Still waters: Make every day a calm day with the new Seakeeper

Still waters: Make every day a calm day with the new Seakeeper 2 

They say the best things come in small packages, and thanks to the all-new Seakeeper 2, you can now enjoy a fully stabilized ride on boats as small as 27ft.

Video on : Seakeeper 2 will make every day a calm day!

Visit : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCl0cekMZPk

The Seakeeper units were initially built for mega yachts with mega budgets, but Seakeeper had a vision of bringing this boat-changing, life-changing technology to smaller and smaller vessels.  The Seakeeper engineers have realized this goal and continue to shrink the Seakeeper units to fit in and revolutionize the stability of smaller boats.  The Seakeeper 2 is the latest release and the smallest to date.  It performs well in boats from 27’to 32-feet. Another crucial breakthrough was to create a Seakeeper that could be DC powered from a dedicated battery system and no longer require the use of a generator to realize Seakeeper’s benefits.

The Seakeeper 2 uses exactly the same active gyroscopic stabilising technology as the larger Seakeeper models but at a fraction of the size and price. That means you and your guests can experience all the same benefits enjoyed by dozens of Princess, Sunseeker and Riva owners the world over but in a smaller, more affordable boat.

The Seakeeper 2 is specifically designed to fit craft in the 27-32ft bracket, reducing boat roll by as much as 95%. And thanks to its compact dimensions, ease of installation and lack of any external appendages, it will work just as well on a high-speed sportsboat as it will on a single-engined displacement cruiser or outboard-powered pilothouse craft.

Measuring just 2ft 1in by 2ft 2in and 1ft 8in high, the Seakeeper 2 is small enough to fit under the seats or inside the centre console of most open-cockpit craft, while those with higher freeboards can usually fit it in the bilges. Nor is there any need for a generator, as the system is designed to run off the boat’s existing 12V domestic battery power source.

You and your guests will immediately appreciate the extra comfort, stability and feeling of security that a Seakeeper 2 offers. And because it helps prevent the rolling motion that induces seasickness, you can invite whoever you want whenever you want, safe in the knowledge that every day is a calm day on a Seakeeper-equipped boat.

The incredible stabilizing ability of the Seakeeper gyro is permeating the sportfishing and boating in general.  Those that have experienced it themselves on a Seakeeper demo ride either offshore or dockside are the true believers.  If you have not taken the opportunity to feel the roll eliminated right out of the boat, then you need to track down the nearest demo boat and try it for yourself.  In the meantime, you’ve got to check out the videos of people as they feel the Seakeeper engage for the first time. To find out more about how the new Seakeeper 2 works and to see how it could dramatically improve your boating experience, visit www.seakeeper.com

The Empty Container Challenge! Technology could solve re positioning challenges

Technology startups are focusing on reducing the empty container problem, a challenge that costs the container shipping industry about $20 billion per year.

FACT : At any point of time, about one-third of the ocean containers in circulation are empty, and the average container spends nearly half its life idle, according to recent research.

Most major shipping lanes suffer from systemic trade imbalances — more loads flow from producing areas such as Southeast Asia into consuming regions like North America and Europe.

Historically there have been fewer loads going back from the West Coast of the United States to China, to reposition containers for the next round of eastbound shipments. Containers pile up in ports such as Hamburg, waiting to be moved back to Karachi, for example.

The majority of costs come from relocating empty containers thousands of miles back to an origin point.

Is the empty container a major challenge?

For major U.S. ports, more than half of outbound TEUs moves are empty. At the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest North American port, 57.7% of outbound TEUs in 2017 were empty, according to Port Tracker data from the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association's July West Coast Trade Report. From 2010 through 2017, empties through Los Angeles increased by 35.2%, while loaded TEUs increased 13.8%. The story was similar at Long Beach, where container volumes grew 13.7% from 2010 to 2017, but empty containers grew by 40.6%.

Disruptions to traffic flow can exacerbate the issue. 

When South Korean carrier Hanjin Shipping declared bankruptcy in 2016, containers piled up at ports in Southern California. Terminal operator Total Terminals International brought in a container ship to move 4,300 empty containers back to Asia, out of an estimated 6,000 Hanjin-leased boxes in the region.

In July, the Nigerian Port Authority blocked access for Maersk Line and Cosco Shipping to terminals in Lagos for ten days due to the buildup of empty containers, The Maritime Executive reported. Lack of space for empties led to truck backups at the port, upsetting local residents. During the ban, 19 vessels were likely delayed.

The xChange officially launched in November 2015 and a number of the largest container carriers in the world are already active on the service.

Technology to the rescue 

Launched in 2017 as a spin-off of Boston Consulting Group, xChange created a neutral online market of empty containers that members can use to match loads and third-party equipment for one-way container moves.

"The benefit of the platform is that you are not limited to your personal network, you can engage with more than 200 companies right now," Roeloffs said. Users sign a multi-party interchange agreement that speeds up the contracting process by days or weeks.

xChange has more than 200 users on its platform, including ocean carriers, container leasing companies, container traders, non-vessel-operating common carriers and some shippers. The service covers 2,500 locations worldwide and plans to add more hinterland locations.

Users set their own rates and terms and conditions such as the container value and damage protection plans. Users search the listing for containers in locations where they are needed and with a destination close to where the container owner would like the boxes to end up. Over time the system learns an individual's search patterns.

Other technology companies tackling the Empty container challenge

The Port of Rotterdam has developed InlandLinks, an online depot tool. The tool shows empty containers available for use from where their current location rather than moving the container back to a hub or depot before being sent out for a new load.

