SHIPPING AND LOGISTICS

Introduction Japanese automakers Toyota and Honda are renowned for their relentless focus on cost reduction through first class optimization of their supply chains. In August 2018, they are reporting improving profits while US automakers are issuing profit warnings.1 Toyota and Honda have successfully connected operational databases from the supporting business eco-systems in such a way that databases can be analysed intensively (AI, Business Analytics, etc.) to identify cost saving opportunities utilizing the Japanese kaizen philosophy for continuous improvement. They have learned that data-driven enterprises are more successful. In contrast, the self-organizing and fragmented nature of the maritime industry has traditionally deprived all actors of the data needed to achieve high levels of efficiency. Fragmentation is toxic to efficiency, but now we have an antidote digital data sharing. The maritime segment of the container industry is very mature, but it is low-profit, fragmented...

This study examines the concept of transparency as practiced (or not) in ports. It explores the availability of information to the general public and port stakeholders through the ports’ most public face—its website, studying public ports in North America, Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean. This exploratory research centred on identifying the parameters that would be useful for the general public to have sufficient information to monitor, review and in many cases, participate in the decision-making processes carried out by the port authority, irrespective of whether or not laws mandate such disclosure. Fifty-one items were identified for the examination of each port’s website, focusing primarily on four major categories: decision-making governance, port communications and accessibility, transparency in reporting and in port operational activities. Using nine items as proxies for the 51, the research reveals uneven levels of port transparency both regionally and by governan...

In the liner shipping market carriers share container slots to offer better service and realize economies of scale. This paper studies slot co-allocation planning for a joint fleet in a round trip for a shipping alliance in the liner shipping industry. In particular, a conceptual model is developed based on joint fleet and slot co-allocation management. The factors affecting slot co-allocation planning are explored in detail. A large-scale integer programming model is formulated to guide carriers in an alliance in pursuing an optimal slot co-allocation strategy. In contrast to the existing research, this approach leads to a more accurate representation of the situation for cooperative services in the liner shipping market. Extensive numerical experiments based on a true Asia-Europe cooperative route of COSCO and HANJIN show that the proposed model can be efficiently solved by LINGO11.0 for the case study. The computational results suggest that the mechanism and model can be used to ...

This study examines the concept of transparency as practiced (or not) in ports. It explores the availability of information to the general public and port stakeholders through the ports’ most public face—its website, studying public ports in North America, Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean. This exploratory research centred on identifying the parameters that would be useful for the general public to have sufficient information to monitor, review and in many cases, participate in the decision-making processes carried out by the port authority, irrespective of whether or not laws mandate such disclosure. Fifty-one items were identified for the examination of each port’s website, focusing primarily on four major categories: decision-making governance, port communications and accessibility, transparency in reporting and in port operational activities. Using nine items as proxies for the 51, the research reveals uneven levels of port transparency both regionally and by governan...

The importance of delivery in the e-commerce industry cannot be overstated. People can purchase goods and services from anywhere in the world, and they can receive their packages safely and securely on time. E-commerce enterprises will never be able to stabilize and flourish without a reliable delivery infrastructure. Both the acquiring and selling parties benefit from express delivery services in the E-commerce industry. The system is nearly ready to go live. Parcels are picked up and delivered directly to the recipient’s door.

Southeast Asian polities were destined to play an active role in the world economy because of their location at the crossroads of East Asian maritime routes and their richness in commodities that were in demand in the whole of Eurasia. For a long time, historians restricted their role to examination of regional peddling trade carried out in small ships. Research on ships and trade networks in the past few decades, however, has returned considerable agency to local societies, particularly to Austronesian speakers of insular Southeast Asia, from proto-historic to early modern times. As far in the past as two thousand years ago, following locally developed shipbuilding technologies and navigational practices, they built large and sophisticated ships that plied South China Sea and Indian Ocean routes, as documented by 1st-millennium Chinese and later Portuguese sources and now confirmed by nautical archaeology. Textual sources also confirm that local shipmasters played a prominent part ...

This study examines the concept of transparency as practiced (or not) in ports. It explores the availability of information to the general public and port stakeholders through the ports’ most public face—its website, studying public ports in North America, Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean. This exploratory research centred on identifying the parameters that would be useful for the general public to have sufficient information to monitor, review and in many cases, participate in the decision-making processes carried out by the port authority, irrespective of whether or not laws mandate such disclosure. Fifty-one items were identified for the examination of each port’s website, focusing primarily on four major categories: decision-making governance, port communications and accessibility, transparency in reporting and in port operational activities. Using nine items as proxies for the 51, the research reveals uneven levels of port transparency both regionally and by governan...

