We have seen recently that container shipping lines are getting tough with regards to customer declaration or misdeclaration of dangerous goods..
It seems that the lines are really serious about containing these problems which is obviously going to benefit them and global trade..
Maersk Line seems to be on track for this..
With #IMO2020 fast approaching – 194 days away as of this article – shipping lines, customers and ship owners are working hard on finding ways to be compliant (whether they like it or not)..
This is especially important in the wake of recent comments from IMO’s Frederick Kenney about the possibility of a postponement of the IMO2020 deadline “The chance is really zero. Procedurally, there is no mechanism that would allow the 0.50% regulation, as it stands right now, to change from 1 January 2020.”
There are still some questions over the use of open loop scrubbers which have been identified by the IMO as one of the several methods through which ships can meet lower sulphur emission standards.. Some of the main bunkering ports like Singapore and Fujairah have banned open loop scrubbers in their waters whereas some countries like South Africa have said yes to all types of approved scrubbers..
Then there are also the usage of bio fuels to power ships and shipments..
In what is termed as a first of its kind in the industry, a new carbon neutral product is being piloted by Maersk Line – the world’s largest container shipping line..
Maritime transport (sea transport) accounts for around 90% of the global trade.. While the greenhouse gas emissions from shipping is much lower than other modes of transport at around 2.6% of total global emissions, this share could more than triple by 2050 if additional measures are not taken to reduce these emissions..
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has been working to reduce the harmful impacts of shipping on the environment since the 1960’s and in 2016 adopted a new regulation commonly termed IMO 2020..
In line with this requirement and in an effort to reach its net zero CO2 target by 2050, Maersk Line will be teaming up with a group known as Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition (DSGC) consisting of Dutch multinationals – Friesland Campina, Heineken, Philips, DSM, Shell and Unilever (many of them Maersk Line’s customers) on a pilot project to test the use of second-generation biofuels.
Coastal and domestic cargo movement using the nation’s rivers is certainly gaining popularity in India..
In what was seen as a landmark moment in the history of shipping in India in recent times, PepsiCo moved 16 containers on the MV RN Tagore (for Rabindranath Tagore) from Kolkata to Varanasi on river Ganga using the National Waterway-1..
This marked India’s first container cargo movement through inland waterways..
This was followed by Concor’s (Container Corporation of India Ltd,.) announcement that they are entering the coastal shipping market in India..
Concor kicked off their coastal shipping operation from Kandla to Tuticorin via Mangalore and Cochin with their first sailing on Thursday the 10th January 2019..
They used SSL Mumbai a container ship with 1613 TEUs which from Kandla in the West Coast to Tuticorin in the East Coast of India calling Mangalore and Cochin, en route, marking the start of a “unique multi-modal logistics solution” as it has been labelled..
Recently, Maersk Line, the world’s largest container shipping company moved16 containers on the river Ganga (National Waterway-1) from Varanasi to Kolkata..
Smart containers are containers which are equipped with sensors designed to provide real-time tracking of their location and movements..
Using this technology, whether you are a shipping line, customer or security agency, you can track the progress of your containers anywhere in the world, plan your equipment and stock inventory which could possibly lead to reduced costs..
Maersk Line is taking the RCM one step further by integrating a Virtual Assistant with it..
There is a new shipping jargon in town and it is called Street Turn.. It is a charge about to be implemented by a few of the shipping lines..
This has the shippers up in arms with some terming it as insane, appalling and a huge mistake.. Read about it here and join a short poll on what your opinion is about the street turn..
Misdeclaration in weight or misdeclaration of hazardous content has been the bane of the shipping industry and the carriers who have suffered several consequences due to misdeclarations..
When such misdeclarations are done, it does not just affect the ship, the carrier involved and the person who chose to misdeclare their cargo.. These misdeclarations result in cargo damage and affect everyone else’s cargo, especially when entire ships are lost..
Millions of dollars worth of goods and assets are lost due to this, not to mention the huge impact on the environment and the loss of life (human or otherwise)..
IMO and other stakeholders took these misdeclarations seriously and SOLAS VGM came into effect.. Life after SOLAS VGM seems to be hunky dory and no major incidents have been reported in relation to weight misdeclarations..
However, the recent spate of maritime disasters is causing some worries to the container lines.. Having had first-hand experience with such misdeclarations and maritime disasters, the world’s largest container line – Maersk Line – has put its foot down on these misdeclared cargoes..
On the 6th of March 2018, Maersk Honam, one of Maersk’s ultra-large containerships caught fire in the Arabian Sea while en-route from Singapore to Egypt.. Five crew members perished in this incident which was one of several maritime disasters especially to have affected container ships in recent history..
Based on the lessons learnt from the Maersk Honam incident, Maersk Line announced that after a thorough review of current safety practices and policies in the stowage of dangerous cargo, they have implemented a set of new guidelines termed Risk Based Dangerous Goods Stowage to improve safety across its container vessel fleet..
Maersk Line has just revealed plans that the Maersk Honam will be resurrected..
A.P. Moller – Maersk becomes the first container shipping company to launch instant booking confirmation..
One of the first steps in a container shipment is the process of booking..
This is also one of the areas where the customers often face delays leading to frustrations resulting in sometimes the deal between the shipping line and the customer being cancelled even before the shipment takes place..
Maersk Line, currently the largest container shipping line in the world has reportedly become the first container shipping company to launch instant booking confirmation much like a flight ticket booking..
Read on..
On the 6th of March 2018, Maersk Honam, one of Maersk’s ultra-large containership caught fire while en-route from Singapore to Egypt, in the Arabian Sea..
Five crew members perished in this incident which was one of several containership disasters that have happened in recent history..
Learning from these lessons, Maersk Line announced that after a thorough review of current safety practices and policies in the stowage of dangerous cargo, they implemented a set of new guidelines called Risk Based Dangerous Goods Stowage to improve safety across its container vessel fleet..
An unfortunate situation has developed in the Arabian Sea where Maersk Honam had a serious fire on board.. There have been some casualties as a result of this..
Maersk Line sets a new world record..
I generally don’t post news items on this blog, but I thought this one would be of some relevance and consequence to the newcomers to the industry to hold in awe and wonder.. 🙂
A valid concern regarding the declaration and stowage of cargo on container ships.. There have been far too many incidents of late relating to ship accidents as can be seen … Read more here..