Posted on 07/27/2009 6:23:58 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
There seems to be little sympathy among Asian shippers for the plight of liner shipping; so much so that some of the Asian shippers’ bodies have expressed doubts over cries of poverty by the lines, according to Shippers’ Voice. As the shipping lines struggle to keep their heads above waters in the present economic scenario, Asian shippers warn that they will avoid shipping lines perceived to be “hostile” to them, pointing out that times are even more difficult for shippers with a large number of exporters, importers, wholesalers and retailers having pulled down shutters.
They are particularly sore about various types of surcharges that the shipping lines slap from to time, and one such levy is “container seal charge” recently slapped on Hong Kong and South China shippers. The terminal handling charge is a matter of even greater scorn. Meanwhile, European Shippers’ Council and its US counterpart, the National Industrial Transportation League, are engaged in a debate over Rotterdam Rules, with the European body seeing in the Rules some inherent dangers and league criticising the council’s position. The Convention on Contracts on Contracts for the International Carrying of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea is also known as Rotterdam Rules 2009.
Liners have recently banded together to scap their contracts with their own customers in an attempt to raise their rates. Looks like their customers are having none of it. Taking care of your customers in a recession can keep you afloat, and irritating them can kill you.
For background:
Transpacific box lines prepare to tear up contracts[Container Shipping]
If they’re anything like the Asian jitney people in NYC it could get bloody.
Is that why cargo goes by ship, and shipping goes by truck?
Why do we park in the driveway and drive on the parkway?
What do you call a FLY with no wings?
A walk!
YUP
Fascinating post. Although the comments are witty, I wish they were relevant.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.