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.


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: 4464

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: 889

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: 1408

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: 2803

Friday, June 10, 2022
Spot Rates Set to Spike as Strikes and Congestion Hit North Europe
Shipping

Spot Rates Set to Spike as Strikes and Congestion Hit North Europe

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Despite a softening in demand, container spot rates from Asia to North Europe could be set to spike in the coming

June 10, 2022
Total Views: 895

Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Major Transpacific Carriers Expect Contract Earnings to Soar in Second Half
Shipping

Major Transpacific Carriers Expect Contract Earnings to Soar in Second Half

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Ocean carriers with a greater percentage of their business focused on the Asia and North America trades are likely to

June 8, 2022
Total Views: 763

Friday, June 3, 2022
Shippers ‘Bled Dry’ as Long-Term Contract Rates Soar Above Spot
Shipping

Shippers ‘Bled Dry’ as Long-Term Contract Rates Soar Above Spot

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Long-term container line contract rate agreements have reached new highs and, in some cases, are in excess of spot

June 3, 2022
Total Views: 2169

Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Port of Rotterdam. Photo Credit: Aerovista Luchtfotografie / Shutterstock.com
Shipping

North Europe Container Ports at Capacity Ahead of Peak Season

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – With a wave of import containers expected from Shanghai’s reopening and peak season just around the corner, North

June 1, 2022
Total Views: 1456

Friday, May 27, 2022
Yangshan Port south of Shanghai, China.
Shipping

China’s COVID Lockdowns: Is the Shanghai ‘Bullwhip’ Ready to Crack?

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – With Shanghai on the cusp of unlocking its manufacturing and unshackling frustrated container exports, spot rates from

May 27, 2022
Total Views: 1910

Wednesday, May 25, 2022
MSC Container ship enters portCatstyecam / Shutterstock.com
Shipping

Ocean Carriers’ Golden Summer May Be Postponed as Profits Plateau

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – There was another new record for ocean carrier earnings in Q1, but with operating costs spiralling and spot rates

May 25, 2022
Total Views: 1281

Friday, May 20, 2022
Carriers’ Blank Sailings Check Rates Decline as Regulators Watch On
Shipping

Carriers’ Blank Sailings Check Rates Decline as Regulators Watch On

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – The ‘drip-drip’ erosion of container spot rates on the transpacific and Asia-Europe tradelanes since the Chinese

May 20, 2022
Total Views: 1456

Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Port of Savannah Garden City Terminal
Ports

U.S. Container Imports Jump in April as Coastal Shift Continues

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – The seven-week Covid lockdown in Shanghai, prompting carriers to blank a third of export sailings on the Asia-Europe

May 17, 2022
Total Views: 2249

Friday, May 13, 2022
Yang Ming containership
Shipping

Horizon Murky for Container Shipping as Carriers Report Big Returns 

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – As container spot rates continue to wane and close in on contract rates two more ocean carriers have reported record

May 13, 2022
Total Views: 3773

Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Vytautas Kielaitis / Shutterstock.com
Shipping

Carriers Blank More Sailings as China’s COVID Lockdowns Continue

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Ocean carrier alliances are preparing to blank more than a third of their sailings from Asia over the coming weeks in

May 10, 2022
Total Views: 1771

Tuesday, May 3, 2022
yantian port
Ports

Ad-Hoc Carriers and Retail Charters Hit By China Lockdowns

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – The combination of Covid lockdown cargo delays in China and congestion at US east coast ports has prompted alliance

May 3, 2022
Total Views: 1306

Thursday, April 28, 2022
cargo ships loading at port of oakland
Shipping

ONE Reports Record $16.8 Billion Profit for Fiscal Year But Outlook Uncertain

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Japanese ocean carrier ONE has reported a record net profit of $16.8bn for its financial year ending 31 March –

April 28, 2022
Total Views: 930

Monday, April 25, 2022
Hapag-Lloyd Container-ship BOSTON EXPRESS
Shipping

Hapag-Lloyd Fined in U.S. for Erroneous D&D Charges 

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – German carrier Hapag-Lloyd has been ordered to pay $822,220 in civil penalties for 14 violations – $58,730 for

April 25, 2022
Total Views: 5895

Wednesday, April 20, 2022
oocl containership
Shipping

OOCL Making Aggresive Grab for Asia-Europe Market Share

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – OOCL’s first-quarter operational numbers not only confirm the unflagging colossal profitability of the liner

April 20, 2022
Total Views: 1729

Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Alarm Over Rising Container Dwell Times at West Coast Ports Prompts Calls for More Rail Support
Shipping

Alarm Over Rising Container Dwell Times at West Coast Ports Prompts Calls for More Rail Support

By Ian Putzger in Toronto (The Loadstar) – Concern over lengthening container dwell times at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach has caused U.S.

April 19, 2022
Total Views: 2270