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.


Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Shipping

Cascading Tonnage Threatens Smaller Box Ships

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Ocean carriers are busy cascading bigger ships on to secondary trades in order to absorb some of their surplus tonnage

January 18, 2023
Total Views: 1771

Friday, January 13, 2023
Shipping

Ocean Carriers Hoping for Post-CNY Demand Surge

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Ocean carriers do not expect consumer demand in North Europe to recover until at least March, when they hope container

January 13, 2023
Total Views: 904

Thursday, January 12, 2023
Shipping

The One Bright Spot in Container Shipping’s Spot Rate Downturn

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Improved booking prospects show the Asia to Mediterranean tradelane is proving more resilient than the North European

January 12, 2023
Total Views: 1249

Friday, January 6, 2023
Shipping

Peak Season Surge Could Be Make or Break for Ocean Carriers

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Container spot rates from Asia to North Europe, as recorded by Drewry’s WCI index, increased by 10% this week from

January 6, 2023
Total Views: 1864

Tuesday, January 3, 2023
Shipping

FMC Ruling Could Prove Crucial for ‘Unfair’ Detention and Demurrage Fee Complaints

By Nick Savvides (The Loadstar) – A US Federal Maritime Commission small claims officer’s (SCO) decision to uphold trucker TCW Inc’s complaint

January 3, 2023
Total Views: 1801

Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Shipping

Carriers Face the ‘Quiet Before the Storm’ for Contract Rates

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – A year ago, shippers were desperate to agree annual contract deals with ocean carriers  to secure their supply

December 27, 2022
Total Views: 2387

Thursday, December 22, 2022
Shipping

Container Shipping’s Idled Fleet Set to Soar Next Year

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Just 12 months ago, the 2009-built 4,253 teu Synergy Oakland was preparing to commence a two-month charter

December 22, 2022
Total Views: 8410

Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Shipping

Amid Container Market Turmoil, Shipping Alliances Prepare to Deploy New Megaships

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – THE Alliance members Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, Yang Ming and HMM have finalised their April network plans, which feature

December 20, 2022
Total Views: 1963

Friday, December 16, 2022
Shipping

Ocean Carriers to Increase Blank Sailings from Asia Post-Chinese New Year

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Against a background of extremely weak demand forecasts, ocean carriers are preparing to blank around half their

December 16, 2022
Total Views: 2029

Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Shipping

Crew ‘Feared for Their Safety’ During Transpacific Voyage on ‘Unseaworthy’ Containership

By Nick Savvides (The Loadstar) – Crew onboard the Zim Iberia have written to their crewing agents asking for redeployment after they

December 13, 2022
Total Views: 26523

Friday, December 9, 2022
Shipping

Transatlantic Spot Rates Tread Water as Chinese Export Rates Tumble

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Navigating the container spot rate market has become a minefield for shipper procurement managers under pressure from

December 9, 2022
Total Views: 860

Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Shipping

Sign of the Times: New World’s Largest Containership Sails Light on Maiden Voyage

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – The 24,004 teu Ever Atop transited the Suez Canal over the weekend on its maiden voyage to North Europe,

December 6, 2022
Total Views: 13487

Thursday, December 1, 2022
Shipping

Could MSC Be Mulling a 2M Split?

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Since August 2020, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company brokers have completed the acquisition of nearly 250 second-hand

December 1, 2022
Total Views: 6088

Tuesday, November 29, 2022
Shipping

Maersk Revamps Network for Shipping’s ‘New Reality’

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Major Chinese export markets are showing signs of a recovery after the steep post-Golden Week holiday decline, led by a

November 29, 2022
Total Views: 1773

Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Shipping

Maersk ‘Test Case’ Could Shift Container Shipping’s Balance of Power

By Nick Savvides (The Loadstar) – Since the pandemic began, complaints of carrier misdeeds have circulated across the industry and around the globe. In

November 23, 2022
Total Views: 8721

Friday, November 18, 2022
Shipping

Carriers in ‘Panic Mode’ as China Bookings Plummet

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Ocean carriers are said to be in “panic mode” as bookings from China to North Europe and the US west coast tank,

November 18, 2022
Total Views: 26447

Monday, November 14, 2022
Shipping

Shipper Files FMC Complaint: Maersk ‘Flouts the Law to Rake in Profits’

By Nick Savvides (The Loadstar) – A Florida shipper has issued a complaint against Maersk and its subsidiary, Hamburg Süd, that includes a failure

November 14, 2022
Total Views: 6548

Friday, November 11, 2022
Shipping

Container Spot Rates Tick Up as Capacity is Removed from Market

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – Spot container freight rates on the largest deepsea trades rebounded this week, despite continuing weak demand,

November 11, 2022
Total Views: 2332

Thursday, November 3, 2022
Shipping

Idled Boxship Fleet Sails Past 1 Million TEUs as Blankings Fail to Stop Freight Rate Erosion

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – The idled containership fleet has breached the 1m teu capacity milestone – and is set to jump significantly

November 3, 2022
Total Views: 5587

Tuesday, November 1, 2022
Shipping

Maersk Gives Overstocked Retailers the Option to Slow Arrivals

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Maersk says it is offering shippers the opportunity to slow cargo arrivals from Asia destined for European and US ports

November 1, 2022
Total Views: 1602