Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Press releases are provided by companies as is and have not been edited or checked for accuracy. Any queries should be directed to the company issuing the release.

Ocean Insights Spotlights Ongoing Port Congestions and Shipment Delays

Rostock, March 23, 2021 -- With shipping rates at historic highs, ocean shipment data collected by ocean freight intelligence company Ocean Insights (a project44 company) spotlights ongoing shipment delays at major shipping ports.

Ocean Insights Spotlights Ongoing Port Congestions and Shipment Delays

For the broader economy, shipping line and port performance will determine how quickly in-demand products reach markets, as vessels on major trade lanes continue to face delays lasting up to two weeks on the most congested routes. 

Ocean Insights defines delays as the median number of days between the originally scheduled and actual vessel arrival date. The calculated data shows how certain ports outperform neighboring ones, suggesting that lack of capacity isn’t the only culprit.  


For example in February 2021, cargo arriving from Shanghai to Antwerp was delayed four days more than at Rotterdam. Similarly, on the Shenzen — Los Angeles trade lane, containers were delayed four days more than at neighboring Long Beach, where the median delayed days were over six days in February 2021. 

While cost has been the major driver in past contract negotiations between Beneficial Cargo Owners (BCO) and shipping lines, this year’s discussions are also expected to focus on service levels. Ocean Insights’s data details the uneven performance of shipping services, allowing shippers to point to historically low reliability. 

Since negotiations are two-way commitments, with shippers guaranteeing cargo and carriers guaranteeing service, both parties are subject to performance-linked penalties. 

Ocean insights’ Chief Operations Officer Josh Brazil said, “Entering such negotiations with powerful data behind you gives you a real understanding of what the problem is and where that problem manifests itself meaning, shippers can point to evidential data that will back their calls for greater transparency and improved service levels.”

Median delays to services calling at Long Beach from Shanghai fell from 4.2 days in December to 1 day in February. 
Neighbouring Los Angeles saw median delays for ex- Shanghai vessels triple over the same period, from 3.1 to 9.3 days. A striking increase from February 2020, when LA posted a modest 0.5 and Long Beach 1.5 days.

Delays from Shanghai to the US East Coast tracked a different pattern, with average delays at 0.6 days a year ago, peaking at 4.7 in September before increasing again in January to 7.1 days and subsiding to 5.7 days in February 2021.

A similar pattern from Shenzhen to New York & New Jersey was not evident, with delays from the Southern Chinese port remaining comparatively low until September when delays steadily rose to an average of 8.7 days by February this year.

In Europe, Antwerp and Rotterdam mirrored the situation on the US West Coast. Similar increases to vessel delays could be seen on Asia to Europe routes with Shanghai to Antwerp average delays rising from 2 to 9.2 days, year-on-year, February 2020 to February this year. At nearby Rotterdam, there was an average increase from 2.1 days to 5.2 days.

Differences in delays in the recipient port pairs of both Europe’s Rotterdam and Antwerp, and the US’s Los Angeles and Long Beach suggest that while the congestion caused by the pandemic should offer similar delays to neighboring ports, something else appears to be going on. 

Whether this is about the inland intermodal links at each port and their efficiency, or whether there are differences in labor levels due to the pandemic cannot be concluded from the statistics alone. What is clear is that some ports are coping better than others, and that their success is to be emulated wherever possible and used as a benchmark for contract negotiations.

https://www.ocean-insights.com/business-news/ocean-insights-spotlights-ongoing-port-congestions-and-shipment-delays/

The Latest

More Stories

Warp Announces Preparation for U.S. Government Partnership to Enhance Service and Efficiency

Los Angeles, CA, Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Warp, a tech-powered network of cross-docks and carriers offering various vehicle sizes, announced that 2025 it will extend its solutions and services to the U.S. government. Warp aims to modernize government freight logistics with machine-learning-driven planning, optimized network strategies, and flexible solutions to create efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable supply chain transportation.

Focused on optimizing every load, every time, Warp employs machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), and groundbreaking consolidation techniques to blur the traditional lines of freight shipping by combining the best elements of LTL, FTL, and parcel delivery. Using its homogenous fleet including cargo vans, sedans, box trucks, and 53-foot trailers, Warp facilitates carrier injections, inbound vendor consolidation, pool point distribution, zone-skipping, store replenishment, and national retail distribution for some of the world’s largest shippers.

