Maritime logistics currently moves 85% of all global freight shipments, hence the importance of this sector in global maritime logistics.

The Post Covid era or known as the new normality has marked new ways of managing a shipment.

Previously, the customer would place an order with a desired estimated delivery date and it would fall within the production schedule. Based on that schedule, they would look for spaces for the shipment that matched the estimated arrival date requested by the customer. Today this process is pure fantasy.

In 2022 the reality shows that far from solving the accumulated congestion of 2021 we are still suffering it and it is increasing. Some examples:

• In some of the destinations, vessels have been anchored for more than two weeks before entering port.
• The United States has been suffering collapses for months and all its ports are still congested and no one can predict an end to this congestion.
• We can also add the fact that China is applying a very restrictive policy to prevent COVID which results in completely closed ports, such as Shanghai which has been completely closed for two months, causing route changes, lack of containers and congestion.

And how do these congestions affect the rest of the world?

It’s easy, freight rates increase to compensate for the unavoidable stoppage of vessels in front of ports.

Change of routes without prior notice to customers and delays in vessel departures, causing inconvenience and increasing transit time, obviously without any compensation in return.

Constant change of the Schedule constantly varying the programming, there is no reliability in the arrival of the vessel which causes either delays or the vessel is brought forward (without prior notice), damaging the not being able to have room for maneuver to reach the closing of that booking.

Cancellations without explanation of bookings, in the past a booking was respected and the role was played in the hypothetical case (that before loading the facilities) was full, nowadays they proceed to the cancellation and perhaps the next available one is a month ahead.

Full bookings one month ahead, there are destinations, such as the LATAM area, which are completely full one month ahead and finding space is very difficult.

The incomprehensible service currently offered by the shipping companies, many do and undo without informing customers, forgetting that we are the ones who are paying for the service and that they do not provide a service at all according to the price offered.

Increase of up to 395% in the freight price compared to last year.

Current solutions

That is why more than ever we have to work on creating ties with the best freight forwarders, mixing large multinationals with others of total confidence along with those of small management. In this way it is easier to access spaces and gain visibility when a free space arises for the customer’s usual shipping destinations.

We propose to study new ways of shipment, in some destinations we can start to offer groupage as an urgent measure, although it is usually more expensive to import, in many cases it allows to ensure the shipment.

We propose to look for routes with direct service whenever possible to avoid transshipments and their congestions that increase the transit time.

We propose that customers who buy collaborate to have the maximum foresight in their orders, in this way you can work on reserving space a month and a half in advance and ensure the shipment. It is the only way to have a minimum of guarantee, we have to think that the ASAP has gone from being an immediate shipment to be in a space of time of about a month, especially the destinations that have been discussed: LATAM and USA. Unfortunately, the transit time for these destinations has also been affected and has increased considerably.

In spite of the setbacks, in Biovet we are optimistic and we continue working to give the best service, preference and professionalism in your shipments.