Auckland Port Abandons Automation Project and Welcomes World’s First E-Tug
5-minute read (40-seconds watch)
Ports of Auckland’s new tug Sparky cruised into the port last week, notching a milestone as the world’s first full-sized ship-handling electric tug.
Ports of Auckland chief executive Roger Gray says welcoming Sparky is an exciting day for everyone.
“Sparky is the first e-tug of its type in the world and was a truly innovative project for us. Her arrival marks a big step towards the ports’ decarbonisation of operations and towards our long-term emissions reduction goals,” he says.
Supply Chains Issues Could Continue, Even as Shanghai Re-opens
3-minute read (4-minute listen)
After two months of lockdown, Shanghai has ended many ‘unreasonable’ conditions, allowing businesses to resume work, starting from June 1.
The gradual reopening occurs just as the peak approaches for the Chinese export season to the retail markets of North America, Europe and the Australasian spring-summer retail season.
However, the supply chain could continue to be an issue, even as the world’s biggest port fully reopens.
The Chaos of Here and Now for Container Shipping
On the carrier’s 175th anniversary, The Loadstar podcast editor and producer Mike King asks Hapag-Lloyd, the world’s fifth-largest container line, how the carrier is managing the chaos of the here and now?
What is being done to help shipper customers? Where will the windfalls of the last two years be spent? And what does the future hold for container shipping over the next 175 years?
Risks to Cargo Security Due to Longer Idle Times and Congestion
5-minute read
Global cargo theft trends have shifted from the risk of in-transit, vehicle-based attacks to losses while cargo is at rest, with storage locations now critical at-risk areas.
Widespread congestion at ports and inland facilities led to increased opportunities for thieves during the period.
What You Must Know Before You Import Animals into NZ
5-minute read
Did you know that if you are importing pets to New Zealand, they must be cleared through Customs when they arrive in the country? And you may have to pay GST and duties on some animals.
There are strict rules you must follow when bringing live animals into New Zealand. This page sets out the Customs requirements, please refer to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) website for the Biosecurity requirements.
If you’re bringing an animal into NZ for commercial reasons, you’ll need to contact a Customs broker to undertake the process for you. Commercial reasons include breeding, showing and racing.
Are We Too Reliant on China?
3-minute read
Many super-sized cities in China have been in tight lockdown for weeks as the country sticks to its zero-COVID strategy in the face of the fast-spread Omicron variant of coronavirus.
It is thought that some 340 million people, 25% of the national population, live in the 46 cities under full or partial lockdowns.
Port Omissions Hurt Importers and Exporters with Extra Costs
3-minute read
No week goes by – nor has gone by for about two years – without New Zealand importers and exporters receiving advice of port calls omitted by shipping lines.
Usually, there are one of two reasons. Either the ship is way behind schedule, and the operator is trying to recover something of the lag time, or there is congestion at a port or p ...
Cargo Backlogs in China as the Covid Crisis Drags On
6-minute read
As Shanghai enters the fourth week of its zero-tolerance Covid lockdown, forward export bookings are said to be down by 40% or more, prompting carriers to consolidate loads and blank more sailings.
According to one carrier contact, lines may be obliged to implement a “hardcore” blanking strategy to mitigate the impact of the cargo shortfall. The source said many of the numerous containerships currently at anchor off Shanghai port are “simply waiting for new orders”.
The concern is growing that the spread of COVID cases and city lockdowns in China will have massive downstream effects on global supply chains that could surpass previous disruptions since the pandemic.
Do Not Put All Your Freight Eggs in One Basket
13-minute read (45-minute listen)
Lockdowns, ports congestion, war, lack of slots and flights – you name it, the supply chain has seen it all.
In this podcast of the Loadstar, a news resource for the global logistics industry, Mike King looks at the implications of more Covid-19 lockdowns in China, the latest on air and shipping capacity and prices, port congestion challenges, and what war in Europe is doing to air cargo markets.
China Import and Export Fair Goes Online
3-minute read
China Import and Export Fair, aka Canton Fair, is one of the biggest trade events on the international trading calendar.
It is a platform for people who want to source products from China or current importers who want to see the latest China has to offer, find out about new trends for specific types of products, look for ideas for their bus ...