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☆ Opinion: Why ‘black swans’ are behind the Key Bridge and other shipping disasters
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Opinion Salvatore R. Mercogliano | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —The allision between the container ship MV Dali and the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday has prompted numerous questions — not only about how this tragedy occurred, but also about our global shipping processes. This marked the start of a campaign by the Houthis, in support of Hamas in their attack on Israel, against global shipping transiting the Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden. Now, two years later, Baltimore is closed with remains of the Key Bridge athwart the main shipping channel. No one agency has oversight of or coordinates global shipping or ports in the US. There is also no overall maritime strategy for the nation, although the US Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration has been tasked to develop one.

Persons: Salvatore R, Mercogliano, Francis Scott Key, —, Sal Mercogliano Bennett Scarborough, Dali, ”, Jennifer Homendy, Transportation Pete Buttigieg, John Garamendi of, Dusty Johnson of Organizations: Campbell University, Shipping, YouTube, CNN, MV Galaxy Leader, Baltimore, Federal Highway Administration, Transportation, Bethlehem Steel, Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration, US Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, Maryland Department of Transportation, US Department of Transportation, Federal Maritime Commission, Democratic, Republican, Dusty Johnson of South Dakota, Ocean Shipping Reform Locations: Baltimore, Asia, Suez, Los Angeles, Long, Yemen, Israel, Bab, Aden, China, Argentina, Largo, Dali, Sparrows, United States, John Garamendi of California, Dusty Johnson of South

☆ How shipping containers can make or break the global economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Andrea Miller | In Dreajmiller | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The shipping container is a logistics marvel that can affordably move thousands of items from hundreds of different companies all around the globe. Supply chain disruptionsDisruptions to global trade can have major impacts on shortages and inflation, causing serious ramifications for American households and businesses. Indeed, inflation cooled alongside the bounce back of the supply chain, according to a White House analysis of the U.S. economy. [It's] an inefficiency born not of container shipping but just of the nature of the global economy." Watch the video above to learn more about how shipping containers enable global trade, why China dominates the shipping industry and what happens after a container shortage.

Persons: Simon Heaney, John Fossey, Good Hope, John McCown, nonresident, McCown, Goetz Alebrand, " Heaney, Heaney Organizations: Drewry, CNBC, Supply, Federal Reserve Bank of San, Center for Maritime Strategy, Federal Maritime Commission, Americas, DHL Global Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, U.S, Iran, Good, Africa, China, Ukraine, Asia

☆ Battle for the Red Sea expands with U.S. strikes, EU stepping up its efforts against Houthis
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Defense officials tell CNBC as of February 21, there have been at least 59 attacks on commercial shipping interests in the Red Sea. But the EU said the Red Sea moves reflect the need for a stronger European presence in protecting ships from Houthi attacks. Trade leaders have urged more countries to join the military effort in the Red Sea. A war of misinformation in the Red Sea crisis also continues. On February 2 in Brussels, Borrell informed Yemeni Prime Minister Bin Mubarak about the plans to launch a new EU maritime operation in the Red Sea and about its mandate.

Persons: Mason, Torm Thor, Good Hope, Peter Stano, Josep Borrell, Mark Montgomery, Sen, John McCain, Steven Lamar, Hussein, Azzi, Stano, Houthis, Borrell, Bin Mubarak, Rashad Al, Carl Bentzel, Bentzel, Tesla Organizations: European Commission, United States Central Command, Command, U.S, CNBC, European Union's Naval Force, EU, French Navy, Prosperity, Prosperity Guardian, EU Commission, Navy, Foundation, Defense of Democracies, Senate Armed, NATO, U.S . Central Command, UK, Prosperity Guardian . Trade, American Apparel and Footwear Association, Central Command, Yemeni, Presidential, Council, UN, Federal Maritime, Foreign Shipping, State Department, FMC, Walmart Locations: Aden, Iranian, Yemen, Red, Libyan Coast, Good, Somalia, European, EU, U.S, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, New Zealand, Houthi, Europe, Suez, Belize, Brussels, Yemeni, United States, Egypt, Germany, Israel

☆ Global shipping rates set to jump as carriers avoid the Red Sea amid Houthi attacks
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Freight prices are set to jump Monday, while longer transit times around Africa are disrupting and delaying deliveries of products. British clothing retailer Next recently warned of stock delays as a result of the longer ocean transit. "This creates strong motivations for ocean carrier(s) to increase rate(s) by establishing General Rate Increases (GRIs), Peak Season Surcharge (PSSs), and other contingency or emergency surcharges," the company said. "HLS warned Transpacific freight rates could spike to highs not seen since early 2022, with the Suez Canal route suspended, and the Panama Canal route restricted." Kuehne + Nagel analysts told CNBC that 419 vessels are currently being rerouted due to the Red Sea situation.

