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.


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: 13731

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: 1501

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: 1941

Monday, October 23, 2023
Maersk ship entering the Port of Rotterdam
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: 2005

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: 4826

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: 1421

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: 1858

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: 8005

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: 7480

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: 1410

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: 3544

Friday, September 22, 2023
Aerial top view of a containership at port. Stock Photo: Shutterstock/Avigator Fortuner
Shipping

Asia-North Europe Spot Rates in Free Fall

By Mike Wackett – Container spot rates from China to North Europe are in freefall with average rates dipping below $1,000 per 40ft this week having lost

September 22, 2023
Total Views: 987

Tuesday, September 19, 2023
containership ship bunkering
Shipping

Shipping Lines Hit by Rising Fuel Costs as OPEC Cuts Supply

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – As global freight rates continue to fall, container shipping lines are being hit by a huge spike in fuel costs. This

September 19, 2023
Total Views: 1708

Friday, September 15, 2023
Containership docking Port of Long Beach
Shipping

Carriers Pull Capacity to Boost Floundering Spot Rates

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Container spot indices are showing a sea of red ink this week, with short-term freight rates down on all the major

September 15, 2023
Total Views: 1761

Tuesday, September 12, 2023
smoke pollution coming from a container ship
Shipping

Maritime’s Decarbonization Takes Center Stage at London International Shipping Week

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – The tenth London International Shipping Week (LISW) got under way yesterday with well-attended panel discussions at

September 12, 2023
Total Views: 1229

Thursday, September 7, 2023
zim containership
Shipping

MSC and ZIM Strengthen Shipping Alliance

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – The world’s largest container line, MSC, is joining in an alliance with tenth-ranked Zim across “multiple trades”,

September 7, 2023
Total Views: 2609

Thursday, August 31, 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

Container Shipping Lines Rake In $8.9 Billion Profit in Q2

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – The second-quarter results of the major container lines were significantly down from the year before, but nonetheless

August 31, 2023
Total Views: 5899

Friday, August 25, 2023
Port of Rotterdam. Photo Credit: Aerovista Luchtfotografie / Shutterstock.com
Shipping

Asia-North Europe Rates Sinking Again as GRIs ‘Run Out of Steam’

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Ocean carriers are giving back their recent Asia-North Europe FAK rate increases via heavy discounts for October

August 25, 2023
Total Views: 1167

Friday, August 18, 2023
Aerial view of a container ship
Shipping

More Blanked Sailings and Rate Increases for Transatlantic Shipping

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Container spot rates on the transatlantic came under renewed pressure this week, obliging ocean carriers to cut

August 18, 2023
Total Views: 1466

Monday, August 14, 2023
Yang Ming containership
Shipping

Mid-Sized Ocean Carriers Navigate Troubled Waters Amid Profit Plunge

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Mid-sized ocean carriers are losing money and the outlook is particularly bleak for the smaller lines, obliging them to

August 14, 2023
Total Views: 2421