Liner Services

-
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 breakbulk vessels which are designed to carry general cargo. Some of them been constructed with cold rooms to facilitate the shipment of refrigerated cargo and deep tanks for shipment of bulk liquids such as latex and oils.

Since the introduction of containerisation in the early 70s, liner operators have been phasing out conventional vessels and replacing them with container vessels.

Liner services fall into two groups, namely conference line and non-conference lines.

Popular posts from this blog

Value-Added Role of Logistics

-
Image
Form Utility . It refers to the value added to goods through a manufacturing, production or assembling process. For example, form utility results when raw materials are combined in some predetermined manner to make a finished product. This is the case, for instance, when a bottling company adds together syrup, water and carbonation to make a soft drink. The simple process of adding the raw materials together to produce the soft drink represents a change in product form that adds value to the product. In today's economic environment, certain logistics activities can also provide form utility. For example, breaking bulk and product mixing, which typically take place at distribution centres, change a product's form by changing its shipment size and packaging characteristics. Thus, unpacking a pallet of breakfast cereal into individual customer size boxes form utility to the product. However, the two principal methods in which logistics adds value are in place and time utility
Read more

Various Basic Shipping Charges on Landside and Waterside

-
Landside Stevedoring - cargo handling charges for loading / discharging cargo on / from conventional breakbulk vessels. LCL Service Charge - charge for stuffing and unstuffing LCL (Less than Container Load) cargo into or from a container at the freight station. Equipment Transfer Charge (ETC) - charge for lifting an empty or loaded container onto / from the trailer. Also called Lift-on / Lift-off (LOLO) charge. This charge is applicable on FCL (Full Container Load) containers only. Terminal Handling Charge (THC) - charge for handling (receiving and delivering) FCL containers at the container yard (CY). Waterside Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF) - surcharge for offsetting changes in fuel prices. Congestion Surcharge - surcharge levied on cargo that are discharge at a port where ships are experiencing delays in turnaround time. Currency Adjustment Factor (CAF) - surcharge for offsetting fluctuations in currency exchange rates of various currencies against the US Dollar. In Asia and Japan t
Read more

Multimodalism - Definition and Concept

-
Image
A global scenario is developing whereby: a) production, manufacturing, distribution and consumption is becoming increasingly sophisticated in order to ensure products are available in the global market place at the correct time, for the correct price and in good condition. b) transport services are changing in nature to meet the demands of buyers and sellers involved in the global production and consumption cycle. c) transportation services demanded by buyers and sellers increasingly involve collection of goods at a place in one country for delivery to a place in another country within specified time frames and with contractual agreement clearly setting out areas of responsibilities and liability. d) results of containerization. e) new technologies in transport (including communication systems). The name commonly applied to this all embracing transport service is Multimodal Transport. What is Multimodal Transport? The United Nations Convention on International Multimodal Transport of G
Read more