I think the key phrase in here is the suffering generated by cargo that is piling up, either not being moved, or stuck waiting for onshore capacity.
It’s an interesting piece and gets in some of each side. Shippers and Carriers (and to some extent ports) are a loggerheads.
By Sam Whelan 02/09/2021
There’s a ‘meltdown of container shipping market’ coming as cargo piles up – The Loadstar
Posted in Logistics, Ports, Shipping, Strategy, Supply Chains
Tagged container shipping, customer service, intermodal, Logistics, ocean shipping, ports, Shipping, supply chains
Maersk is one of the largest, and possibly the most advanced, ocean carriers. The LA/LongBeach ports have been a problem area for air pollution and sustainabiolity for many years. There’s no rail connection directly to the ports, and even so, rail is powered by diesel.
Presently containers are trucked to outlying areas like Riverside or San Bernardino where there are many distribution centers. Ocean containers are 40-feet long. They are often ‘transloaded’ to 53-foot trailers which are the standard size in the US, for long distance travel to the destination. That transloading is done at the distribution centers. Or cargo is delivered direct to customers within the LA basin.
Electric trucks have zero emissions when measured by today’s standards. They also should require substantially less maintenance, without an internal combustion engine (ICE). Using the trucks for these short hauls will reduce pollution near the ports, and also on the LA freeways. And with a fixed route they can be kept charged easily at charging stations near the port. It’s a good thing to try out.
Maersk has made a big point of their commitment to get to zero emissions by 2050. This is one more experiment in the process.
Volvo makes the trucks in Virginia, and they are supposed to be rolling off the assembly line by now.
1 September 2021 Port Technology International Team
Maersk firm strikes deal for 16 electric trucks across Southern California – Port Technology International
Posted in Logistics, Ports, Shipping, Supply Chains, Trucking
Tagged container shipping, electric vehicles, Logistics, ocean shipping, ports, supply chains, sustainability, transportation, trucking
This story has legs. Now the office staff of HMM are involved, and there are sympathy strikes by other Korean line seafarers. Seafarers have been severely hurt by the Covid stress, some not seeing shore for long periods. Ocean carriers such as HMM are now making bundlesofmoney becauseofvast shortages of container carryng capacity and ports that can’t deal with the increased flow, and workers on the ships recognize that now is the time to throw a wrench into the money-making shipping lines’ projections.
By Martina Li in Taiwan 01/09/2021
HMM seafarers step up pay protest, and now office staff also vote to strike – The Loadstar
Posted in Labor Economics, Logistics, Shipping
Tagged labor relations, Logistics, ocean shipping
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