Never Lose another Container Again with Liner Shipping Software

What do container carriers do when a container is lost ?

Most, if not all, simply write it off and collect insurance later. At least that is the easiest thing they could do, and perhaps, the most practical of all other options available.

Container Loss has been a common concern for shipping companies and consumers alike for many years. Despite the fact that vessels are safely carrying millions of container each year, it is reported
that every year over ten thousand containers are lost at sea due to myriad reasons – from bad weather condition, to poor handling, to technical problems.

These containers, depending on the type of cargo they contain, either stay afloat or sink deep into the bottom of the ocean. Either way, these huge junks clustered along shipping lanes pose danger to other passing ships, as well as to marine ecosystems below, especially when there are hazardous cargoes such as toxic chemicals on board. In order to avoid this situation, shipping operators must not only find better ways of chaining their containers down, but also upgrade their systems in order to better monitor weather and sea conditions. For both purposes, functional liner principal software can help.

Aside from falling overboard, shippers can also lose track of their containers to competing companies during loading, transshipment, or discharging. Container shipping across international ports is a complex process which involves dozens of different parties, data elements, and business documents.  Without a functional shipping line software system for tracking and managing container movement, vessels and shipping companies can easily lose track of their containers, and once they’re gone, it is virtually impossible to recover them.

However, shipping companies can deal with the problem before it happens and avoid expensive and
irreversible damages not only to the shipments, but also, and perhaps more importantly, to their name. Just the latter should be enough reason for shipping companies to abandon their spreadsheets and whiteboards, and shift to more efficient shipping software solutions.

To address problems involving lost and damaged containers, shipping software companies have developed various types of software solutions designed to streamline aspects of container freight management. Container management software feature several functions which allow port authorities and vessel operators to maximize container efficiency and visibility. Once integrated to existing shipping process, software applications can be accessed through any internet-connected device using leading web browsers. Operators can then generate information they can use to:

1. Identify the current location of all containers. (See Container Tracking Software.)
2. Control and manage multiple container fleets remotely from a central office.
3. Ensure container visibility and generate updates on every stage of the logistics process from ports to distribution centers. 
4. Maximize container space through cargo mix simulation in order to reduce costs and maximize profit.
5. Detect damages and potential problems involving containers. (See Container Repair Software.)
6. Generate forecasts on status and movement of containers to facilitate advance planning and avoid       terminal congestion.

There is no doubt that integrated shipping software is key to success in modern shipping, and all signs indicate that there is a bright future ahead for the industry. The world is moving toward automation and web-based systems. That is where every shipping company is supposed to be heading in order to stay on top of their business.

Container Management Software: Maximizing Container Efficiency

Container shipping has improved dramatically in the last decade with the advent of automation and integrated shipping solutions software. However, problems relating to lost and damaged shipments still happen from time to time. Every year, up to ten thousand shipping containers are lost at sea due to a number of factors including careless handling by freight and vessel operators. While some problems cannot be avoided, shipping companies can implement measures to minimize risks and enhance the efficiency of their container shipping operations. Container management software is an answer to the challenges involved in container freight management. It is designed to assist shipping companies and their customers with day to day tracking of containers which is crucial in creating an efficient business workflow. Using this software, vessel operators and port authorities can generate information which they can use to:

• Control and manage multiple container fleets remotely from a central office. 

• Provide complete container visibility from ports to distribution centers. 

• Manage their cargo mix and make best use of container space to reduce costs and maximize profit in every port call.

• Make forecasts of container movement and facilitate advance planning to avoid terminal congestion. 

• Detect possible demurrage costs and other expenses. 

•  Manage container repairs through use of container repair software.

With approximately 50 million containers being transported on container fleets annually, there is great need for every shipping company to implement functional shipping solutions software to provide their customers end-to-end visibility for their inventory at every level of the supply chain operation. Improving container security and maximizing overall freight productivity requires use of functional marine software solutions specifically designed to streamline logistics flow. With container management software, shipping companies no longer have to outsource their operations to third party logistics providers (3PL’s). They themselves can manage their own and their customers’ inventory with efficiency, visibility, and greater control.

Why Shipping Container Repairs Are Important

After years of use, constant transportation and exposure to harsh environmental conditions can cause significant wear and tear on shipping containers. Container integrity is an important factor in the shipping industry. In particular, the necessity of cargo containers to transport large amounts hazardous materials across vast oceans highlights the need for safe and secure shipping containers. Shipping lines transporting these hazardous materials are often cited by wildlife and nature preserving organizations to be the leading cause of marine pollution and damage, often resulting to lawsuits and litigation. Therefore, maintaining the integrity of these containers is a major industry concern.

Additionally, damaged containers pose serious risks for the safety of shipping crews, stevedores and warehousemen. These can easily collapse during stowage or drop when being loaded or unloaded on shipping vessels.

Replacing damaged containers is extremely costly, which is why these containers are instead sent to ports that provide container repair services. This option, however, is still considered expensive. Shipping software companies have developed business solutions to help ensure shipping agencies that reliability of container repairs are guaranteed. A reliable container repair software can be purchased to reassure any shipping agency that all damages in the containers are repaired and its transportation worthiness is restored.

It is best for liner shipping operators to utilize other industry solutions to further minimize container damages and reduce costly repairs. There are maritime software solutions available that include container management software to facilitate proper container stowage planning that will effectively remove the risk of container-related accidents.