Ever wonder where the standard ocean shipping container came from? If so, you may want to get a hobby or get out more. Maybe a couple of those after work ‘networking’ gatherings (that just happen to take place in a bar) are in order. You really shouldn’t be wondering about things as geeky as where… Read More
Category: Misc.
Hanjin is broke so who will pay?
Hanjin is broke so who will pay? Hanjin is so broke they can’t even pay attention, and that’s a problem. At last count there were more than 80 vessels on the water or stranded outside ports carrying about a half million containers. Unfortunately for Hanjin, and their shippers, finding safe harbors who won’t allow creditors to seize… Read More
It’s all about the numbers. Or is it?
Each month, quarter, and year, there is a break neck run by many companies to attain the numbers set by management projections. The world has been turning that way for quite some time. Most of us have been numbers chasers at one time or another and that is not a bad thing. Most of the… Read More
Export University
Anyone that has been working near the profession of the transportation of goods internationally for a while has a short list of horror stories. I am no different. Over the years we see importers buy containers full of rocks in the place of product, exporters selling goods and being stuck for payment, and merchandise get… Read More
Will there be a busy season?
Every year the ‘busy season’ for container shipping runs from July through October as the USA imports increase to supply retailers for their yearend needs. Many transportation companies and 3PL’s estimate their yearly projections using the July through October uptick in business as an injection of year saving revenue. This year however the ingredients are… Read More
Playing SOLAS Chicken
Remember the SOLAS game of chicken I wrote about in April in the ‘The End is Near’ SOLAS article? You didn’t read the article? Really? Geez…okay, here is a link to it https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/end-near-yep-solas-coming-july-tom-o-malley?trk=prof-post for you. Go read it now while the rest of us wait. There will be a test so comprehension counts. Okay, let’s… Read More
The End is near! SOLAS is coming in July!
In case you just woke from a 12 year nap, SOLAS is an international treaty (Safety of Life at Sea) and has a new amendment going into effect 01July2016 requiring shippers to have a system to VGM (verify gross mass). Maritime operators are sick of the safety risk of handling over weight containers with misstated… Read More
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