Ripples from Yantian port delays building to 'unprecedented' supply chain disruption
Shippers are facing a perfect storm as the logistics industry has entered an “an era of unprecedented disruption”, with ports crippled by acute congestion as the malaise faced by China’s Yantian spreads to others.
The delays to Chinese exports, which have escalated to 16 days or more for vessels not cancelling their Yantian call, threatens an impact significantly worse than March’s Suez Canal blockage.
Source: The Loadstar
Air cargo capacity to be cut back for slack season, despite China port delays
The chaos and congestion in southern China ports has yet to significantly impact air freight, which saw a dramatic lull in demand towards the end of May.
Carriers are expected to cut capacity slightly, as air cargo moves into its traditional low-demand months of the year.
Source: The Loadstar
Shippers renew call for block exemption to be removed
The Global Shippers’ Forum has used the current disruption in supply chains to renew its call for the removal of the consortia block exemption regulation.
Chief executive James Hookham said that shippers were bearing the brunt of the broken supply chain.
“We are not happy is the bottom line,” he told a webinar following the release of the latest quarterly market review by the GSF and MDS Transmodal, which seeks to monitor the box shipping sector in order to inform regulators of its performance.
Source: Lloyd's Loading List
UK driver shortage so bad, wholesalers want army trucks to deliver the goods
Calls to bring in the army to help ease the UK’s worsening driver shortage have been rebuffed by industry associations seeking “long-term sustainable solutions”.
Chief executive of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD) James Bielby said the situation had become so extreme, with the shortage hitting 70,000, he recommended the government having army trucks on standby “to ensure… enough vehicles and drivers to distribute food”.
Source: The Loadstar
The Port of Montreal sets course for innovative new green energy solutions
In response to the global movement to decarbonize the transportation industry, and consistent with its leadership in environmental issues, the Montreal Port Authority (MPA) continues to evolve towards clean energy, notably green hydrogen, ethanol and methanol.
On June 10, it signed a cooperation and development agreement with Greenfield Global, which specializes in the production of biofuels. In the wake of dockside shore power implemented in 2017, the development of green hydrogen will make indirect shore supply of electrical power possible for the marine industry.
Source: AJOT
Least-developed countries face maritime exclusion under new IMO rules
Many countries, particularly the so-called SIDS and LDCs (small island developing states and least-developed countries) could be left high and dry with limited maritime services if the latest short-term measures are approved, as expected, by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) today.
The Energy Efficiency for Existing Ships Index (EEXI) and Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), that will calculate the annual emissions of each ship, could mean many vessels of all types will not be able to legally operate after January 2023, or within one-to-three years after that date, should their owners choose to optimise the efficiency of their vessels through technical improvements, in an attempt to comply with the new rules.
Source: The Loadstar
Port of Los Angeles reaches 10m container unit milestone
The Port of Los Angeles has become the first port in the Western Hemisphere to process 10m container units in a 12-month period.
The landmark moment occurred when a container was loaded onto the CMA CGM AMERIGO VESPUCCI at Fenix Marine Services Container Terminal.
Source: Container Management
Fast services from Asia bypassing congested southern Californian ports
Two more container lines have suspended expedited services through the US port of Oakland.
They are following in the footsteps of Zim, which was forced to divert the inaugural sailing of its Central China E-Commerce Express to Los Angeles and will continue in this vein for the time being.
Source: The Loadstar
Panama Canal extends max length and increases draft for Neopanamax locks
The waterway begins to accommodate vessels up to 370.33 meters in maximum length overall and announces a 15.24-meter (50-foot) draft ahead of the expansion’s fifth anniversary.
Ahead of the fifth anniversary of its expansion, the Panama Canal has increased the maximum allowable length for vessels transiting the Neopanamax Locks. Since May 21, the maximum length overall (LOA) for commercial and non-commercial vessels acceptable for regular transits of the Neopanamax Locks is 370.33 meters (1,215 feet), up from 367.28 meters (1,205 feet).
Source: AJOT
Cargo owners' frustration as compensation dispute keeps Ever Given at anchor
Two and a half months after the 20,124 teu Ever Given was refloated following its grounding in the Suez Canal, the vessel and its 18,000 teu of cargo remains under arrest by the Suez Canal Authority (SCA).
The next review hearing in the Egyptian courts for the vessel, currently at anchor in the Great Bitter Lakes area of the canal, is scheduled for 20 June.
Source: The Loadstar
