Shipping to or From China..?? Read How the New Chinese Maritime Code Could Affect You
China’s revised Maritime Code took effect on May 1, 2026, marking the first major overhaul of its shipping law since 1993. The new Code, particularly Article 295, forces contracts that involve loading or discharge in Chinese ports to follow Chinese carriage rules, reshaping choice‑of‑law and limitation regimes. It resets the one‑year claim period when a demand is made, expands carrier duties to include receipt and delivery, and bases cargo loss valuation on market value at delivery. Shipowner liability limits are lifted to the 1996 LLMC standard, affecting owners, managers and charterers.
Criminals Are Adapting Faster than Supply Chains – BSI/TT Club 2025 Cargo Theft Report
The BSI/TT Club 2025 cargo‑theft report shows criminals are outpacing traditional security, turning theft into a supply‑chain resilience and business‑continuity issue. While trucks still generate about 70% of incidents, rail‑cargo theft has surged in the United States, and Asia’s losses...
The Ocean Freight Market Is Shifting Again in 2026.. Are You Adapting or Reacting..??
The ocean freight market is experiencing rapid capacity tightening and rate volatility that outpace traditional contracts, forcing shippers to constantly reassess routing and pricing strategies. Dimerco Express Group has launched its 2026 State of Air and Ocean Freight Global Market...
Rolling with the Punches – Drawing Parallels Between a Concert and the Shipping Industry
Attending Bryan Adams’ “Rolling with the Punches” concert inspired a comparison between the music legend’s career and the shipping industry’s constant turbulence. The article argues that, like a seasoned performer, shippers must adapt to tariff swings, port congestion, geopolitical shocks,...
Distinguishing Bearer Bill of Lading and Blank Endorsed Bill of Lading
Bearer and blank‑endorsed bills of lading are often confused, but they differ fundamentally. A bearer bill is issued without a named consignee, allowing anyone who holds the paper to claim the cargo, while a blank‑endorsed bill begins as an order...
Containers Don’t Lie, neither Should Its Narrative – Lori Ann LaRocco
Lori Ann LaRocco’s "Containers Don’t Lie" symposium transforms raw container data into a candid, actionable forum for global‑trade leaders. Held under Chatham House Rules, the event replaces traditional panels with one‑on‑one dialogues that surface unvarnished supply‑chain truths. Attendees—including CEOs, CFOs, policymakers, and...
Leaders and Visionaries in Shipping – Captain Gianluigi Aponte
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is on the cusp of operating a fleet of 1,000 vessels, roughly 10 million TEUs, marking a historic scale for the privately held carrier. Founder and Group Chairman Gianluigi Aponte grew MSC from a single ship in...
Evolution of Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC)
The Non‑Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) originated as a freight‑forwarding intermediary that began issuing its own bills of lading in the 1960s and was codified by the US Shipping Act of 1984. Over the decades, regulatory milestones—including OSRA 1998, the introduction...
The Political Narrative Around “Foreign-Owned Shipping Lines”
The term “foreign‑owned shipping lines” has entered political debates whenever freight rates spike or supply chains falter, suggesting that overseas carriers threaten national interests. In reality, the world’s largest container operators—MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, Hapag‑Lloyd, Evergreen and ONE—are privately held enterprises,...
End of Voyage Is Not a Legal Doctrine in Maritime Law, so What Is the Legal Basis..??
Carriers have begun issuing "End of Voyage" notices, declaring that ships bound for the Arabian Gulf will divert to alternative ports and cease responsibility for the cargo. The term is not a legal doctrine; it stems from standard Bill of...
We Serve as a Trusted Source of Maritime Expertise – FMC Chair – Laura DiBella
Laura DiBella, chair of the Federal Maritime Commission, says the agency must reinforce a global perspective after COVID‑driven supply‑chain shocks. She frames the FMC as evolving toward a consumer‑protection model that safeguards U.S. importers and exporters. DiBella stresses proactive investigations...
Scaling Warehouse Operations Through 3PL Outsourcing Models
Third‑party logistics (3PL) outsourcing is emerging as the preferred model for scaling warehouse operations amid surging freight volumes driven by e‑commerce. Purpose‑built 3PL facilities combine high‑speed infrastructure, real‑time inventory technology, and trained staff to keep inventory moving efficiently. Flexible capacity...
GTR Africa 2026 Is Back in Cape Town for Its 20th Year – Get Your Tickets Soon
GTR Africa, the premier trade, supply chain, infrastructure and commodity finance conference, returns to Cape Town for its 20th edition on 12‑13 March 2026. The event, hosted at CTICC 2, follows a record 2025 attendance of over 700 delegates and will...