The Loadstar

The Loadstar is an independent, United Kingdom based, supply chain and logistics publication covering freight forwarding, air cargo, ocean shipping, ports, and international trade policy. gCaptain republishes select Loadstar coverage under content partnership terms when stories are materially relevant to maritime and offshore readers. Loadstar stories on gCaptain are clearly attributed and may be edited for house style, formatting, and headline clarity while preserving source reporting.


Friday, August 19, 2022
oocl containership
Shipping

Ocean Carriers Remain Buoyant Despite Spot Rates Collapse and Falling Demand

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Container spot rates from China to Middle East and intra-Asia routes are reported to have “collapsed” this week,

August 19, 2022
Total Views: 1132

Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Ocean Carriers Making Contingency Plans as Felixstowe Labor Dispute Hardens
Ports

Ocean Carriers Making Contingency Plans as Felixstowe Labor Dispute Hardens

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Ocean carriers calling at Felixstowe are making contingency plans in case the eight-day strike at the UK’s biggest

August 16, 2022
Total Views: 1927

Friday, August 12, 2022
Aerial view of a container ship
Shipping

More Blank Sailings Likely as Spot Rates Tumble

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Container spot rates are falling fast on all export routes from China in what should normally be the peak season for

August 12, 2022
Total Views: 1408

Wednesday, August 10, 2022
HMM Containership leaving port
Shipping

Ocean Carrier HMM Sees ‘Considerable Uncertainties’ Ahead for Container Shipping as Profits Roll In

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – South Korea’s national flagship carrier, HMM, reported a net profit of $2.24bn in the second quarter, for a

August 10, 2022
Total Views: 2808

Friday, August 5, 2022
container shipping
Environment

Containership Charter Market Could See New Spike as Ships Slow Down for New Emissions Regulations

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – The containership charter market could see a new spike this year, as liner operators look to redesign their

August 5, 2022
Total Views: 1895

Wednesday, August 3, 2022
Close in photo of Maersk ship loaded with containers
Shipping

Confident Maersk Builds $19 Billion M&A War Chest

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Maersk CEO Soren Skou told investors today he remained “confident” about the shipping line’s contracted customers

August 3, 2022
Total Views: 2893

Friday, July 29, 2022
Dock Strikes and Shippers Seeking Rate Renegotiations Add Pressure on Carriers
Shipping

Dock Strikes and Shippers Seeking Rate Renegotiations Add Pressure on Carriers

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – The threat of dock strikes at Felixstowe and Liverpool next month, together with the potential resumption of

July 29, 2022
Total Views: 863

Wednesday, July 27, 2022
Port of Rotterdam. Photo Credit: Aerovista Luchtfotografie / Shutterstock.com
Ports

Carriers Urged to Stick to Schedule as North Europe Port Volumes Fall

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – The two biggest North European hub ports, Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges, handled fewer containers in the first half of

July 27, 2022
Total Views: 1152

Friday, July 22, 2022
A cargo ship is moored in the Port of Long Beach while cranes retrieve cargo containers from the ship
Shipping

Spot Rates Tumble Amid Muted Start To Peak Season

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) Container spot rates from Asia to Europe and the US are coming under increased pressure, as the peak season appears “muted”

July 22, 2022
Total Views: 3432

Tuesday, July 19, 2022
U.S. Container Imports Rise in June as Congestion Shifts East
Shipping

U.S. Container Imports Rise in June as Congestion Shifts East

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) US import container volumes grew by 5.9% in June, year on year, defying weaker consumer demand trends. According to the latest

July 19, 2022
Total Views: 1994

Thursday, July 14, 2022
German Dockworkers Begin Two-Day Strike Adding to Congestion Woes
Shipping

German Dockworkers Begin Two-Day Strike Adding to Congestion Woes

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Dockers walked out of German ports at six o’clock this morning at the start of a 48-hour strike that will paralyse

July 14, 2022
Total Views: 2468

Tuesday, July 12, 2022
Containers are seen stacked at the Yangshan Deep-Water Port
Shipping

Shanghai’s Mass COVID Testing Raises Spectre of More Lockdown Disruption

By Sam Whelan (The Loadstar) – With mass testing again underway, there are renewed fears that Shanghai could go back into lockdown and disrupt peak

July 12, 2022
Total Views: 1655

Thursday, July 7, 2022
oocl containership
Shipping

OOCL Proves Carriers Can Still Perform in Softer Market

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Ocean carrier average rates per teu appear to have plateaued in the second quarter, as contract rate increases are

July 7, 2022
Total Views: 2273

Wednesday, July 6, 2022
HMM Containership leaving port
Shipping

SM Line Increases Stake in HMM, Fueling Takeover Speculation

By Martina Li in Taiwan (The Loadstar) – SM Line has expanded its hold on HMM after buying more shares, leaving the market to wonder if the rival South

July 6, 2022
Total Views: 1366

Thursday, June 30, 2022
Aerial top view of a containership at port. Stock Photo: Shutterstock/Avigator Fortuner
Shipping

Ocean Carriers Blanking Sailings to Mitigate Dip in Demand -Project44

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Ocean carriers are resorting to more aggressive blanking strategies to manage a dip in demand, according to the

June 30, 2022
Total Views: 3968

Tuesday, June 28, 2022
ONE Announces Industry-First Weight Discrepency Surcharge for Overweight Containers
Shipping

ONE Announces Industry-First Weight Discrepency Surcharge for Overweight Containers

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Asia-Europe ocean carriers are cracking down on rogue shippers who incorrectly declare westbound booking container

June 28, 2022
Total Views: 4449

Friday, June 24, 2022
containers at port of los angeles
Uncategorized

Spot Container Freight Rates Dip Below Long-Term on Transpacific

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – Spot container freight rates on the main east-west deepsea headhaul trades continued to edge downwards this week,

June 24, 2022
Total Views: 886

Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Yang Ming containership
Shipping

Shipper Complaint Accuses Yang Ming and HMM of Collusion and Profiteering

By Nick Savvides (The Loadstar) – An Illinois shipper is suing Taiwanese operator Yang Ming and South Korean carrier HMM, claiming they benefited

June 22, 2022
Total Views: 1404

Thursday, June 16, 2022
Maersk ship entering the Port of Rotterdam
Ports

Carriers Battle to Ease Congestion at Northern European Ports

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Maersk is looking to overland Asian containers at less-congested North European ports and evacuate long-stay imports to

June 16, 2022
Total Views: 901

Monday, June 13, 2022
German Ports Brace for More Strikes as Pay Talks Fail
Ports

German Ports Brace for More Strikes as Pay Talks Fail

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Shipping lines serving North Europe’s third-biggest container port, Hamburg, are bracing for further industrial

June 13, 2022
Total Views: 2801