agriculture industry,” USDA said.
“Vessel-sharing is the backbone of the global liner shipping network,” John Butler, the World Shipping Council’s president and CEO, said.
Ports of Seattle and Tacoma still operating normally but handling less cargo.
“IT strength and capability” helping Orient Overseas (International) Limited service customers during coronavirus crisis.
Ocean shipping has functioned well during the outbreak but pressures are mounting.
Alabama facility operating normally during coronavirus pandemic.
Hall of fame induction and trade conference postponed until September.
The administration has not announced West Coast destination of Navy hospital ship being deployed to assist during coronavirus pandemic.
“Regulated entities remain obligated to comply with all filing requirements and deadlines,” the U.S Federal Maritime Commission said.
Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency issues guidance on critical industries as millions of Americans ordered to stay home.
Blanked sailings blamed for two terminals scheduling one- and two-day suspensions of operations.
The United States has plunged into a recession and imports may never recover, says the former Trailer Bridge CEO.
Americans for Free Trade, which represents more than 100 trade organizations, said eliminating existing U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods would boost the American economy by $75 billion during the COVID-19 crisis.
Halt of cruise voyages will slash HFO demand, a positive for cargo ships with scrubbers.
Executive Director Gene Seroka said the coronavirus has not impacted landside operations.
SeaIntelligence Consulting CEO says impact from pandemic could total about 10% of global volumes.
The Trump administration notified Congress that it will begin bilateral trade agreement talks with the East African country.
CEO Jim Newsome says the SCPA is “working full steam” to meet its obligation to keep the supply chain fluid during the coronavirus crisis.
Office operations that remain open implement CDC guidance to protect employees from spreading or contracting COVID-19.
