A software problem caused a major disruption for the South Carolina Ports Authority last week. As a result, all vessel and container operations were put on hold from Sunday, May 19th until Tuesday morning, May 21st. Both marine and inland terminals were impacted by the suspension. Gates were closed, and no cargo was picked up or dropped off during this time. The eighth-largest container port in the U.S. is the South Carolina Ports Authority, which owns and runs the Port of Charleston, Inland Port Greer, and Inland Port Dillon. In 2023, 2,482,080 TEUs were handled. In the first quarter of 2024 ..read more

In the midst of the Red Sea crisis, global schedule reliability continued to decline. Global schedule reliability fell -5.1% points to 51.6% in January 2024 (the same monthly decline as in December 2023). This decline means that the January 2024 figure is the lowest since September 2022. Year-over-year, schedule reliability in January 2024 was -0.8 percentage points lower than in January 2023. The average delay in ship arrivals due to African voyages has deteriorated further, with an increase of 0.59 days to 6.01 days month-over-month. Source: Sea IntelligenceSource: Sea Intelligence What can ..read more

In the 21st century, container security is a paramount concern in shipping. Facing a variety of security threats, from opportunistic intrusions and tampering to drug trafficking and human smuggling by transnational organized crime networks, shipping lines understandably prioritize container and cargo integrity. The security challenge is further complicated by the continuously evolving nature of these threats, as criminals develop and refine methods to circumvent traditional security measures. While law enforcement agencies work to address these issues, shipping lines can also enhance supply ch ..read more

Transportation is a service that is provided to move goods around the world. There are multiple companies involved in the process, including truck operators, vessel operators, and service providers. A service is not a commodity – or at least is not supposed to be treated as a commodity. The reason is that when you buy a commodity, you make something out of it – you buy aluminum and you make bikes, or you buy plastics and you mold them into toys. A service is something you buy to support the actual product you sell – in our case, it is to move your product safely, timely, securely and economica ..read more

Now in its 14th year, our Annual Bike Tour with MTS for Autism takes place Saturday, June 8th! We are pleased to invite you to join MTS Logistics and Turkish Philanthropy Funds (TPF) and bike for a cause. Thanks to the generous donations of our sponsors and participants, we are very proud to announce that we have already raised over $112,000! There are two ways you can participate in this great event with us: 1. Bike with Us: If you wish, you can bike with us on June 8th. It will be a healthy and fun outdoor activity taking place all day. To RSVP for the event, please contact marketing@mtsnyc ..read more

In the rapidly changing and developing business world, catching up with trends, keeping up with the times and following innovations are essential for a company. It is possible to say the same things about the logistics sector, which has a considerable size in the world economy. Logistics service providers are looking for different solutions in order to take part in the logistics market, compete with the giants and make a difference. Considering the many studies and research conducted on this subject, an issue that is very important to discuss is the concept of “diversity” in logistics service ..read more

Authorities in Baltimore successfully conducted the controlled demolition of the largest remaining steel section of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge this past Monday. The process utilized explosives to break down the 500-foot-long span, which had previously fallen onto the bow of the 213-million-pound Dali cargo ship during the initial accident on March 26th. The latest demolition activity is a step in the right direction for getting the Port of Baltimore back in service. Precision cutting techniques were used by engineers at the bridge to ensure a controlled demolition and breakdown of ..read more

I was at the TPM meeting back in early 2024. While everyone was mainly discussing the Houthi attacks on ships in the Suez Canal, Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates was the main guest at the event and had a different threat in mind. When the moderator asked if there is any area that we should keep an eye on, he mentioned the possibility of an escalation in the Taiwan Strait. So, what would the effects of a possible shutdown in the Taiwan Strait look like? Just 12% of global trade was passing through the Suez Canal before the attacks started. By switching to the route around South Afr ..read more

Port congestion poses significant challenges to global supply chains, maritime trade, and overall economic efficiency. As the volume of goods transported by sea continues to grow, finding effective solutions becomes crucial. Fortunately, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) offer promising ways to mitigate port congestion. In this article, we’ll explore how these technologies can make a difference and enhance port operations. 1. AI-Powered Optimization for Port Operations Data-Driven Decision-Making: AI algorithms analyze historical data, real-time information, and external factors to ..read more

These days, there are so many events happening in the world of shipping, logistics, and the supply chain. It’s easy to miss the many developments that are affecting the industry landscape. Here at More Than Shipping, it’s our goal to keep you informed and knowledgable about these various developments. Take a look at our latest update on what you should know in shipping this week. 1. Maersk to decide on Baltimore plans over a month after bridge collapse Over a month after the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Harbor collapsed following the collision of a container ship into the bridge, Maer ..read more