Global Trade Articles and Reports

Traditionally cargo shipment is a process filled with issues like delayed shipments, change in shipment dates, inadequate and tardy communication with the carrier, hardship in managing the documents like bill of lading, invoice, inefficiency in carrier selection, issues with customs and security clearance, demurrage charges, human negligence in payment and reconciliation process etc. Carriers knew for many years that sharing the information buried in internal documents and operations will benefit the customers solve many of their issues. With the advancement of information software and systems, shipment portals have emerged to fulfill this expectation. Leading carriers have established cargo shipment portals, which are actually information hubs connecting thousands of customers to their carriers. In 2000, Maersk-Sealand, P&O Nedlloyd, Hamburg Sud, Mediterranean Shipping and CMA CGM joined hands to establish INTTRA. Similarly APL; CP Ships, ANZDL, Canada Maritime, Cast, Contship Containerlines, Lykes Lines, TMM Lines; Hanjin; Hyundai; K Line; Mitsui OSK Lines; Senator Lines; Yang Ming; and Zim Israel Navigation Company joined to establish another network called GTN. OOCL started its own shipping portal called CargoSmart.