Introduction What exactly does the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA) say and do? This blog series goes through it section by section, so you can see exactly what our lawmakers changed in the U.S. Code dealing with shipping. We’ll give you the OSRA text; the text of the U.S. Code, usually in Title 46, before and after its amendments; and consider what those changes mean for U.S. importers and exporters. In Universal Cargo’s last blog post, I announced this series and quickly covered Section 1, which only gives a citation for OSRA. Now we start covering the rest of the sections, where th ..read more

Approaching a year after the bipartisan Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA) was signed into law, we’ve only barely begun to see its impact. It’s been loftily described as crucial and the most extensive maritime reform legislation in decades. Indeed, it is the biggest reform of Title 46 of U.S. Code – Shipping. Indeed, OSRA casts a wide net over the ocean shipping sector of international shipping, and needs unpacking. International shipping news story after news story – whether about carriers and their alliances, detention and demurrage fees, or shippers filing complaints with the Federal ..read more

This is a guest post by Olivia Montgomery. If you are undecided on the best method of shipping goods, then we have a guide that might just help! Check out our guide on how to unleash your shipping potential: the power of ocean freight for business growth, and decide if this is the ideal choice for you. A Bit More on the Nature of Ocean Freight Ocean freight is a crucial component of international trade, offering businesses a cost-effective and efficient shipping solution. And while air freight may boast faster transit times, ocean freight triumphs in various other categories. It provides a sig ..read more

Feast and Famine It’s no secret that the international shipping industry, even for all the supply chain disruptions and bottlenecks, did very well during the pandemic. There was a shipping demand boom, but now the industry is seeing a reversal. Demand has plummeted, and with it, so have freight rates. Ocean freight carriers raked in billions upon billions during the demand boom, so they’re not exactly hurting too badly even as they report major drops in revenue and profit, even to the point of losses for some. For freight forwarders and other third party logistics (3PL) companies, however, it ..read more

This is a guest post by Matilda Odell. Image Source:TAWI Businesses that import or export goods cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the detrimental impact their supply chain processes have on the communities around them. From air and noise pollution to soil degradation and resource depletion, the impact can be far-reaching and long-lasting.  However, supply chain sustainability presents an opportunity to not only make a profit but also do environmental good. Effective materials management is a crucial aspect of supply chain management for manufacturers. It involves planning and executing ..read more

H. R. 2973, titled the Maritime Architect and Response to International Terrorism In the Middle East Act of 2023 or more simply the Maritime Act of 2023, passed both the House and Senate to be signed into law by President Biden. It’s a small bill, but it builds upon the Abraham Accords ushered in by the Trump Administration, and could be a step to help shippers smoothly and securely import from and export to the Middle East. Photo of House of Representatives by Ted Eytan The bill is more of a fact-finding and strategy-building piece of legislation than anything else. However, its assessment of ..read more

As always, we here at Universal Cargo are keeping an eye on international shipping news, so you don’t have to. Two big items in shipping news right now are the upcoming peak season and the fight over detention and demurrage fees. Here’s the 411… Peak Season 2023 We’re coming right up on peak season. Some have said there won’t be one this year. I’ve been saying (in posts like this linked one here or this other linked one over here) that we will have a 2023 peak season. It won’t be like the last couple years where cargo volumes have been so bloated that it’s basically felt like perpetual peak se ..read more

This is a guest post by Gale Richards. Shipping oversized cargo can present a unique set of challenges that require specialized knowledge and expertise. Oversized cargo refers to any shipment that exceeds the standard size or weight limitations for transportation equipment, such as trucks, trains, or cargo ships. Therefore, navigating the complex logistics involved in transporting oversized cargo can be daunting for anyone who imports and exports goods. From regulatory and permitting requirements to equipment availability and suitability, route planning and execution, handling and loading, and ..read more

For the first time in a long time, real positive news on the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) contract negotiations broke yesterday. It was a localized agreement I’ll talk about in a bit because buried in the story, well below the headlining news, was a statement that possibly deserves more attention than the headline. Bill Mongelluzzo reported in the Journal of Commerce: Sources close to the coastwide negotiations say they are increasingly optimistic that a tentative agreement could be reached in the next couple of weeks. This is the first time since contract negotiation ..read more

Want to know what’s happening with international shipping right now? You’re in the right place. Today’s post hits top international shipping news stories affecting shippers’ import and export operations and bottom lines right now. Freight Rates Hit Bottom? After the meteoric rise in freight rates during the pandemic, which had shippers asking how much higher freight rates could possibly get, those freight rates finally started falling. Falling freight rates has been the overall trend for the last year. As freight rates on many routes hit pre-pandemic levels and some even dropped under that, th ..read more