Articles
Ocean Shipping
National Security Starts With Individual Manufacturers
Shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other critical supplies like pharmaceutical ingredients and materials used in key technologies during the earliest days of the pandemic prompted the Biden-Harris Administration in 2021 to outline steps strengthening critical supply chains. It’s a long-overdue move that to some transportation experts may not go far enough in protecting national security.
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Things Go Better with Bulk
Due to shortages delaying—and even halting—transportation, big brands get creative to keep their product and materials moving. For example, Coca-Cola now transports materials in bulk shipping vessels, which are typically used for raw materials such as grain and coal. The beverage company chose the bulk carriers because it could not access containers and cargo space, […]
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Unleash Short Sea?
The ports around the Great Lakes would love to help offset some of the pain of the horror show called the "shipping crisis." Guess what. They can’t by law. Thank the Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF), a well-intended policy perfect for the 1980s, along with related regulations, for sidelining port capacity around the Great Lakes. The […]
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North American Ports Runneth Over
With consumer confidence increasing and economies opening, goods are moving through North American ports at an unprecedented rate, with imports through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach swelling 41.1% year over year through the first half of 2021 (see chart). Delays continue. Due to pent-up demand, major ports such as New York/New Jersey […]
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Port Services and Solutions
To address the multiple challenges of rising container volume, larger ships, and the need for more sustainable operations, many ports are embarking on substantial capital improvement projects. Here’s what’s on deck.
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Train or Truck? Ocean or Air? Choosing the Right Mode
Here’s some practical advice for deciding how to ship your load, in normal and new normal times.
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IL Exclusive Report: 5 Significant Service Trends
Which services are shippers buying, and what does that say about the current supply chain landscape? Take a look at five significant trends based on data from shippers responding to Inbound Logistics’ audience survey from July 2016 to July 2021: 1. Drop in site selection: The number of respondents making site, port, and facility selection […]
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Fertilizer Company Launches Autonomous, Zero-Emission Vessel
In an effort to reduce its reliance on diesel trucks, Norway-based fertilizer company Yara International has developed the first autonomous, zero-emission cargo ship. The Yara Birkeland is fully autonomous in piloting as well as port operations, allowing the vessel to dock, tether, and begin the cargo transfer process on its own. Yara relies on diesel […]
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Extreme Project Logistics: Take It to the Limit
Demanding logistics projects can bring out the best in teams as they band together to navigate an array of complex challenges.
Read MoreAnalyzing Congestion at U.S. Ports
Any operational disruptions in the maritime industry have significant effects on the entire ecosystem. Congestion at the ports, especially in southern California, has steadily increased as a result of massive volume increases.
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