Container

24/7 terminal operation requires a robust solution, capable of standing up to harsh duty cycles without demanding maintenance requirements or unplanned service issues.

Total January shipments—at 1,598,492—saw an 6.1% annual gain. Domestic containers—at 671,862—were up 8.1%, while trailers—at 105,611—were up 14.6%. All domestic equipment—at 777,473—was up 9.0%. ISO, or international, containers—at 821,019—saw a 3.5% increase.

Rail carloads—at 232,217—were down 6.7% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers—at 252,965 units—dropped 7.4%.

An annual lull between seasons and previously planned tariff increases on hold represent two main reasons for United States retail container port import volumes to fall to their lowest level in nearly a year, according to the Port Tracker report.

Carloads, at 271,718, were up 1.8% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers increased 3.8% annually to 285,169.

Rail carloads rose 6.4%to 260,115, and intermodal container and trailer volume increased 4.6% annually to 274,807.

Figuring out appropriate freight movements on the high seas has always been a bit of a chess match for global shippers. And as readers of Logistics Management have learned over the past year, the game could get even more complicated as shippers try to make sense of quickly shifting ocean carrier alliances and partnerships.

As forecasted in Logistics Management recently, ocean cargo container carriers Hapag-Lloyd AG and United Arab Shipping Company S.A.G. (UASC) have agreed to merge.

The new container weighing regulations introduced to enhance maritime safety and reduce the dangers to containerships, their crews and all those involved throughout the maritime supply chain have been welcomed by the the Global Shippers’ Forum, but it now has voiced new concerns about fees.

Maritime analysts say smaller and older vessels will be scrapped in high volumes now that the Panama Canal has been expanded.

FMC Commissioner William P. Doyle weighed in on the upcoming implementation of the SOLAS Convention’s verified gross mass (VGM) requirements, thereby adding urgency to the issue.

The 19 ocean carrier members of the Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association have joined with six major East and Gulf coast ports agree on use of a common streamlined “Terminal Weighing Approach” to providing verified gross mass at port locations.

Federal Maritime Commission Mario Cordero has expressed frustration that with the SOLAS VGM implementation date looming

With the implementation date for new container weighing requirements on July 1, Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission Mario Cordero said the time has come for ocean carriers to embrace the obvious solution to achieving compliance that Marine Terminal Operators can offer.

Port of Oakland spokesmen contend that "a containerized export rally" is underway.