Maritime MVPs

By Staff -- Logistics Management, 8/1/2005

Since the days of sailing ships, maritime shippers have prized ocean carriers that have fast, reliable vessels that meet their schedules, regardless of trouble on the high seas. That clearly hasn't changed over the centuries, as ocean shippers responding to our survey today told us that they want to do business with liner companies that offer quick transits and show up in port on time, as promised.

"If they give us a time, then they have to be there at that time, and we have to be able to track [our shipments] at all times," wrote one respondent.

For more information on Quest for Quality, click here.

With the increased security requirements mandated by the federal government, many ocean shippers also look for carriers that can help them comply with those rules. "The thing we look for is [carriers] that can do all our documentation, as well as handle our freight," wrote another reader.

This year, 18 ocean carriers rode the crest of the quality wave. Ten of the 18 also won pennants last year. Repeat winners included Atlantic Container Line, Cast, FESCO, Hyundai Merchant Marine, APL, Maersk Sealand, Matson Navigation, MOL, Evergreen Line, NYK Line, and "K" Line. Joining them this year in the all-star parade were Italia Line, Wallenius Wilhelmsen, Hanjin Shipping, OOCL, China Shipping, Hatsu Marine, and COSCO. Reflecting the fact that imports from Asia continue to dominate U.S. ocean shipping volumes, more than two-thirds of the winners are in the trans-Pacific trade.

The aggregate score for ocean carriage sailed ahead of last year's. The weighted rating for this category rose from 30.83 to 33.04, with improved marks for all five criteria. The on-time performance rating surged ahead, from 9.30 to 9.87, while value cruised from 7.37 to 7.72. Information technology also caught a tailwind, advancing from 3.56 to 4.21. Customer service motored from 5.83 to 6.16, and equipment and operations improved, sailing from 4.77 to 5.07.