Moves to rid container shipping of some of its more archaic, paper-based processes have taken a further step forward with Mediterranean Shipping Co introducing a blockchain-based electronic bill of lading. 

 

The eBL enables shippers and others in the key supply chain to receive and transmit the bill of lading document electronically, without any disruption to business operations. 

 

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https://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/freight-directory/news/MSC-launches-electronic-bill-of-lading/78972.htm?cl=article_3&elqTrack=true&mc_cid=4446759845&mc_eid=bb81110dd5#.YIrGY7VKiUk 

 

While the Suez Canal blockage at the end of last month is set to prolong the current operational capacity issues in ocean freight, it has not led to the catastrophic congestion crisis some had feared, major forwarders have told Lloyd’s Loading List. 

 

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https://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/freight-directory/news/Post-Suez-box-port-crunch-in-Europe-less-severe-than-feared/78946.htm#.YIlPgLVKiUk 

 

Ex-Shanghai ocean freight rates edged up to new record highs last week due to continuing strong demand and ongoing bottlenecks and capacity constraints – exacerbated and prolonged by the knock-on effects of last month’s blockage of the Suez Canal. 

 

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https://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/freight-directory/news/Ex-Shanghai-ocean-freight-rates-edge-up-to-new-record-highs/78948.htm?cl=article_2&elqTrack=true&mc_cid=a0f0a109f2&mc_eid=bb81110dd5#.YIlNq7VKiUk 

 

Some post-Brexit road freight traffic management measures put in place ahead of the UK’s departure from EU rules on 1 January will be removed this month, “as trade returns to normal levels” the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) today announced. 

 

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https://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/freight-directory/news/UK-post-Brexit-lorry-management-measures-stood-down/78902.htm?cl=article_3&elqTrack=true&mc_cid=7a64ed9582&mc_eid=bb81110dd5#.YIBLcuhKiUk 

 

The container shortages that have been adding to logistics logjams in Asia and beyond are showing few signs of being resolved, according to the latest data from Container xChange, an online platform for the leasing and trading of shipping containers. 

 

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https://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/freight-directory/news/Container-prices-surge-in-China-and-India/78904.htm#.YIBJXOhKiUk 

 

Efforts by Evergreen, the operator of Ever Given, to have the vessel’s cargo separated from the ship in any legal action have failed. 

 

The 20,000 teu Ever Given (IMO: 9811000) was arrested by Egyptian authorities, pending settlement of the Suez Canal Authority’s almost $1bn claim for compensation, after the grounding of the vessel shut down the key waterway for six days last month. 

 

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https://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/freight-directory/news/Evergreen-blocked-from-offloading-cargo-from-Ever-Given/78900.htm?cl=article_1&elqTrack=true&mc_cid=7a64ed9582&mc_eid=bb81110dd5#.YIBH6OhKiUk 

 

Logistics visibility specialist project44 has highlighted that container ships faced cumulative delays of more than 1,000 days following the Suez Canal incident late last month and that there is now more than 1.9 million TEU of capacity making their way to ports – “threatening to swamp ports with bottlenecked cargo for weeks to come”. 

 

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https://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/freight-directory/news/Ports-brace-for-1.9m-TEU-post-Suez-spike/78863.htm1#.YHhyruhKiUk 

 

Ocean freight rates look set to stay elevated for another two years, as disruption continues to restrict capacity and with new vessel orders remaining relatively low until at least 2023, according to container shipping analyst Drewry. But it believes things may not be so easy for carriers after 2022, as a flurry of new orders in the last few months is set to change container shipping’s supply-demand dynamic. 

 

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https://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/freight-directory/news/Ocean-freight-rates-set-to-stay-elevated-until-2023/78855.htm?cl=article_2&elqTrack=true&mc_cid=7847e42a84&mc_eid=bb81110dd5#.YHhxOehKiUk 

 

The global e-commerce logistics market grew by more than a quarter in 2020 – an estimated 27.3% – to around $368 billion and is forecast to expand to €557 billion by 2025, according to new research by Transport Intelligence (Ti). 

 

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https://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/freight-directory/news/E-commerce-logistics-market-grew-27-in-2020/78838.htm#.YHXGPOhKiUk 

 

Almost two weeks since the Ever Given was re-floated, box traffic through the Suez Canal has more or less returned to normal, but the knock-on effects will last well into May, Maersk has warned. 

 

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https://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/freight-directory/news/Maersk-says-post-Suez-disruptions-will-last-well-into-May/78853.htm?cl=article_1&elqTrack=true&mc_cid=3f9e20ff8a&mc_eid=bb81110dd5#.YHXD3ehKiUk