Logistics, Trade Administration and Supply Chain

A liner service is one which provides vessels that ply on fixed routes on a regular schedule between groups of ports. Liner services offer cargo space to all shippers who require them. They shall sail on schedule dates, irrespective of whether they are full or not. It is this regular scheduled service that defines a liner service. Hence, it is vitally important for the shipowner to ensure that his ships keep to the scheduled arrival and sailing dates, or else the reputation of the service will then decline. In order to maintain a regular service and to cover a wide range of ports, liner operations usually involves an adequately sizeable fleet and a fairly large on shore establishment. Some liner operators joined up together by pooling their ships to establish a consortium. The enlarged fleet of ships will enable the consortium to increase its service frequency and expand its geographical coverage. Prior to the introduction of containers, cargo liners comprised mainly on conventional or

The Festival of Lights, better known as Deepavali or Diwali, is a public holiday here in Malaysia and is celebrated by the Hindu Community. This festival is celebrated with joy, excitement, bright lights and an even brighter smile! During the wait for the arrival of this festival, homes of the Hindu community is light up with the traditional 'vilakku' which are oil lamps made out of clay, colourful light bulbs and the decorative designs of 'kolam' which are decorated out of coloured rice or beans into fascinating patterns of flowers. Happy Deepavali to all my Hindu friends and colleagues!

Government policies Development of ports, transhipments points, distripacks, inland depots. Legislations e.g. tax exemptions, incentives for shipowners, shippers, cabotage law. Commodities Changes in type of commodities exported due to industrialisation i.e. exporting more manufactured goods and less primary products.Changes in trading partners i.e. exporting manufactured goods to third world developing countries instead of relying on exports of primary products to advanced/developed countries. Changes in modes of shipment i.e. manufactured goods are mainly shipped in unitised packages rather than in bulk form. Hence, containers are increasingly being used. The Shipping Line The shipping line owns or charter ships which are used to offer space for the carriage of cargoes between sea ports in return for a consideration called freight. The type of vessel owned or chartered by shipping line depends on the type of service, tramp service or tanker service. Some shipping lines operate a comb

Business transaction arise from the demand for goods. Goods needed at a certain place are not neccessarily produces at the same place. Thus there is a need to transport the goods from the place of production to the place of consumption. The intensity of the need for transportation services depends on the strength of the demand of the goods and the availability of supply. Indeed, it is this need that shapes and decides the role as well as the future of shipping industry. It has been said that as much as 90 percent of the total international trade are transported by sea. Hence, the shipping industry has a vital role to play in international trade.