Study on supply chain challenges in container shipping : the shippers' perspective

• Main Author: Ang, Jasmine Rui Xia
• Other Authors: Teo Chee Chong
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Maritime studies::Maritime management and business
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/15849
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Container shipping has become an increasingly necessary part of everyone’s life. It smoothen trade imbalances by transporting goods of low demand, high supply to places of high demand and low supply, thereby increasing international trade flow. Facing intense global competition, shippers resort to scrutinizing every possible stage in the supply chain to add to their competitive advantage, only to realize that the ocean leg are falling short of expectations. The objectives of the report seek to identify possible challenges in the container shipping industry from shippers’ perspective and attempt to offer solutions with applicable supply chain concepts. By speaking from the customers’ viewpoint, this report hopes to address and reconcile pressing issues between major stakeholders like shippers, carriers and ports. Highlights of the discussion includes the causes, impacts and recommended solutions for problems regarding schedule unreliability, freight rates, surcharges, consolidation of liner companies and unwilling commitment from shippers. Analysis of results shows that more communication is needed for building long-term relationship for mutual benefits.