Keeping the faith with ocean cargo collaboration

As noted in today’s news, utilization levels of vessels on the Transpacific route have averaged only 73 percent, “given in good faith but without guarantee.”

Alphaliner’s observations mirror those conveyed in an exclusive three-part market intelligence report gathered for readers of Supply Chain Management Review – our sister publication.

While “collaboration” was the watchword for logistics managers reliant on ocean carriage, it appears that in 2012 it is going to be “accountability.” Many carriers, for example, have built in schedule integrity metrics for shipper contracts, promising a new level of on-time service. What then, becomes of “slow steaming” and other energy-saving trends?

The peak shipping season is quickly approaching, and carriers and shippers are expecting, and hoping, that the second half of 2012 will be more profitable than the first. 

In our series of interviews, we asked prominent industry experts to examine the long-term consequences of this strategic shift. David Jacoby, President of Boston Strategies International, Brian Conrad, Executive Administrator, Transpacific Stabilization Agreement, and Peter Friedmann, Executive Director Agriculture Transportation Coalition share their insights and some very revealing observations.