shipping trade

Maintaining public health and trade flow: A critical COVID-19 conflict

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought an unprecedented disruption to global maritime trade, and an even bigger crisis is down the road unless global coordinated action is taken. Amid a growing uncertainty, the great dilemma for governments seems to be protecting public health and maintaining trade transport at the same time, subsequently, safeguarding global economic stability.

Exploring this conflicting issue was at the center of a Winward webinar, which convened maritime experts to discuss how...

https://safety4sea.com/cm-maintaining-public-health-and-trade-flow-a-critical-covid-19-conflict/

Communication is vital, Northern Marine’s Managing Director says

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread globally, the world is facing unprecedented challenges during this ongoing and dynamic situation, Philip W.B Fullerton, MD, Northern Marine Group says.

According to Mr. Fullerton, Northern Marine has as a priority the health and safety of its employees, and wants to ensure continuous safe and effective management of its clients’ vessels and, if where possible, uninterrupted delivery of its marine services.

It has been most humbling and pleasing to...

https://safety4sea.com/communication-is-vital-northern-marines-managing-director-says/

UNCTAD: Maritime trade must keep moving

As the world battles the COVID-19 pandemic, the global maritime transport industry is playing a critical role in the response, highlighted Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General of UNCTAD.

A call by the industry to all governments to keep maritime trade moving by allowing commercial ships continued access to ports worldwide and by facilitating the rapid changeover of ships’ crews should not go unheard.

According to Dr. Kituyi, shipping moves the world’s food, energy and raw materials, as well as...

https://safety4sea.com/unctad-maritime-trade-must-keep-moving/

Port of Piraeus remains operational despite COVID-19 pandemic

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the travel bans that has brought, Greece informed that the shipping trade at the Port of Piraeus is still not impacted, as it remains operational. According to Xinhua, Greek port authorities haven’t put any restrictions to the import or export of cargo at the moment.

Although the Greek government has shut down all the retail businesses except from supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, petrol stations and food delivery services.

“Piraeus port has not yet seen any...

https://safety4sea.com/port-of-piraeus-remains-operational-despite-covid-19-pandemic/

Argentina to boost grain operations after COVID-19 delays

In the wake of the COVID-19 situation, Argentina Ports has set new measures to limit the spread of the disease and help grain operations come back to normal. Specifically, following the country’s decision to close its borders, grains and oilseeds exporters said they may face several delays.

With Argentina being one of global’s leading exporters of grains, oilseeds and other such products, country’s transport ministry set measures to boost activity and stop the delays.

According to Reuters, this...

https://safety4sea.com/argentina-to-boost-grain-operations-after-covid-19-delays/

Incoterms: Do you know what Ex-Works and FCA are?

How well do you know your Incoterms rules? Or more specifically, Ex-Works and Free Carrier. These specific two terms, apply to any mode of transport.

Ex-Works

Ex-Works describes when a seller makes a product available at a specific location, and the buyer of the product must cover the transport costs.

When the goods are with the buyer’s agent or representative, the buyer is responsible for other risks, such like loading the goods onto trucks, transferring them to a ship or plane, and meeting...

https://safety4sea.com/incoterms-do-you-know-what-ex-works-and-fca-are/

COVID-19 impact on imports larger than expected

The COVID-19 outbreak is expected to have a longer and larger impact on imports at major US retail container ports than previously expected as factory shutdowns and travel restrictions in China continue to affect production, the Global Port Tracker report by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates says.

The report comes as a separate NRF survey of members found that 40% of respondents said they are seeing disruptions to their supply chains from the virus and that another 26% expect...

https://safety4sea.com/covid-19-impact-on-imports-larger-than-expected/

Standard Chartered is the first bank to join TradeLens

Standard Chartered Bank is the first financial institution to join TradeLens digital platform, jointly run by A.P. Moeller-Maersk and IBM. Specifically, the bank entered a formal agreement in order to make use of the platform.

In fact, Standard Chartered Bank will from now on be able to prove the authenticity of shipments, with the use of the initiative’s extensive record of real-time data and document exchange between the network of entities involved in a shipment.

As a critical link in the...

https://safety4sea.com/standard-chartered-is-the-first-bank-to-join-tradelens/

Ningbo Containerized Freight Index slightly falls

In the week ending March 6, Ningbo Containerized Freight Index (NCFI) quotes 752.1 points, slightly decreasing by 1.9% against last week. In the meantime, seven of the selected twenty-one routes keep an upward trend while other fourteen have fallen.

According to the freight indices of the primary ports along the Maritime Silk Road, nine ports appear a constant rising tendency while other nine are declining. More specifically:

Europe and Mediterranean routes

In the Europe and Mediterranean routes,...

https://safety4sea.com/ningbo-containerized-freight-index-slightly-falls/

Cyprus: Shipping industry negatively affected by the coronavirus

According to Cyprus’s Deputy Minister for Shipping, Natasa Pilides, the country’s shipping industry has been largely affected by the global spread of coronavirus. Ms Pilides also informed that the industry is following the guidelines of the ministry of health and is carrying out checks on board ships entering Cypriot ports.

As she explained, purchases and repairs of several vessels have stopped due to the coronavirus. Currently, Cyprus is communicating with shipping companies to advise them on...

https://safety4sea.com/cyprus-shipping-industry-negatively-affected-by-the-coronavirus/

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