This study examines the concept of transparency as practiced (or not) in ports. It explores the availability of information to the general public and port stakeholders through the ports’ most public face—its website, studying public ports in North America, Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean. This exploratory research centred on identifying the parameters that would be useful for the general public to have sufficient information to monitor, review and in many cases, participate in the decision-making processes carried out by the port authority, irrespective of whether or not laws mandate such disclosure. Fifty-one items were identified for the examination of each port’s website, focusing primarily on four major categories: decision-making governance, port communications and accessibility, transparency in reporting and in port operational activities. Using nine items as proxies for the 51, the research reveals uneven levels of port transparency both regionally and by governan...

At every financial period CFOs are requested by shareholders to present the financial results not only just as formal financial statements but also as useful information in relation to their competitors or the market. Despite the best services provided, it is due to the existing trade cycles [1] of the shipping market that shipping companies have trouble delivering strong long-term growth unless their management ensures that all business aspects operate efficiently and effectively. Efficiency can either be expressed through an operating ratio or through a simple percentage of budgets versus a specific time frame. As much as effectiveness is concerned and according to up today literature, management effectiveness ratios compare the financial statements measures to evaluate management performance. What has been described is industry’s standard, however measurement of the management force to vessel’s operation should be evaluated also for industry’s most feasible Holistically Operating...

At every financial period CFOs are requested by shareholders to present the financial results not only just as formal financial statements but also as useful information in relation to their competitors or the market. Despite the best services provided, it is due to the existing trade cycles [1] of the shipping market that shipping companies have trouble delivering strong long-term growth unless their management ensures that all business aspects operate efficiently and effectively. Efficiency can either be expressed through an operating ratio or through a simple percentage of budgets versus a specific time frame. As much as effectiveness is concerned and according to up today literature, management effectiveness ratios compare the financial statements measures to evaluate management performance. What has been described is industry’s standard, however measurement of the management force to vessel’s operation should be evaluated also for industry’s most feasible Holistically Operating...

This study aims to analyze the effect of bargaining position and level of trader’s understanding within international trade for providing value-added of the goods. The bargaining power in the process of trade negotiation is a key for optimizing the trader’s ability to make more efficient goods delivery. The bargaining power could be  found in a trader who particularly has a good level of understanding the term of the trade and the world market analysis. This research was conducted using qualitative method with descriptive analysis. Data collection was carried out by conducting in-depth interview with a semi-structured interview of the  experienced source in the scope of international trade. The data analysis technique was an approach developed by Miles and Huberman which includes data reduction, data separation and others after finishing data collection. The data were stated in a pattern or theme. The result of this study shows that good trader’s understanding level could be a barga...

Purpose This study aims to explore and analyzes the risk factors in container shipping and logistics services using a dual perspective. The authors gather data not only from logistics service companies but also from their most important customers. Design/methodology/approach In this research, the authors used case study methodology (interviews and surveys) to examine risk factors that are related to one another within the interaction between logistics service companies and their customers in the emerging markets of the Mediterranean region (Turkey, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya). Findings The findings show the most important risk factors and compare them using a dual perspective. Customers identify additional risks and estimate their consequences as wider. Interestingly, oil price change plays a dual role because a price increase could be beneficial to the region; at the same time, however, the competitiveness of shipping would decrease. In both response groups, risk likelihood and ris...

Negara-negara di kawasan Asia Tenggara saling berkompetisi membangun infrastruktur. Infrastruktur adalah kunci dalam kompetisi konektivitas yang berkaitan dengan performa logistik dan daya saing negara. Pelabuhan menjadi infrastruktur krusial yang dibutuhkan untuk menjadi hub logistik. Kesenjangan pendanaan infrastruktur yang dialami beberapa negara, menarik minat asing untuk berinvestasi dalam proyek infrastruktur. Dalam tulisan ini, pembangunan pelabuhan dalam kerangka kompetisi logistik, status hub pelabuhan Kuala Tanjung, kesenjangan pendanaan infrastruktur, dan investasi China ditelaah menggunakan pendekatan geoekonomi. Negara penerima investasi dari China, termasuk Indonesia, harus cermat menghadapi risiko geoekonomi yang berpotensi mengancam kedaulatan ekonomi negara.

Blockchain technology is mainly implemented in the financial services. However, there are more and more companies from different industries considering the possibility of using this technology. Potential benefits of blockchain are also recognized in logistics management. In sea shipping similar to other transport modes the application of blockchain-based solutions is still a new phenomenon. The paper presents a growing interest in blockchain technology in the area of transport and logistics and in maritime logistics in particular. The main aim of the paper is to classify current and planned applications of blockchain technology in sea shipping. To achieve this goal, two research methods were used: web content analysis and multi-case study. The results show that there are several container shipowners active in the blockchain projects, however, in terms of tonnage, they represent as much as 84% of the world's container fleet. Four main ways of developing blockchain technology in t...

