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, March 3, 2017
maersk ship
News

Booking Again: Maersk Cashes In on Europe-Asia Capacity Crunch

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – After a short block on bookings this week, Maersk Line is again accepting cargo from North Europe to Asia. However the

March 3, 2017
Total Views: 104

Thursday, March 2, 2017
Shipping Can and Must Prevent Another Bankruptcy, FMC Chief Warns
Shipping News

Shipping Can and Must Prevent Another Bankruptcy, FMC Chief Warns

By Gavin van Marle in Long Beach (The Loadstar) – The entire shipping industry – carriers and their customers and suppliers – need to come together

March 2, 2017
Total Views: 26

Monday, February 27, 2017
Container Lines Face ‘Window of Opportunity” to Delay Newbuild Deliveries
News

Container Lines Face ‘Window of Opportunity” to Delay Newbuild Deliveries

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Container lines should follow the example of Maersk Line and negotiate deferring new vessel deliveries. Analyst Drewry

February 27, 2017
Total Views: 68

Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Surging Steel Price Boosts Scrap Value of Redundant Containerships
Shipping News

Surging Steel Price Boosts Scrap Value of Redundant Containerships

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – A sharp increase in steel prices has prompted a new wave of vessel scrapping, bringing the supply-demand ratio in

February 21, 2017
Total Views: 127

Thursday, February 16, 2017
rickmers maritime
News

Rickmers in Plea to Creditors for Help to Escape Going Under as Debts Mount

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Beleaguered panamax containership owner Rickmers Maritime Trust (RMT) has pleaded with its creditors for help to

February 16, 2017
Total Views: 47

Wednesday, February 15, 2017
CMA CGM Signs with E-Commerce Giant Alibaba
News

CMA CGM Signs with E-Commerce Giant Alibaba

CMA CGM has followed Maersk’s lead, signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the world’s largest e-commerce platform Alibaba. The agreement is for

February 15, 2017
Total Views: 108

Monday, February 6, 2017
Analyst Predicts Maersk Will Enjoy a Bumper 2017
News

Analyst Predicts Maersk Will Enjoy a Bumper 2017

By Mike Wackett  (The Loadstar) – Ahead of the Maersk Group 2016 annual report due on Wednesday, analyst Jefferies has predicted a substantial

February 6, 2017
Total Views: 70

Thursday, February 2, 2017
port of hong kong
News

Warning to Forwarders as ‘Plug-and-Play for Sea Freight’ Aims to Cut Them Out

By Sam Whelan, Australia-based China Sea Rates has launched the world’s first plug-and-play, door-to-door ocean freight booking system for e-commerce

February 2, 2017
Total Views: 77

Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Alphaliner: 100+ Panamax Containerships Must be Scrapped to Reach Break-Even Levels
Shipping News

Alphaliner: 100+ Panamax Containerships Must be Scrapped to Reach Break-Even Levels

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – At least 100 panamax-class containerships need to be scrapped if owners are to see charter rates return to break-even

February 1, 2017
Total Views: 216

Tuesday, January 31, 2017
hanjin ship
News

Hanjin Parent May Be Liable as Port of New York Pension Fund Joins Debtor Queue

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – As debt claims against bankrupt South Korean carrier Hanjin Shipping continue to mount in both the US and South

January 31, 2017
Total Views: 47

Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Port and Container Terminal Consolidation Can Mitigate the Impact of ULCVs
News

Port and Container Terminal Consolidation Can Mitigate the Impact of ULCVs

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Port and terminal consolidation is the “only long-term answer” to mitigate the impact of fewer calls of ultra large

January 25, 2017
Total Views: 142

Tuesday, January 24, 2017
U.S. FMC Commissioner Slams Green Light for Joint Tug Booking by Foreign Ro-Ro Carriers
News

U.S. FMC Commissioner Slams Green Light for Joint Tug Booking by Foreign Ro-Ro Carriers

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) will allow a consortium of ro-ro shipping lines to jointly negotiate the

January 24, 2017
Total Views: 49

Monday, January 23, 2017
Yang Ming: Reports of Impending Financial Death ‘Greatly Exaggerated’
News

Yang Ming: Reports of Impending Financial Death ‘Greatly Exaggerated’

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Yang Ming today sought to reassure customers and suppliers on its solvency as a global container carrier. The world’s

January 23, 2017
Total Views: 89

Thursday, January 19, 2017
yang ming hanjin ships
Shipping News

Following Hanjin’s Collapse, Heavily Indebted Yang Ming at Risk of Financial Trouble

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Following the bankruptcy of Hanjin, Taiwan’s Yang Ming is now the container line in the greatest financial danger,

January 19, 2017
Total Views: 135

Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Choo-Choo! New China-Europe Rail Link Set to Steal Air and Sea Freight Volumes
News

Choo-Choo! New China-Europe Rail Link Set to Steal Air and Sea Freight Volumes

By Alex Lennane (The Loadstar) – 2017 will be the year that China-Europe rail services shift supply chain patterns. As the first train from China rolled

January 18, 2017
Total Views: 81

Friday, January 13, 2017
CMA CGM and Cosco Seen as Most Likely Takers for OOCL
News

CMA CGM and Cosco Seen as Most Likely Takers for OOCL

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – CMA CGM and China Cosco are the two most likely carriers to buy OOCL, should its main shareholders decide to sell the

January 13, 2017
Total Views: 100

Thursday, January 12, 2017
port of hong kong
News

Singapore Container Volumes Stagnant at 30 Million TEU in 2016

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – Singapore’s terminal operator PSA today reported that it handled 67.63m teu across both its international network

January 12, 2017
Total Views: 87

Friday, January 6, 2017
Containerships ‘Full to the Gunnels’ on Asia-North Europe Route as Rates Hit 20-Month High
Shipping News

Containerships ‘Full to the Gunnels’ on Asia-North Europe Route as Rates Hit 20-Month High

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Containerships sailing from Asia to North Europe are running “full to the gunnels” ahead of the Chinese New Year

January 6, 2017
Total Views: 72

Wednesday, December 28, 2016
K Line Sues APL Logistics Over False Bankruptcy Rumors
News

K Line Sues APL Logistics Over False Bankruptcy Rumors

By Alexander Whiteman (The Loadstar) – K Line has filed a lawsuit against Singapore-based APL Logistics, claiming its employees had wrongly suggested the

December 28, 2016
Total Views: 52

Thursday, December 22, 2016
Containership owners may be next to be buffeted by ripples from the Hanjin collapse
Shipping News

Containership owners may be next to be buffeted by ripples from the Hanjin collapse

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – The next industry casualty of the Hanjin collapse may not be a carrier, but a major non-operating containership owner.

December 22, 2016
Total Views: 51