James Rice of MIT outlines the pros and cons of making ports public facilities rather than single user or dedicated. Flexibility increases. I think the trend toward sharing port space is part of a trend to public-private partnerships and a sharing of benefits more broadly. And it has to do with the expense of infrastructure. We need more players to pick up some of the infrastructure cost. Public financing for it is done.
Building Port Resilience | Supply Chain @ MIT.
Posted in Logistics, Shipping, Supply Chains
The Journal of Commerce reports that a new freight train service to Europe from China is available. The service will take about 18 days to reach Hamburg, shorter than a sea voyage. Container by rail is only slightly more costly than container by ocean shipping, and has a smaller environmental footprint, measured in carbon or particulate. At sea the pollution is discharged in no jurisdiction, whereas rail discharges where people might live.In the vast expanses of western Asia, the effects will not be politically harmful. So this line could indeed be competitive.
There will be 14 trains a year, or about one each month, so it won’t be the frequency of liner shipping.
Zhengzhou-to-Europe Rail Freight Debuts | JOC.
http://www.deutschebahn.com/en/hidden_rss/pi_rss/4261464/20130802_zhengzhou_train.html
Posted in Logistics, Shipping, Strategy, Supply Chains
The Panama maritime logistics group consisting of the Canal, the Ports, and Colon Free Zone, has had an awful year. It seems to be due to slowdowns of European and US economy, and to Venezuela’s troubles.
Posted in Logistics, Shipping, Supply Chains
Supply Chain Digest Port Technology International Marine Link
Supply Chain and Logistics 