Articles

2019 was quite the year for maritime disasters with ships on fire, containers falling off ships etc.. 2020 seems to be hitting the industry in other ways which could also be considered a kind of maritime disaster. But in what may be the first reported case of containers falling off ships in 2020, the APL England a 5,780 TEU capacity containership lost around 40 containers off the coast of New South Wales in Australia.   It has also been reported that around 74 containers are lying in a collapsed state within the stacks on board the ship. The APL England was on its routine A3N ANL service between Asia and Oceania (China to Melbourne) when it is said to have rolled in heavy weather, losing the containers overboard. As per the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), the ship experienced a temporary loss of propulsion during heavy seas about 73kms South-East off Sydney. The … [Read more...] about Motion of the Ocean -Containers falling off ships while at sea

The global supply chain and the logistics systems that drive it are in a period of enormous change; this change is only going to accelerate as new technologies transform traditional models and enable new efficiencies and faster delivery.   The global supply chain is under immense pressure from growing freight volumes, increasing complexity, cross-border regulations and dynamic changes driven by trade wars and political upheaval. It is also experiencing the impact of exponential growth in ecommerce, which can be seen as a new class of high volume, small parcel freight. This newclass of freight, which is increasingly international, demands shorter delivery times, better visibility and predictability.   At the same time, the execution of international logistics remains fragmented despite increasing margin pressure. International logistics still grapples with a largely … [Read more...] about Straight-through digital processing is the future of logistics technology

Covid case confirmations, road blocks, cargo-seal shortages, power outages and related issues compromising effective road freight sum up the challenges transporters are facing across the Southern African Development Community (SADC). This morning the port manager from the Groblersbrug border post in Limpopo, AC Motebele, confirmed that the port of entry into Botswana had been closed after a police officer had tested positive for the coronavirus. It was the third such case in as many days reported on South Africa’s side of three land borders into two neighbouring countries, and the second that affects freight in Botswana. Prior to the Groblersbrug confirmation, updates were still due about the situation at the Skilpadshek border post west of Zeerust, South Africa’s busiest crossing into Botswana and the most direct access way towards the Trans-Kalahari Corridor. Yesterday it … [Read more...] about Road freight operators face a perfect storm

Probably not related to COVID-19 but right on time, Ocean Network Express (ONE), the world’s sixth largest container line became the latest shipping line to offer fully electronic bills of lading to their customers.   As we have seen, we are in a unique moment in history as COVID-19 sweeps through the world affecting all countries around the world and in many cases disrupting the flow of physical documentation flow, especially with regards to Original Bills of Lading.   ONE announced recently that they handled their first ever electronic negotiable Bill of Lading (eB/L) using essDOCS’s paperless document solution, CargoDocs.As per the press release, ONE’s electronic bill of lading ambitions went live using a CargoDocs electronic bill of lading for a shipment of containerized synthetic rubber from Russia to China.   Commenting on the occasion, Richard … [Read more...] about ONE MORE LINE GOES THE ROUTE OF ELECTRONIC BILL OF LADING

Seaports are critical infrastructures to keep supply chains moving and economies across the world functioning. This becomes especially visible in times of global crisis. A great variety of business and government actors interact in port communities to ensure multimodal flows of vital medical and food supplies, critical agricultural products, energy streams and other goods and services reach their intended destinations in time.   Port community interactions comprise physical interactions - such as cargo handling operations, vessel-related services and supplies and multimodal transfers - as well as exchanges of data that facilitate clearance of cargo between jurisdictions. Being part of larger transport and logistics supply chains and representing clusters of companies and businesses in themselves, ports are well-placed to fully grasp the potential generated by the latest wave … [Read more...] about ACCELERATING DIGITALISATION OF MARITIME TRADE AND LOGISTICS A CALL TO ACTION