Join our crew and become one of the 104,497 members that receive our newsletter.

The Loadstar

The Loadstar is fast becoming known at the highest levels of logistics and supply chain management as one of the best sources of influential analysis and commentary.


Friday, December 1, 2023
Aerial view of a container ship
Shipping

Failure of Rate Increases Points to Tough Times Ahead for Ocean Carriers

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Notwithstanding three attempts at GRIs (general rate increases) in 45 days, Asia-North Europe container spot rates have

December 1, 2023
Total Views: 1004

Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Aerial view of containerships at the port of Southampton
Shipping

Fleet-Heavy Ocean Carriers Also Stuck With too Many Containers

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar)- Not only do ocean carriers have too many ships, they also have too many containers to fill vessels that are being deployed. In

November 28, 2023
Total Views: 4930

Friday, November 24, 2023
Stock image of an MSC containership
Shipping

MSC Slaps Surcharge on Boxes Through Restricted Panama Canal

By Alexander Whiteman (The Loadstar) – MSC has slapped a bumper $297 per teu surcharge on shipments transiting the Panama Canal in response to the

November 24, 2023
Total Views: 3130

Tuesday, November 21, 2023
panama canal tonnage record
Shipping

More Surcharges Loom as Panama Canal Restrictions Tighten

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – French carrier CMA CGM is set to become the first major carrier to apply a new surcharge on shipments transiting the

November 21, 2023
Total Views: 6636

Friday, November 17, 2023
Stock photo shows a MSC shipping container being lifted onto a ship
Shipping

Carriers Struggle to Uphold Rate Increases as Spot Rally Fades

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – After recording gains across the board last week, the container spot market indices are back to flashing red for the

November 17, 2023
Total Views: 928

Wednesday, November 15, 2023
A containership in port
Shipping

Danaos Navigates Market Uncertainty with Strong Q3 Profits

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Greece-based non-operating containership owner (NOO) Danaos recorded another strong result in the third quarter,

November 15, 2023
Total Views: 573

Friday, November 10, 2023
FILE PHOTO: Containers are seen on the Maersk's Triple-E giant container ship Majestic Maersk, one of the world's largest container ships, as it sails in the Strait of Gibraltar towards the port of Algeciras, Spain January 19, 2023. REUTERS/Jon Nazca/File Photo
Shipping

Ocean Carriers’ Race to the Bottom Hits Earnings

By Alexander Whiteman (The Loadstar) – Carriers are themselves driving the rates ‘race to the bottom’ they warned would lead to a “dire

November 10, 2023
Total Views: 7660

Thursday, November 9, 2023
Strike Threat Looms Over US East and Gulf Coast Ports in 2024
Shipping

Strike Threat Looms Over US East and Gulf Coast Ports in 2024

By Ian Putzger (The Loadstar) – Even before contract negotiations get underway, the threat of a strike shutting down US ports on the east and Gulf coasts

November 9, 2023
Total Views: 3195

Thursday, November 2, 2023
Aerial top view of a containership at port
Shipping

Carriers’ Failure to Boost Spot Prices Could Threaten Contract Rates

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Ocean carriers aim to have at least 50% of their business fixed by way of annual contracts, which are generally agreed

November 2, 2023
Total Views: 1059

Monday, October 30, 2023
The CMA CGM Marco Polo container ship passes under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, to enter New York Harbor. Photo: REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
Shipping

Westbound Transatlantic ‘A Total Disaster’

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – According to CMA CGM, westbound transatlantic ocean rates have now hit “unsustainable levels”. The French carrier

October 30, 2023
Total Views: 13616

Friday, October 27, 2023
A cargo ship is moored in the Port of Long Beach while cranes retrieve cargo containers from the ship
Shipping

Ocean Carriers’ Hopes for Rate Hike Dampened as Spot Rates Spiral

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Drewry’s WCI container spot rate index was a sea of red ink again this week, ahead of a planned wave of ocean carrier

October 27, 2023
Total Views: 1438

Thursday, October 26, 2023
A worker on a container crane at the Port of Los Angeles
Shipping

Transpacific Container Volumes Bounce Back

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – US domestic and transpacific carrier Matson has reported “solid freight demand, despite the muted peak season” in

October 26, 2023
Total Views: 1871

Monday, October 23, 2023
Maersk ship entering the Port of Rotterdam. Photo: Shutterstock
Shipping

Ocean Carriers Await Relief as Demand Improves on Key Tradelane

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – There is welcome news for Asia-North Europe carriers, with signs of improving demand on the troubled tradelane as

October 23, 2023
Total Views: 1941

Thursday, October 19, 2023
Yang Ming containership
Shipping

Maersk Takes Over Yang Ming Charter

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Yang Ming has sub-let one of the quintet of 12,690 teu vessels it took on a 10-year charter in 2020-21 to rival ocean

October 19, 2023
Total Views: 4695

Friday, October 13, 2023
Stock photo of a ONE containership at berth
Shipping

ONE Named Most Carbon-Efficient Carrier by Xeneta

By Charlie Bartlett (The Loadstar) – Ocean Network Express (ONE) has been named by Xeneta as the most carbon-efficient carrier this year – and

October 13, 2023
Total Views: 1331

Wednesday, October 11, 2023
File photo of a containership in port
Shipping

Container Shipping’s Loss of EU Antitrust Exemption ‘May Backfire on Shippers’, Analyst Warns

By Alexander Whiteman (The Loadstar) – The European Commission’s decision not to renew the Consortia Block Exemption Regulation (CBER) after more

October 11, 2023
Total Views: 1778

Friday, October 6, 2023
The M/V Berlin Express pictured at the Container Terminal Burchardkai in the Port of Hamburg. Photo courtesy Hapag-Lloyd
Shipping

Container Shipping: Analysts Warn of ‘Severe Downturn’ as New Capacity Hits the Water

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Asia-North Europe carriers took advantage of the Chinese national holiday this week to announce new headhaul FAK rates,

October 6, 2023
Total Views: 7849

Thursday, October 5, 2023
Hapag-Lloyd Container-ship BOSTON EXPRESS
Shipping

Carriers Batten Down the Hatches Ahead of Potential Worst Slack Season on Record

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Following Hapag-Lloyd’s announcement on Monday of a huge hike in its Asia-Europe FAK rates, CMA CGM has advised

October 5, 2023
Total Views: 7368

Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Stock photo shows a MSC shipping container being lifted onto a ship
Shipping

FMC Dismisses ‘Unjustified’ Shipper Complaint Against MSC

By Charlotte Goldstone (The Loadstar) – The US Federal Maritime Commission has dismissed the latest case against the world’s largest container line,

October 3, 2023
Total Views: 1342

Friday, September 29, 2023
A container terminal at the Port of Saint-Petersburg, Russia. January 9, 2023
Shipping

150,000 Empty Containers Piled Up in Russia

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – The huge trade imbalance between China and Russia since the invasion of Ukraine has led to some 150,000 teu of empty

September 29, 2023
Total Views: 3415
close

JOIN OUR CREW

Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 104,497 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.

gCaptain’s full coverage of the maritime shipping industry, including containerships, tankers, dry bulk, LNG, breakbulk and more.