Cargo volumes at the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest port in the United States, fell more than 30% in March as the COVID-19 crises increasingly hit the global supply chain. The Port of Los Angeles moved 449,568 TEUs in March, a 30.9% decrease compared to last year. For the first quarter of 2020, volumes […]
Breaking News
A New Day for the American Merchant Marine: The Philly Shipyard and National Security Multi-Mission Vessels
By Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D. – National Maritime Day (May 22) came a month earlier than usual with the announcement by the Maritime Administration and TOTE Services, LLC, that Philly Shipyard, Inc., had been selected to build the first of a new class of training ships for the state maritime academies. Known as the National Security […]
ICS Issues New Guidance for Managing Ship and Seafarer Certificates Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
The International Chamber of Shipping has issued new guidance to support the shipping industry in its role of ensuring essential goods and commodities, such as energy, food and medical supplies, can be transported around the world during the coronavirus pandemic. The guidance provides important information for shipowners and operators on managing ship and seafarer certificates required […]
Global Food Exports Paralyzed by Growing Port Problems
By Jen Skerritt, Leslie Patton and Emele Onu (Bloomberg) — The port backups that have paralyzed food shipments around the world for weeks aren’t getting much better. In fact, in some places, they’re getting worse. In the Philippines, officials at a port that’s a key entry point for rice said earlier this week the terminal was […]
With Sailors Stranded, Shipping Faces a Hard Choice
By Adam Minter (Bloomberg Opinion) — Before the pandemic, 100,000 seafarers traveled in and out of the world’s ports every month. Some had spent weeks or months aboard the cargo ships, tankers and other merchant vessels that are essential to moving products and commodities across the globe. In a ritual little noticed outside the industry, new […]
