Aggressive trans-Pac blank sailings likely through Lunar New Year amid freight downturn: sources

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Sep 26, 2023, 4:39 PM EDT

For importers and forwarders, the blank sailings mean the resulting schedule disruptions and “rolling” of cargo they are already experiencing at Asian load ports will force them to book more of their cargo with carriers they can count on to maintain schedule integrity.

Featured Gateway Chart

Learn More

Essential Reads

Flexport lost touch with customers under brief Clark reign: Petersen

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Sep 12, 2023

Flexport founder and CEO Ryan Petersen refused to pin the blame for the company’s abrupt change in leadership on waning freight demand, saying the forwarder “has been through worse macro environments.”

MSC makes bid for a half-stake in Hamburg’s main terminal operator

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Sep 13, 2023

The carrier has made a cash offer to acquire just under 50% of HHLA in a deal that will significantly expand its terminal and intermodal reach.

SSA aims for US Gulf, Southeast port growth as Ceres deal closes: CEO

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Sep 11, 2023

The head of terminal operator SSA Marine says ports along the US Gulf and Southeast have a strong cost advantage over the West Coast that is fueling their growth, with that gap only expected to widen.

Flexport’s bumpy evolution shows, ultimately, people and relationships matter

Peter Tirschwell | Sep 13, 2023

As many have observed in disparaging the notion of a “digital” forwarder, of which Flexport was the prototype, forwarding at its core is a business of people solving real-world problems for which there is not — and probably never will be — a technology solution, writes Peter Tirschwell.

Bed Bath & Beyond files FMC complaint against Yang Ming in capacity dispute

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Sep 12, 2023

The new allegation against Yang Ming comes less than a week after the carrier settled a dispute with another US importer, also over allegations it failed to honor vessel capacity commitments.

Rapid rail transit via sanctions-hit Russia has limited appeal for European shippers

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Sep 12, 2023

Sanctions imposed on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine continue to limit the attractiveness of transport times as low as 12 days offered by forwarders on the China-North Europe rail network.