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Global shipping joins an uncertain world that tries to cope with a half dozen volatile, dangerous emergencies
While the Baltic and International Maritime Council's (BIMCO) predictions of world shipping's future were undramatic, they were at least a reasonable summary of what many think are most likely outcomes to emerge from present circumstances.
While consumer demand in the developed world is expected to increase, a simultaneous yet inconsistent boom in shipbuilding would be puzzling if it were not for Yemen's Houthi forces firing missiles at ships in the Red Sea and in Gulf of Aden. This has caused 90 per cent reduction in the use of the Suez Canal, necessitating the use of the longer Cape route that requires the circumnavigation of Africa to get to Europe. This creates a shortage of shipping space. Hence, and thus, a shipping boom.
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Geopolitical tensions create shipping conditions that look a lot like the Covid scare
Taking stock of the international shipping world after Greece's Posidonia Shipping Week, one begins to think that it's looking a lot like Covid.
But instead of one crisis gripping world attention, we have four or five to combine. Not as individually compelling, but collectively having much the same impact as the old Covid scare.
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Electric vehicles become key elements in a trade war with the West - when, where and how does it end?
While EVs - electric vehicles - may yet one day remembered as rage of the 2020s, their impact on international trade has been considerable.
Britain's Jaguar Land Rover Ltd and China's Chery Automobile Co have earlier this summer partnered to form a new joint venture to develop EVs. Of course, EVs are nothing new. Those of a certain age, can recall them as a common sight in London in the '60s and '70s.
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Weighing the pros and cons of artificial intelligence in international shipping and forwarding
From Melbourne's iT Wire comes a report that first appears to be expository before becoming promotional about Artificial Intelligence (AI) in container tracking.
Even before its manipulative nature is revealed, one wonders what real advantage AI offers in container tracking that isn't already available - RFID (radio frequency identification) comes to mind. And that's been around for 20 years. Despite, the universal ballyhoo about AI these days, in this examination, it continues to be much ado about not very much.
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Mediterranean & Africa
Trade Specialists |
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