From a massive global shipping restock … to significant cyberattacks … to port congestion concerns … to the future of Amazon … to the 2020 crew change crisis … we’ve got a lot in store for you in this week’s freight updates. Short on time? Check out our summary of the latest international shipping news:
Week 53 Freight Updates
December 30th, 2020
Freight boom fires Buffett trains, Maersk ships and oil prices
During the depths of China’s coronavirus crisis at the start of the year, shipping behemoth A.P. Moeller-Maersk reported an unprecedented number of canceled sailings as the Asian country all but shut itself off from the world.
5 defining cyberattacks on trucking and logistics in 2020
Hackers hit the trucking and logistics industry hard in 2020. Many of the cyberattacks involved ransomware — essentially a vehicle for extortion. Ransomware attacks aim to cause as much operational disruption as possible by encrypting data.
World Shipping Council promises action on FMC concerns
Facing heightened scrutiny from the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) into ocean carrier actions that contribute to port congestion, some of the world’s largest shipping lines are taking steps to improve the speed and efficiency of cargo movement.
Will Amazon Exit the First-Party Retail Business in 2021?
Amazon.com has been heavily criticized for undercutting third-party merchants with its own line of branded products and direct selling from its extensive fulfillment network. But one industry observer predicts that the e-commerce behemoth will make a radical change in that strategy in the coming year.
2020 – The year of the crew change crisis
As this year has underscored global crew change for shipping is a complex international human logistics operation. But was also one that outside of crewing departments and specialist marine travel companies shipping executives did not normally lose too much sleep over.
