Ships today have navigational and communications aids that were almost unthinkable even 50 years ago, much less in the 1700s. Back then (and ever since) lighthouses signaled mariners as they approached land. Over the centuries, the beacons from lighthouses in the United States and around the world have saved thousands of sailors from catastrophe. Even with their 21st century equipment, many ships still rely on lighthouse beacons to guide them to safety and away from danger.
maritime shipping
FreightWaves Classics: Port of Mobile is a key Gulf Coast port
The ports of the United States are our nation’s windows to the rest of the world. Imports and exports flow through them daily, helping maintain the world’s largest economy.
A key Gulf Coast port is located in Mobile, Alabama. It is one of the top 20 U.S. ports by volume. Located along the Mobile River where it empties into Mobile Bay, the Port of Mobile has deepwater terminals with direct access to 1,500 miles of inland and intracoastal waterways. These waterways serve the Great Lakes, the...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-classics-port-of-mobile-is-a-key-gulf-coast-port
Global shipping congestion calls for greater visibility
Capacity has just about reached its limit on the global stage as shippers and importers continue to brave exorbitant rates and ever-increasing tightness.
Third-party logistics services provider GEODIS echoed one U.K.-based forwarder’s sentiment that the “perfect storm” troubling ocean freight waters following the unprecedented Suez Canal blockage has only worsened. Rates continue to approach unsustainable levels on Asia-Europe lanes, which is hurting the freight’s movers and end consumers.
The...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/global-shipping-congestion-calls-for-greater-visibility
FreightWaves Flashback: Whose flag is the most convenient?
FreightWaves Classics articles look at various aspects of the transportation industry’s history. If there are topics that you think would be of interest, please send them to fwclassics@freightwaves.com.
The many industries that make up the world of freight have undergone tremendous change over the past several decades. Each week, FreightWaves explores the archives of American Shipper’s nearly 70-year-old collection of shipping and maritime publications to showcase interesting freight stories of...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-flashback-whose-flag-is-the-most-convenient
Maritime mania challenges supply chains — Great Quarter, Guys
This episode is brought to you by DDC FPO. DDC is a business process outsourcing provider that specializes in freight. Perhaps best known for Freight Billing, DDC recently launched IT Outsourcing to help supply chain stakeholders hit development milestones without risking financial performance. Learn more at ddcfpo.com.
With the news of Home Depot chartering its own ship and the COVID-19 problems persisting at ports across Asia, the pressure on Pacific maritime freight is still at an all-time...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/maritime-mania-challenges-supply-chains-great-quarter-guys
Panama spread hits all-time high as shippers flee to east coast
Chart of the Week: Freightos Baltic Index – China to North America West, China to North America East, Panama Spread SONAR: FBXD.CNAW, FBXD.CNAE, FBXD.PANA
Spot rates for shipping 40-foot containers from China to the North American east coast jumped 23% this past week, pushing the cost over $9,000 for the first time since the index was created. The big takeaway here is that capacity is probably tapped out into the west.
The Freightos Baltic Exchange Daily Index (FBXD) measures the average spot...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/panama-spread-hits-all-time-high-as-shippers-flee-to-east-coast
FreightWaves Classics: The Port of Virginia – America’s first port
The Port of Norfolk is located on the banks of the Elizabeth River at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. It is part of an urban area that also contains Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Hampton Roads, Newport News and Hampton. Collectively, this region is called Hampton Roads and elements of the Port of Virginia are located in the region.
Overview
The surrounding waterways, its location at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and its protected deep-water channels make the Port of Virginia an...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-classics-the-port-of-virginia-americas-first-port
Port of Oakland becomes next overflow valve for shippers
Chart of the Week: Inbound Ocean TEU Volume Index – Port of Oakland, Outbound Tender Volume INdex – San Francisco, Stockton SONAR: IOTI.USOAK, OTVI.SFO, OTVI.SCK
Shippers are booking over two times the amount of freight coming into the Port of Oakland as this time last year — a trend that could make the Northern California markets a much more favorable destination for truckload providers as evidenced by the increasing outbound tender volumes.
Normally a backhaul region, or an area that consumes...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/port-of-oakland-becomes-next-overflow-valve-for-shippers
Packaged goods shippers want transport regulators to deal with rising costs
Trucking and maritime regulators should take immediate action to help ease cost burdens on packaged goods shippers concerned about potential shortages amid signs of inflation, according to a manufacturing lobby group.
In a letter sent on Thursday to the National Economic Council, an office within the White House, the Consumer Brands Association (CBA), which represents shippers of consumer packaged goods (CPG), warned that the CPG industry “is experiencing the perfect storm: Costs associated with...
FreightWaves Classics: PortMiami handles cargo and cruises
The city and port of Miami are the U.S. gateways to the Caribbean, Central and South America. Today, Miami is a bustling, cosmopolitan city in a state with approximately 21.5 million (third-most populous in the United States).
The Port of Miami (or PortMiami) is located in Biscayne Bay at the mouth of the Miami River in far southeast Florida. It is east of the Everglades and south-southwest of the Port of Palm Beach. The area is one of the leading resort and tourism destinations in the nation.
T...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-classics-portmiami-handles-cargo-and-cruises