Persons: Jon Gold, HLS, Good Hope, Kuehne, Nagel, Franziska Bietke, Mark Rhodes, Rhodes Organizations: Lane Shipping, Ikea, National Retail Federation, CNBC, MSC, U.S ., East, U.S . Shipping Act, Federal Maritime Commission, Kuehne, Logistics, Crane Worldwide Logistics, CNBC PRO Locations: Suez, Ismailia, Egypt, Iran, Red, Africa, Asia, British, West Coast, Panama, U.S . West Coast, East Coast, Gulf of Mexico, South Africa's, Good, Project44, Europe

☆ Bankrupt Bed Bath & Beyond Seeks $300 Million From MSC Line for Pandemic Shipping Charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Costas Paris | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Bed Bath & Beyond filed for bankruptcy protection in April. Photo: Richard B. Levine/Zuma PressThe bankruptcy estate of Bed Bath & Beyond has filed the largest ever lawsuit with the Federal Maritime Commission, seeking around $300 million from Mediterranean Shipping Co. for allegedly overcharging to move its cargo during the pandemic. The bankrupt retailer wants Geneva-based MSC, the world’s largest boxship operator in terms of capacity, to pay around $150 million for damages and an equal sum for what it described as exploitative and coercive behavior. Complaints by American companies are handled by the FMC , the U.S. maritime regulator.

Persons: Richard B, Levine Organizations: Zuma, Bed, Federal Maritime Commission, Mediterranean Shipping Co, FMC Locations: Geneva, U.S

MV Lara Cruise Ship Courtesy: Miray CruisesA unique offer to cruise around the world for three years — which appeared at risk of running aground earlier this year — now is boasting of a bigger ship. Such bonds reimburse U.S.-boarding passengers if cruise operators fail to complete the booked trips. In March, Life at Sea originally offered what it called the "world's first — and only — three-year cruise" aboard the prior ship, MV Gemini. View of a cabin onboard the MV Lara cruise ship. While she almost pulled out of the trip after controversy over the initial plan to use the Gemini for the cruise, Thomas is now committed to the voyage.

Persons: Cruise, Gemini, Mikael Petterson, Petterson, Petterson's, Barbara, Lara, Kendra Holmes, Miray, Holmes, Thomas, Shirene Thomas, They've, people's Organizations: CNBC, Sea Cruises, Miray Cruises, Federal Maritime Commission, U.S, Gemini, Facebook, Victoria Cruises, [, Miray Locations: —, United States, Florida, North Carolina, Wilmington , North Carolina, U.S, Miami, Istanbul

Reuters GraphicsMany U.S. importers are still sanguine, but their supply chains could still be disrupted as Vietnam's apparel makers depend on China for about half of their input materials, according to the country's industry association. XINJIANG LINKSWhile the halted shipments represent a tiny portion of the $27 billion worth of garments and footwear Vietnam exported to the U.S. last year, compliance risks may lead to more painful adjustments for Vietnam. That, in turn, will hit U.S. consumers as Vietnam is their main source of cotton apparel, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. However Nike has significantly reduced its output of apparel and footwear in Vietnam despite the country remaining its main manufacturing hub, according to its latest annual report updated to May 2022. Two officials from U.S. footwear and apparel industry trade associations said the new rules have had no major impact so far on Vietnam and blamed recent job cuts on lower global demand.

☆ Spooked dealmakers scurry back into their foxholes
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Jeffrey Goldfarb | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

NEW YORK, March 23 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Jonathan Kanter, a lawyer by training, has become something of a magician. Pay closer attention, however, and Kanter is methodically rewriting a decades-old regulatory playbook. Last year, these breakup charges reached their highest level in a decade, at an average 4.5% of deal prices. The Department of Agriculture partnered with the DOJ on the case, another feature of Kanter’s plan of attack. As legal weaknesses emerge, dealmakers should be in position to better structure transactions and defend themselves at trial.

☆ U.S. Importers Seize on New Shipping Rules to Fight Late Fees
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Paul Berger | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

U.S. importers are fighting millions of dollars in fees imposed by the world’s largest ocean carriers with the help of a new federal law and a newly emboldened regulator. He said his company, Lion Energy LLC, which imports about 800 containers a year, felt it had little power to dispute the charges. Now, Mr. Frey and hundreds of shippers like him are turning to rules set out in the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, which passed Congress in June. The new shipping law endorsed an FMC rule published in 2020. But shippers are still able to challenge fees that predate the law under earlier FMC rules.

☆ Most supply chain managers expect problems to continue at least through 2024
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The dour outlook comes after almost three years of global supply chain problems, which began with the shutdown of Wuhan, China, where the Covid outbreak began. Jon Gold, vice president of supply chain and customs policy of the NRF, said the administration has taken steps to address the supply chain challenges. Earlier this year, for example, the administration rolled out a pilot supply chain data sharing program called Freight Logistics Optimization Works, or FLOW. "The administration needs to remain focused and continue to convene the right supply chain stakeholders to discuss ways to improve supply chain operations and expand data sharing to create a truly 21st century supply chain," Gold said. Nate Herman, AAFA's senior vice president, of policy told CNBC the problems that created the supply chain crisis are far from over.

☆ How the Pandemic Taught Us to See the Whole Supply Chain
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Emma Cosgrove | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

As 2022 fades, the question is what lessons supply chain pros will take with them into the future. As 2022 fades, the question has become: What will those supply chain professionals take with them into the future as stresses ease? See the full chainEarly in the pandemic, retailers desperate to fill the shelves quickly realized how little visibility they had into their supply chains. One place where the work of rethinking supply chains has already succeeded is Best Buy, according to Becca Meinz, the retailer's VP end-to-end supply chain strategy. Responsiveness is the aim of many supply chain innovators as we move past the worst pandemic shocks.

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