SHIPPING LINES AND LOGISTICS:
A SHIPPING LINE IS A BUSINESS THAT TRANSPORTS CARGO ABOARD SHIP.
IT HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED THAT LOGISTICS IS A DRIVING FORCE THAT SHAPES THE INTEGRATION OF THE TRANSPORT CHAIN. THIS PAPER ARGUES THAT WHILE THE LINER SHIPPING INDUSTRY EXHIBIT INCREASED HORIZONTAL INTEGRATION, ITS VERTICAL INTEGRATION REMAINS LIMITED. A CLEAR DISTINCTION IS DRAWN BETWEEN FREIGHT LOGISTICS, CONTAINER LOGISTICS AND VESSEL LOGISTICS. FREIGHT LOGISTICS IS DEFINED AS PART OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN PROCESS, THE FOCUS OF WHICH IS THE GOODS BEING TRANSPORTED. THE PURPOSE OF CONTAINER LOGISTICS IS TO OPTIMIZE THE MOVEMENTS OF THE CONTAINERS THEMSELVES, AN OPERATION THAT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO VESSEL LOGISTICS WHICH IS CONCERNED WITH MAXIMIZING VESSEL UTILIZATION. THE PAPER DEMONSTRATES THAT SHIPPING LINES HAVE TO FIND CORRECT BALANCE BETWEEN THESE THREE TYPES OF LOGISTICS. THEIR INTEREST IN VERTICAL INTEGRATION IS PRIMARILY BECAUSE THE MANAGEMENT OF CONTAINER LOGISTICS PROVIDES DIRECT SUPPORT TO VESSEL LOGISTICS. THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN FREIGHT LOGISTICS REMAINS NUCLEAR AND UNCERTAIN.
THERE ARE MANY CONTAINER SHIPPING LINES OPERATING "SHIPPING SERVICES" AROUND THE VARIOUS TRADE LANES IN THE WORLD, AND THE TOP SHIPPING LINES AROUND THE WORLD ARE AS BELOW:
APM MAERSK
COSCO GROUP
CMA CGM GROUP
HAPAG-LLOYD
ZIM
EVERGREEN LINE
ONE(OCEAN NETWORK EXPRESS)
PIL
WAN HAI LINES
IRISL GROUP
EMIRATES SHIPPING LINES
TRANSWORLD GROUP
SINOTRANS
GLOBAL FEEDER SHIPPING LLC. ETC
THERE ARE MANY MORE NEW SHIPPING LINES HAVE COME UP.
SHIPPING INCLUDES(BUT NOT RESTRICTED) ACTIVITIES AS BELOW:
- BOOKING CARGO FOR SPECIFIC VESSEL, SOMETIMES WEEKS AND MONTHS IN ADVANCE.
- ENSURING THAT ALL CARGO BOOKED IS PLANNED ON THE INTEND VESSELS.
- ENSURE THAT THE CARGO THAT IS PLANNED ON THE VESSEL IS ACTUALLY SHIPPED .
- ENSURE THAT THE STOWAGE PLANNING IS DONE PROPERLY ON THE VESSEL TO OPTIMISE THE VESSEL-LOADING.
- ENSURE THAT ALL CONTAINERS LOADED HAVE THEIR VGM.
- ENSURE SAFE LOADING AND DISCHARGING OF THE CARGO.
- ISSUING BILL OF LADING AND OTHER DOCUMENTATION FOR ALL CARGO LOADED.
A TYPICAL SHIPPING LINE OR SHIPPING AGENCY OFFICE HAVE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS PLANNING, MARKETING,SALES, CONTAINER DEPARTMENT, VESSEL OPERATIONS, DOCUMENTATION, FINANCE, ADMINISTRATION, PROCUREMENT ETC.
SHIPPING INVOLVES PLANNING AND IDENTIFYING THE MOST PROFITABLE TRADE AROUND THE WORLD, THE VOLUME OF CARGO AVAILABLE ON THESE ROUTES, THE NUMBER OF SHIPS THAT MUST BE EMPLOYED ON THESE ROUTES, THE PORTS THAT THIS SERVICES MUST CALL IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE BUSINESS, THE TRANSIT DAYS THAT A SHIP WILL TAKE FOR THE ROUND TRIP, THE COST PER VOYAGE INCLUDING OPERATIONAL COSTS, PORT COST, FUEL COSTS, THE MAN POWER REQUIRED ETC. FOR EACH VOYAGE .............THERE ARE MANY MORE ACTIVITIES INVOLVED.