This study examines the concept of transparency as practiced (or not) in ports. It explores the availability of information to the general public and port stakeholders through the ports’ most public face—its website, studying public ports in North America, Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean. This exploratory research centred on identifying the parameters that would be useful for the general public to have sufficient information to monitor, review and in many cases, participate in the decision-making processes carried out by the port authority, irrespective of whether or not laws mandate such disclosure. Fifty-one items were identified for the examination of each port’s website, focusing primarily on four major categories: decision-making governance, port communications and accessibility, transparency in reporting and in port operational activities. Using nine items as proxies for the 51, the research reveals uneven levels of port transparency both regionally and by governance model. The study reveals a need for increasing and differentiating the existing levels and standards of transparency in the governance of the port industry, and for greater consistency between ports within and across regions. The study concludes with a research agenda for future research.

Economic shocks test the resilience and adaptability of the shipping industry and container ports. Each crisis triggers different ramifications in the container market. This paper investigates the temporal and spatial sequences of the supply and demand shocks of COVID-19 on container ports and the container shipping industry by comparing these events to the 2008-2009 financial crisis. Using operational and financial data from primary and secondary sources, we analyze short-term impacts and their differences, the reasons for these variations, and the evolution in the adaptive capacity and resilience of ports, terminal operators, and carriers. The analysis revolves around several interrelated domains: impacts on global supply chains; impacts on operational aspects, market structure, and strategic behavior of shipping lines and terminal operators; impacts on port activity levels in terms of vessel calls and container volumes handled; and network impacts in terms of changes in aspects of container port connectivity. The changes observed and the strategic behavior of the market players involved reveal that further adaptation mechanisms, such as slow steaming, economies of scale, and capacity management, have been applied differently between the financial crisis and COVID-19, resulting in different outcomes. For an external shock such as COVID-19, impacts are the outcome of how ports and the shipping industry fit within complex supply chains and the cargo composition handled by ports.

Direct reduced iron (DRI) can create significant risks such as ignition, explosion, and fire because of the oxidation reaction in case when DRI undergoes spontaneously heating and comes in contact with oxygen or water. For this reason, the transportation of DRI is classified as a dangerous task of which the inert process should be done in the ship’s holds. Many studies have been conducted on the production and production stages of DRI and other areas of use of inert gas, but no studies have been conducted on the safe transportation of this cargo by ships. This study analyzes the criteria and alternatives for selecting the inert gas system for the benefits of investors and shipowners in the shipping industry. The intuitionistic fuzzy TOPSIS (IF-TOPSIS) method is implemented to conduct the decision-making process. As a result of this study, preferences for candidate inert gas systems are modelled. Port facility nitrogen generator is selected as the most suitable inert gas system among...

Clearing and forwarding in Nigeria is comparatively as tedious as it can be world over, but the complexity of the Nigerian terrain as a developing nation sitting close to the Atlantic as West Africa's port hub requires a proper understand in other to maximize the gains within the sector. This simple guide explains how anyone interest in operating as a clearing and forwarding agent in Nigeria can begin without hassles.

Note: 1. If the person to be Chief Mate only holds the Watch keeping Officer certificate (STCW II/1 certificate), then he must have at least 6 months OOW experience whilst holding the Watch keeping Officer (STCW II/1) certification. 2. The Watch keeping Officer requirement will be determined taking into account of the hours of work involved on daily and weekly basis and whether Master keeps a watch. 3. Engine Department # Rank Nos Grade of Competent Remarks 1 Chief Engineer 01 2 nd Engineer Officer >3000KW (Unlimited) must have served at least 12 months as an engineer officer in a position of responsibility and the certificate is endorsed 2 2 nd Engineer 01 2 nd Engineer Officer >3000KW (Unlimited)

Iron Ore Fines (IOF), which is a bulk mineral cargo, exhibits an inherent high level of risk during marine transportation due to its potential to liquefy. With nine marine accidents since 2007 being directly linked to the shifting of IOF cargoes, which resulted in the deaths of twenty-nine seafarers, the danger for shippers is indisputable. This study aims to review the behaviour of IOF during marine transportation, by analysing the factors that lead to geotechnical related failures. It suggests that due to suffusion caused by the dynamic motions of the vessel, the top layer of a cargo of IOF may end up containing a large percentage of fine-grained particles. This would seemingly result in a weak zone near the surface, with the possibility of being fully saturated, and, therefore, increasing the potential for liquefaction or reducing the factor of safety against a slope type failure. The study will also analyse and discuss the reasons behind the past and recent listing and capsizing incidents involving bulk mineral carriers. The final outcome of this study will be the proposal of some possible solutions that may be implemented and recommendations for further studies, in order to reduce the likelihood of cargo shift occurring.

A newly-prosperous middle class was beginning to emerge at the dawn of the Age of Exploration. Mercantile political and economic theories notwithstanding, it was the importation of goods, rather than exports, that was important. The Age of Exploration was not about military or imperial expansionism. It was about trade.

The great trading companies of this period were granted monopolies by European monarchs and roamed the seas to Africa and Asia. These firms had fleets of privately-owned ships. The trading companies’ representatives, the ship officers, and crew all relied upon the mail for communications back to the home countries. This paper views the birth of international trade through the lens of postal history.