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.


Thursday, September 26, 2024
SC Ports accommodating three ships at Wando Welch Terminal. Photo: SCPA/Walter Lagarenne
Ports

Scores of Ships Headed for US East Coast Face Delays as Strike Looms

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) A prolonged strike on the US east and Gulf coasts could prove “toxic” to global container supply chains – and even if

September 26, 2024
Total Views: 1954

Thursday, September 19, 2024
The CMA CGM Marco Polo, an Explorer class container ship crosses under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, to enter New York Harbor as seen from Brooklyn, New York, U.S., May 20, 2021. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo
Ports

Impending Port Strike: Carriers Announce Disruption Surcharges

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – As the possibility of strike action at ports on the US east and Gulf coasts draws nearer by the day, container

September 19, 2024
Total Views: 1326

Friday, September 13, 2024
The Port of Savannah's Garden City Terminal courtesy Georgia Ports Authority
Ports

Container Spot Rates Continue to Tumble as Peak Season Comes to Early End

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – Spot freight rates on every major container lane continued to tumble over the past week as demand remained flat,

September 13, 2024
Total Views: 3430

Friday, September 6, 2024
A containership docking at the Port of Cape Town
Shipping

Container Spot Rates Plummet as Asia-Europe Trades Witness Double-Digit Declines

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – The steady decline of container spot freight rates between Asia and Europe turned decidedly steeper this week, with

September 6, 2024
Total Views: 1908

Friday, August 30, 2024
Aerial top view of a containership at port. Stock Photo: Shutterstock/Avigator Fortuner
Shipping

Ocean Carriers Blank Sailings Ahead of China’s Golden Week Holiday

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Fearing another container spot rate crash, ocean carriers have blanked a number of export sailings from Asia to Europe

August 30, 2024
Total Views: 1240

Friday, August 23, 2024
Container vessel approaching the terminal at the Port of Savannah, Georgia
Ports

Transpacific Spot Rates Rise Amid Looming U.S. Port Strike Threat

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Transpacific container spot rates were in the ascendancy this week as industrial action storm clouds gathered over US

August 23, 2024
Total Views: 940

Friday, August 16, 2024
Aerial view of a container ship
Shipping

Container Spot Rates Continue to Slide as U.S. Port Strike Threatens

By Charlie Bartlett (The Loadstar) – The downward trend of the Drewry World Container Index (WCI) continued this week, showing average rates have fallen

August 16, 2024
Total Views: 1893

Friday, August 9, 2024
Port of Rotterdam. Photo Credit: Aerovista Luchtfotografie / Shutterstock.com
Shipping

China-to-N Europe Spot Rates Start to Fall as Record Peak Demand Eases

By Charlotte Goldstone (The Loadstar) – 2M Alliance members Maersk and MSC have reduced port calls in Europe on upcoming sailings to avoid congestion

August 9, 2024
Total Views: 663

Thursday, July 25, 2024
Photo of the Maersk Frankfurt shared by the Indian Coast Guard on July 23, 2024.
Shipping

Shipowner Declares General Average Over Maersk Frankfurt Fire

By Angelo Mathais, India correspondent (The Loadstar) Shippers with cargo on the Maersk Frankfurt, which has suffered fires on board for six days, have

July 25, 2024
Total Views: 7646

Friday, July 12, 2024
Aerial view of a container ship
Shipping

Container Spot Rates Take a Breather

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – Spot freight rate levels on the major east-west container trades this week remained flat, as the third-quarter peak

July 12, 2024
Total Views: 1375

Friday, July 5, 2024
Aerial top view of a containership at port. Stock Photo: Shutterstock/Avigator Fortuner
Shipping

Spot Rate Surge to Continue Post-Golden Week

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – Since the 1 July implementation of a series of peak season surcharges (PSS) and new FAK (freight all kinds) levels,

July 5, 2024
Total Views: 947

Wednesday, July 3, 2024
MSC Container ship enters portCatstyecam / Shutterstock.com
Shipping

MSC Hits Record 20% Market Share of Global Containership Capacity

By Charlotte Goldstone (The Loadstar) – MSC now holds a 20% share of the global container shipping market, in terms of capacity offered, a record in the

July 3, 2024
Total Views: 1542

Friday, June 28, 2024
Aerial top view of a containership underway
Shipping

Continued Spot Rate Surge Looms with New FAK Hikes and Surcharges

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – As expected after last week’s surge in spot rate levels, this week saw more modest gains thanks to a week’s

June 28, 2024
Total Views: 876

Tuesday, June 25, 2024
A Maersk containership berthed at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia.
Shipping

Maersk Charters Newbuild for Record $150,000 Per Day

By Martina Li in Taiwan (The Loadstar) – As liner operators become desperate for ships, charter rates have hit the $150,000/day mark. Maersk Line has

June 25, 2024
Total Views: 10431

Wednesday, June 19, 2024
French frigate escort. Photo: EUNAVFOR
Shipping

Shipping Selloff Shows ‘Inverse Correlation’ Between Liner Profits and War in Gaza

By Charlie Bartlett (The Loadstar) – Shareholders are hoping their container line will not be the first to resume Red Sea transits, analysts say, after

June 19, 2024
Total Views: 1524

Tuesday, June 18, 2024
A tanker transits the Panama Canal Locks
Shipping

Panama Canal Considers New Reservoir to Help Maintain Water Levels

By Charlotte Goldstone (The Loadstar) – A new reservoir at the Panama Canal to improve reliability could be ready within four to five years of

June 18, 2024
Total Views: 3031

Monday, June 10, 2024
HMM Containership leaving port
Shipping

Samsung Lodges Largest FMC Complaint Yet Over Detention and Demurrage Charges

By Alexander Whiteman (The Loadstar) – Samsung’s US subsidiary has lodged what may be the largest complaint yet with the Federal Maritime Commission

June 10, 2024
Total Views: 4750

Friday, June 7, 2024
ningbo port congestion
Shipping

Container Spot Rates in China Set to Hit Five Figures

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – There were further double-digit increases in container spot freight rates this week, after a series of general rate

June 7, 2024
Total Views: 10716

Friday, May 31, 2024
Aerial view of Deep water port with cargo ship and container Singapore
Shipping

Singapore Reopens Defunct Container Terminals to Tackle Vessel Bunching

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – Authorities battling congestion in Singapore port have reopened shuttered terminals to alleviate the mounting

May 31, 2024
Total Views: 2441

Thursday, May 30, 2024
MSC Container ship enters portCatstyecam / Shutterstock.com
Shipping

Shippers Brace for Asia-Europe Blanked Sailings as Rates Rise

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – It was just over a month ago that forwarders began to realise significant disruption was on the way for the

May 30, 2024
Total Views: 1479