The basics of container stowage planning and why it is so important
In view of the recent incidents relating to stack collapses on board and containers lost at sea, I thought a refresher on “What is container stowage planning and how it works” would be in order..
This is also to remind everyone in the shipping chain – exporters, agents, freight forwarders, carriers, documentation teams, vessel operators, and stowage planners, the importance of providing and using the correct information for the planning and stowage of the vessel..
Container stowage planning is an art and I absolutely loved the time when I used to do it.. While there are computer systems to do this these days, the basics remain the same..
In this article I have explained how the stowage planning works and why it is so important..
Hydrogen Council welcomes new shipping members – CMA CGM and NYK
Hydrogen is being considered as a very viable alternative to fossil fuels and low sulphur fuels to power the maritime industry..
The Hydrogen Council, a CEO lead coalition comprising of 92 members including large multinationals, innovative SMEs and investors collectively welcomed two new steering members: CMA CGM and Microsoft; seven supporting members: Baker Hughes, Clariant, MAHLE, NYK Line, Port of Rotterdam, TechnipFMC and Umicore; and two investors: Mubadala Investment Company and Providence Asset Group..
Adani successfully completes first export using India’s Inland Waterways
On the 30th June 2020, a barge “MV Pruthvi” carrying 45 TEUs of sponge iron left Haldia Docks on its maiden voyage to Dhaka on the Indo Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR)..
This first-ever containerised cargo from India to Bangladesh using the Inland Waterways reached Pangaon International Container Terminal, Dhaka on the 12th of July 2020..
This movement which was organised by Adani Logistics Limited in association with Five Star Logistics Private Limited carried the cargo of Rashmi Cement Ltd and Orissa Metaliks Pvt. Ltd..
Loss of containers at sea forces temporary closure of Port of Ngqura
The MSC Palak a Portuguese flagged container ship built in 2016 with a carrying capacity of 9,411 TEUs is reported to have lost 23 containers while at anchorage around the Port of Ngqura (Coega) along the Eastern Coast of South Africa..
APL England reaches China for repairs
On the 24th of May 2020, APL England, a container ship experienced a temporary loss of propulsion during heavy seas about 73 kilometres south-east of Sydney causing around 50 containers to fall overboard and leading to the collapse of around 74 containers within the stacks on board the ship..
After much debate and controversy over AMSA’s action holding the master of the ship personally responsible for the incident, the empty APL England was released on 19th of June and allowed to sail from Australia to undertake repairs in China..
The APL England arrived in China (Zhoushan) on the 4th of July and remains under AMSA detention while the vessel undergoes repairs..
APL England containers lost at sea – Update 30th May
As reported, the APL England, a 5,780 TEU capacity containership lost around 40 containers off the coast of New South Wales in Australia with around 74 containers lying in a collapsed state within the stacks on board the ship..
Although inspections are continuing, preliminary investigations have found that the lashing arrangement for the cargo was inadequate and that some of the securing points for containers on deck were heavily corroded..
These findings are clearly in breach of the requirements of SOLAS (The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Seas) and as a consequence, the ship has been detained in the Port of Brisbane by AMSA and it is understood that this detention will be lifted only after these serious deficiencies have been fixed by the ship’s owner APL and the vessel operator..
In the meantime, charges have been laid against the Master (Captain) of the APL England relating to pollution and/or damage of the Australian marine environment due to this incident..
Assess your shipping and freight knowledge – Take this Quiz
So, you think you know about Shipping and Freight, huh..!! Well, who better to assess your shipping and freight knowledge than YOURSELF..!! Take this Shipping and Freight Quiz and find out for yourself..
This quiz has 20 questions relating to day to day shipping and freight matters and takes only 10 minutes to complete..
These quizzes are designed to help you :
- identify gaps in your shipping and freight knowledge
- expand, enhance or improve your knowledge about all things maritime, shipping, freight, logistics and supply chain
- promote the improvement of your shipping and freight knowledge in a fun way
- think about a particular situation from different angles or simply ‘to think out of the box’
So go ahead and take this quiz and see how you fare.. Good luck.. 🙂
Impact of Coronavirus on Reefer Containers
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) the newest strain of coronavirus has been causing severe disruption around the world and particularly in China, the world’s second largest economy and a trade powerhouse for most of the countries around the world..
Many container lines have announced blank sailings cancelling the calls into China to avoid the crew contracting and spreading coronavirus to other ports along the liner service route..
These cancellations alongwith the shutdown in China also means that in a lot of the cases, containers meant for the Chinese markets are either stranded on board ships, off loaded in alternate locations or sitting in the various ports and terminals incurring port storage, demurrage and detention..
Among the containers that are exposed to potentially huge losses, the biggest would be Reefer Containers carrying perishable cargo..
Coronavirus and its legal implications to the shipping and freight industry
Coronavirus has adversely affected the shipping and freight industry and global trade as a consequence.. Here we look at some of the legal implications of this epidemic..
Shipping and Freight Review 2019 – the year and the decade
The last year of the decade is fast fading into the horizon.. 2019 is almost done..
2019 and the decade has been one of continued trade wars, maritime disasters, size race, and containers, ships and bills of lading getting smart and many interesting aspects..
Here is my take on how the shipping and freight industry fared in 2019 and the decade..