Keep ReadingShow less

Featured

Toyota Material Handling MidSouth’s Forklift Donation Raises $40,000 for Higher Education

Toyota Material Handling and Toyota Material Handling MidSouth partner to donate 5,000-pound-capacity pneumatic forklift at Concrete Industry Management’s annual charity auction.

Photo courtesy of Toyota Material Handling

Toyota Material Handling MidSouth’s Forklift Donation Raises $40,000 for Higher Education

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 28, 2024 – Toyota Material Handling MidSouth, a full-service dealer for Toyota Material Handling, showcased its dedication to fostering the next generation of industry professionals by donating a 5,000-pound-capacity Toyota Core IC Pneumatic forklift to the Concrete Industry Management’s (CIM) annual charity auction on January 22.

The forklift’s winning bid of $40,000 significantly contributed to the auction’s total proceeds of $2.15 million, supporting CIM’s mission to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in the concrete industry. Offered at five universities, CIM equips students with technical, communication and management expertise, preparing them for successful careers in a rapidly evolving industry. Proceeds from the auction are used to assist CIM in funding higher education programs that offer degrees in concrete industry management.

Keep ReadingShow less

Chang Robotics launches 'The Chang Robotics Fund' - A Seed Stage Venture Capital Fund targetting a $50M Raise to Specialize in Disruptive Technology

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 2,750 miles away from Silicon Valley, Matthew Chang, founder of Chang Robotics, today announced his next business venture: The Chang Robotics Fund. The Fund is targeting a $50M raise to address the numerous needs and market opportunities the Chang Robotics engineering team identified in their daily operations by investing in disruptive technologies designed to confront the industry's most urgent challenges—from labor shortages to energy efficiency to environmental remediation. By utilizing innovative intellectual property and the engineering and management expertise of Chang Robotics, the Fund seeks to scale its targeted innovations into impactful, transformative, and profitable businesses.

Global industries, from manufacturing to healthcare, face mounting pressures such as intensifying global competition, workforce constraints, escalating expenses, and the urgent need for environmental restoration. Tackling these issues demands a new paradigm of intelligent automation, energy efficiency, and sustainable innovation.

Keep ReadingShow less

Adelante SCM and Magaya Release Report on the 2025 State of Digitization in Freight Forwarding

Miami, FL – January 28, 2025 – Magaya Corporation, the leading freight management platform for logistics service providers (LSPs), today released a report detailing the state of digitization in freight forwarding and the divide that presently exists between shipper expectations and forwarder capabilities.

In November 2024, independent research firm Adelante SCM and Magaya surveyed executives in the logistics services industry, as well as supply chain and logistics executives from manufacturing, retail, and distribution companies. The research found a substantial gap between what the shippers expect in terms of technological capabilities and what their logistics service providers currently offer.

Keep ReadingShow less

ORTEC Joins Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA)

Atlanta, GA – ORTEC, a leader in advanced analytics and optimization solutions, is excited to announce its membership in the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA), the only national membership organization dedicated to wine and spirits distributors.

“Joining WSWA is an important milestone for ORTEC toward our goal to become a trusted technology partner to wine and spirits distributors,” said Mat Witte, CEO of ORTEC Americas. “We envision a future of collaborating with fellow members to drive innovation and optimize operations that benefit their business, their customers, and the industry as a whole.”

As a member of WSWA, ORTEC is committed to leveraging its expertise in advanced analytics and optimization to support the goals of the wine and spirits distribution industry. This collaboration will enable ORTEC to share insights and innovative solutions that can help streamline loading and delivery while improving efficiency across the sector.

About ORTEC
ORTEC is a leading provider of advanced analytics and optimization solutions, dedicated to helping organizations enhance their operational efficiency and decision-making processes. With a strong focus on innovation, ORTEC leverages cutting-edge technologies and data-driven insights to address complex challenges across a number of industries, including logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare. The company’s commitment to continuous improvement and collaboration with clients enables businesses to optimize their resources, reduce costs, and drive sustainable growth. By integrating advanced analytics into their operations, ORTEC empowers organizations to make informed decisions that lead to transformative outcomes and a competitive edge in the market. Discover more at ORTEC | NEWS.

About WSWA
WSWA plays a vital role in advocating for the interests of distributors on federal, state, regulatory, and legal issues that impact the beverage alcohol industry. The organization focuses on critical policy areas, including taxation of family-owned businesses, state-based alcohol regulation, social responsibility, and impaired driving prevention. Additionally, WSWA offers programs designed to promote the careers of its members and help their businesses thrive in a diverse and dynamic industry. Learn more at wswa.org.