Just a few weeks ago, the port of Southampton in the UK saw the arrival of the largest container ship. Named Marco Polo after the explorer, the container ship measures a whopping 1,299ft long by 177ft wide. The vessel is longer than four football pitches.
The container vessel, owned by CMA CGM can hold up to 16,000 containers; it’s this capacity that makes it the world’s largest sea freight container ship.
New technology incorporated into new container ships such as the Marco Polo, for example, the advances in hydrodynamics, decrease CO2 emissions and energy consumption. The ship’s electronically controlled engine uses an average of three percent less fuel than a regular engine. Provisions to prevent oil leaks (via a specially designed double hull) and reducing the transfer of micro-organisms from one ocean to another (via a water treatment system) have also been made. Advances such as these make new container ships more environmentally friendly and conserving for the marine environment.
Competitor Maersk is working on building an even larger ocean freight container ship to hold 18,000 containers, after previously holding the record for the largest shipping vessel with capacity of 11,000 containers.
The Marco Polo container ship will adopt a route to link Asia to Northern Europe. As one of the fastest ocean freight services between Asia and the United Kingdom, it also has comprehensive coverage of China, visiting Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen and Hong Kong to name a few, visiting Southampton in the UK .
Call us today to discuss your import shipment from Asia to the United Kingdom – Tel. 02392 756 575. Email: sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk.
Mercator Cargo is a founding partner of a global network of independent freight forwarders. With our 20 years’ of experience in freight forwarding, we can arrange for your export goods to Brazil, South America from the UK.
There are several freight forwarding options to consider when arranging your export to Brazil. One important first consideration is how big your load is. Mercator can offer services including:
– Full container load by ocean freight
– Half container load by sea freight
– Smaller load via air freight
– Or less than container load (LCL) – where your goods are combined with other specially selected cargo which can reduce the shipping costs.
Other information required includes whether your cargo has any special requirements. For example, Mercator can accommodate for unusual or sensitive loads including:
– Dangerous Goods
– Hanging Garments
– Precious Cargo
– Special Merchandise
– Perishable Goods.
Mercator offers a comprehensive freight forwarding service, giving advice on options such as documentation; transit routes; customs clearance; transit times; and transport options.
Mercator can arrange your customs clearance for you as your cargo arrives in San Paulo, Brazil. These customs charges can be calculated in advance, so that all charges are clear and upfront. Once the customs clearance charges have been settled, we will call on our contacts locally in San Paulo – thanks to our global network of independent freight forwarders. Using their local freight forwarding knowledge and contacts with hauliers and rail networks, we can arrange your cargo’s onward journey to its final destination.
Whether you’re a new business expanding into exports, or you’re an established company looking for a freight forwarding partner, contact us to discuss your shipment to Brazil.
Tel. 02392 756 575 or Email:sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk.
Many carriers are putting planned GRI (General Rate Increase) for the 1st of August on hold due to lower than forecasted Peak Season Container bookings, a number of carriers are already announcing the scrapping of increases way ahead of the proposed implementation date, with most citing growth and volumes at low levels even as we approach the traditional peak season for Christmas goods to begin shipping.
Some industry sources say that peak season this year will fail to materialise, due to the historically low freight rates but also due to some customers getting burnt in previous years with space problems, some of them having already arranged shipment and in some cases already fully stocked for Christmas.
For more information on this or any other container, import or export, freight or international trade matters please call the expert team at Mercator Cargo on 02392 756575
The growth potential of Vietnam was highlighted earlier this week when the second of two major container terminals was opened within two weeks of the last.
The Cai Mep International Terminal (CMIT) handled its first vessel earlier this week, when the CMA CGM Columba arrived at the port. With a capacity of 11,500 containers, the Columba is also the largest ever vessel to call in Vietnam.
The terminal has a capacity of 1.1 million containers. It is located 50km south-east of Ho Chi Minh City and it is the first to offer shipping lines direct access to the newly dredged 14 metre draught Cai Mep Terminal Channel.
To discuss the possibilities the opening of this new container terminal brings to world trade possibilities and the implications of its opening on your shipping requirements, please contact Mercator Cargo Systems today on 02392 75 65 75.
Mercator Cargo is an established freight forwarder in the UK. Celebrating its 20th year in business in 2011 it is a long standing member of the British International Freight Association.
With extensive experience in all aspects of freight transport, customs clearance and international shipping, the companies dedicated team of freight forwarders are able to find you the most reliable and cost effective international sea, road, air and rail freight forwarding services for your cargo.
A majority of the shipping lines are still calling at Japanese container ports, despite concerns over increased radiation levels.
The following five shipping lines are continuing normal services to the Tokyo Bay area as scheduled following the radiation leak from the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant 220km to the north of Tokyo.
However German based shipping line Hapag-Lloyd continues to omit Tokyo, Yokohama and Nagoya from its sailings but is retaining calls to Kobe.
Many shipping lines are implementing “precautionary measures” onboard its vessels to ensure safety of crews and cargo as concerns grow about potential radioactive contamination of goods loaded inside some containers.
Should you have any concerns regarding a your current shipment with Mercator Cargo, or a shipment you will be shortly shipping to or near the Tokyo Bay area, please contact Mercator Cargo today to discuss your shipment on 02392 75 65 75.
Mercator Cargo is an established freight forwarder in the UK. Celebrating its 20th year in business in 2011 it is a long standing member of the British International Freight Association.
With extensive experience in all aspects of freight transport, customs clearance and international shipping, the companies dedicated team of freight forwarders are able to find you the most reliable and cost effective international sea, road, air and rail freight forwarding services for your cargo.
10, St George’s Business Centre,
St Georges Square,
Portsmouth, PO1 3EZ, UK
Mercator is a family-run, UK based independent freight forwarder, offering highly effective sea, road and air freight services around the world.
