From the 48-Hour Regulation at the Port of Hamburg to Barges as New Storage Solution

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Background

Currently, no matter which way you look in the world: Containers are piling up in ports or cargo ships are waiting in long queues to enter. Without a doubt, there are plenty of problems the industry has to solve. The causes are manifold and interlinked, like the international supply chains themselves. On the one hand, temporary closures of major Chinese cargo terminals such as Yantain or Ningbo, based on positive Covid-19 cases, caused containers to congest at the ports; on the other hand, seasonal weather-related disruptions such as typhoons also contributed to ships departing late and containers being unhandled. Moreover, the queues at U.S. ports, with more than 50 vessels currently waiting for berths off Long Beach, are also contributing to the fact that a return to old norms seems a long way off. In addition, the industry, especially in the U.S., is suffering from a massive workers shortage, which enlarges the time it takes to load or unload a vessel. And even trucking companies, are still trying to close the large employment gap. However, demand is not waiting until the situation has recovered, but remains persistently high. The approaching Christmas season should only exacerbate this situation.

Your Options in this Situation

There is no doubt that the majority of global shipments are transported as sea freight. So what can be done when countless disruptions throw the schedule into disarray? First and foremost, we advise you to remain as flexible as possible in planning and to also consider alternative services.

• LCL transports: Be prepared for unexpected incidents and use LCL transports to have urgent goods in stock. A big advantage that argues in favor of LCL shipments is that this cargo is prioritized by shipping companies.

• Air freight: Even though you should currently also plan for slightly longer transit times with air freight, this transport mode is undoubtedly still the most reliable solution if time is breathing down your neck. Because cargo transportation by air is by far the fastest option.

• Alternative ports: Be as flexible as possible with the port of loading. Shipping from Bremerhafen or Wilhemshafen, for example, is still not subject to any restrictions. This means containers can be delivered seven days a week, 24 hours a day, without booking timeslots at the terminals.