The latest incident in the long-running Middle East crisis occurred this past weekend and involved major shipper MSC and threatens to escalate shipping issues. Iran’s foreign ministry stated on Monday that they seized the MSC Aries, a Portuguese-flagged container ship, on April 13th for breaking maritime laws. They also claimed the vessel was linked to Israel. MSC, a significant and global leading shipping company, reported on Saturday that the MSC Aries, registered in Portugal, was boarded by Iranian authorities via helicopter while traversing the Strait of Hormuz. Iran says the incident was ..read more

In Transpacific Eastbound traffic, we are experiencing an unusual period. Traditionally, up until now, rates for the next contract season, which usually runs from May to May, would have been finalized with a hard stop by the end of April or mid-May. This means you wouldn’t be able to negotiate a contract after this date. Of course, each contract is different but usually, this has been the norm for the greater population. This changed as soon as the Covid-driven shipping surge was over. Then the tables turned, and the importers who have regular cargo shipments had the upper hand. This year, oce ..read more

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has begun an investigation probing the container vessel Dali that crashed into Baltmore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge last month, according to multiple media outlets. The investigation, which is already underway, has now seen FBI investigators boarding the Dali, with dozens of investigators boarding the ship today alone. Multiple teams were present with several small boats pulling up alongside the massive ship. What exactly is the FBI investigating regarding the Baltimore bridge incident? As with any federal investigation, details are tightly kept un ..read more

What is the Automated Manifest System (AMS)? The automated manifest system is an electronic system that is used to support cargo data such as departure, arrival, and release information between the actors of shipment when importing to the U.S. The AMS was formed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in 2004 to keep freight under inspection, minimize potential errors and security risks. This system has modernized the maritime inventory system. Besides maritime transport, the tracking system is also used for air, rail, and road transportation. The AMS is directly connected to CBP, so the s ..read more

Last month, I had the opportunity to attend the Seafood Expo North America in Boston. This event takes place every year. This is a leading trade event for all sectors of the Seafood Industry. Within our company MTS Customs Brokerage, we have customers that import frozen warm water shrimp into the U.S. from multiple countries. One of the most important topics being asked in the industry right now is “Where are we with the Department of Commerce implementing Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duty from Ecuador, Indonesia, India, and Vietnam?”. Before I dive into this hot topic, I would like to prov ..read more

The master contract between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) expires on September 30th, 2024. Though the deadline is not until the end of September, months from now, the union is asking local officials for their local contracts to be agreed upon by May 17th. This way, the overall master contract can be negotiated by the Sept. 30th expiration date. The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) represents 45,000 dockworkers along the U.S. East and Gulf Coast. The United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) represents employers of ..read more

In maritime transportation, every container has the potential for profit or loss. One of the most important financial problems that negatively affects this profitability is the complexity of Demurrage and Detention agreements. In the U.S. alone, disputes increased by 7.1%, leading carriers to pay heavy penalties. These disputes often arise due to a lack of clear communication and ambiguities in contracts. Failure to accurately transfer Demurrage and Detention information leads to revenue leakage and operational inefficiencies, damaging profitability. As a result, invoice inaccuracy often leads ..read more

In the first three months of 2024, we have seen major growth, crises, and an important incident. The crises in the Panama and Suez Canals, Red Sea, and Middle East caused fluctuations in ocean freight rates and longer transit times. The Chinese New Year increased import demand, leading to limited space and capacity issues, which further impacted ocean freight rates. Additionally, the recent Baltimore incident resulted in shipping disruptions, including route diversions. Containerized Import Volumes Despite these challenges, U.S. containerized import volume increased by 7.9% from the previous m ..read more

Today, April 2nd, is World Autism Awareness Day. As many of our readers know, autism awareness and acceptance is a cause near and dear to our hearts at MTS Logistics, the parent company of MoreThanShipping.com. Now in its 14th year, the 14th Annual Bike Tour with MTS for Autism, will take place on June 8th, 2024 in New York City. The event is the shipping and logistics industry’s largest biking event ever. We have partnered with amazing non-profit organization Spectrum Works for many years. The wonderful work of Spectrum Works provides job training to young adults with autism. All proceeds fro ..read more

In what would be a major boost for shippers and marine traffic, workers are working around the clock to clear a portion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge to allow essential vessel traffic to pass through. The first major part of the bridge is being removed around-the-clock. Once fully removed, it will allow for a temporary passage for essential ships. Additionally, it will allow rescue efforts in the water to resume. The U.S. Coast Guard is leading efforts to remove the bridge and continue the search, while opening up the waterway that leads to one of the busiest ports in the U.S. At the moment ..read more