Author Archives: just2bruce

Port of Chicago attracts $500 million

Posted on July 23, 2013 | Leave a comment

The Chicago area has good water transport access, but it has fallen into disuse.  Employment in the sector is currently very low.

Now there is a big investment in water transport coming.  Water transport offers possibilities for reducing congestion on roads and even rail, and reducing transportation emissions per unit of cargo moved.

As in Europe,water transport may become more popular as we try to make freight transport more sustainable.  Of course good connections with other modes is required, as is modern handling equipment.

Chicago Tribune – Breaking Business – Port of Chicago attracts $500 million investment.

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Posted in Shipping, Supply Chains

Kuehne+Nagel expects P3 alliance to go ahead

Posted on July 22, 2013 | Leave a comment

http://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/freight-directory/news/kuehnenagel-expects-p3-alliance-to-go-ahead/20018059534.htm?source=ezine&utm_source=Lloyd%27s+Loading+List+Daily+News+Bulletin&utm_campaign=c82010854d-LLL_Top_Stories7_22_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1a5c244239-c82010854d-257567653#.Ue2OhJe3NFo

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Posted in Shipping, Supply Chains

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Is bigger better in ocean shipping?

Posted on July 22, 2013 | Leave a comment

The P3 consortium may expand to more companies. This is a form of cooperation or collusion protected by law in many countries, so that guaranteed service can be provided when it would be too expensive and risky for one shipowner to do it.  But is bigger always better?  And how about the consumer, the shipper? Is there a chance of collusion on rates?

Faster clock speed of business may require more frequent service, and that makes it even harder to provide ships often enough.  Right now, freight rates are low, and we do not see the consortium as a problem.  In fact, it allows slow steaming to be offset by more frequent ships, which levels out the delivery time problem it causes. But in the future, there is some chance rates will go up.

Maersk cannot rule out a P4 network – Lloyd’s Loading List.

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Posted in Shipping, Strategy, Supply Chains