Antwerp, Belgium-based Avantida developed reUse, a triangulation service that CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd recently signed up to use the program in Mexico, the first outpost in North America. A triangulation system manages containers within a transport company. For instance, if a carrier sends loaded containers to Hamburg, the triangulation service identifies a need for empty containers in Wolfsburg rather than them repositioning the container to Hamburg.

With the program, container users can request the liner shipping company directly move an unloaded import container for another load.

"Using an import container to go straight to your export customer without having to go back to the terminal is an advancement for planners and dispatchers," Kapil Garg, head of Inland Operations Latin America at CMA CGM, said in the announcement.

The direct move avoids waiting times at depots and terminals and eliminates unnecessary truck mileage, reducing transportation costs and the environmental impact of trucking. Avantida has expanded the platform to 12 countries, with almost 4,000 registered companies and an average of 1,600 transactions each day.

China's ban on waste imports for recycling

China banned importation of many common waste products for recycling. In 2016, China imported some 45 million metric tons of scrap metal waste paper and plastic, according to The Economist.

That trade essentially stopped when Beijing banned imports of 24 types of solid waste, and with bans on additional products going into effect in 2018 and 2019. The current prohibitions include paper and plastic waste steel and used auto parts. Pulp and waste paper were the single largest category of exports from the U.S. to Asia. Losing that trade has made it even more challenging to fill Asia-bound containers, particularly from the U.S.

While technology can make a dent in the empty container problem, completely overcoming trade imbalances is beyond its capability to solve!

India: IWAI 's initiatives for methanol as maritime fuel

To make shipping on national waterways more lucrative, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has taken up a pilot project to demonstrate methanol as maritime fuel, a top official said.

The nodal agency for inland waterways has decided to place an order to retrofit work boats and new cargo vessels with engines that can run on methanol.

“We are placing order for 3 work boats to retrofit engines and 6 low draft cargo vessels of 1,000-2,000 tonnes capacity to Cochin Shipyard that will use methanol as fuel with technology from Sweden after a go-ahead from NITI Aayog,” IWAI vice-chairman Pravir Pandey said.

Pandey was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a shipping conclave organised by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry here.

Methanol can be a game changer as the cost of the fuel is just Rs 26 a litre and the roadmap was shown by Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari, Pandey said.

IWAI is also working on fuel bunkering facilities in intervals of about 500 km on the entire 1,600 km Haldia-Varanasi stretch for ships on methanol.

Methanol’s volume is higher than diesel.

The design of the cargo vessels have been offered by DST of Germany that requires just 1.5 meters draft — a crucial factor for inland waterways’ success at least in the NW-I that stretches from Haldia to Varanasi.

IWAI has assured draft of 2.8-3 metres till Patna but further upstream there is draft issues which can be as low as 2 meters.

IWAI is also working on freight villages at Sahebgunj and Varanasi for which it has already taken land between 100 and 300 acres that will provide infrastructure to support volumes.

Freight village is an area where all activities relating to transport, logistics and distribution of goods are carried out by various operators. The concept is popular in Europe but new in India.

Four ways Shipping & Logistics will change

The broader business world, looks to 2019, it’s time to explore what the next year will bring to logistics. 

We share the four predictions that the logistics industry will experience over the next year.

1. The Truck Driver Shortage  

Truck driver shortage raises shipping cost: This is why Americans are paying more for shipping. America needs 50,000 truck drivers ( as per reports in Q3 2018 ) across the country to avoid shipping squeeze. 

Over the past year, the U.S. has experienced a shortage in truckers as a result of exploding demand and an aging workforce. As of now, it appears unlikely that this truck driver shortage will end soon.

World Bank data shows that U.S. import and export traffic nearly doubled between 2000 and 2016. During that time period, twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) traffic increased from 28.3 million TEUs in 2000 to over 50 million TEUs in 2016. Despite a huge rise in demand for truckers to transport these imports and exports, the number of qualified drivers is not growing.

The No. 1 reason for the shortage in qualified drivers is demographics. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (via NPR), the average age of a trucker in the U.S. is 55. These truckers want to retire and exit the workforce within 20 years. Without drastic change, such as the widespread deployment of driverless trucks, this shortage will grow.

Driverless trucks probably won’t be here for a few years, mostly due to legal concerns. The good news is once this transition happens, driverless trucks will reduce trucking costs and minimize demand-related trucking shortages.

2. Big Data And Blockchain Technology Will Revolutionize Logistics

According to a 2017 Census Bureau report, there are around 408,000 small and midsize U.S. importers and exporters trading internationally. Ninety-eight percent of exporters and 97% of importers are small or midsize. Despite these statistics, larger companies account for around two-thirds of all trade, while small and midsize companies are responsible for just one-third.

Demand for information technology (IT) services in the logistics industry appears to have increased in recent years as more companies begin to deploy IT resources in their logistics/supply chain operations. That trend will likely continue in 2019 as small and midsize importers and exporters even the playing field against larger counterparts by leveraging big data and blockchain technology.

The implementation of big data will lead to safer supply chains globally. Small to midsize importers and exporters stand to gain the most from new technology since they do not have the resources to create a safe supply chain but will be able to rely on freight companies that provide big data capabilities to customers. The supply chain will be safer, as importers and exporters will have the ability to communicate quickly with global suppliers and automate tasks to minimize human error and eliminate paper.

In 2019, many small to midsize importers and exporters that are working with freight companies will choose to use big data when shipping goods globally. With the touch of a button, they will approve shipment specifications, see their cargo be loaded/unloaded, view the condition of their cargo, read the temperature inside a container, and track important milestones like customs clearance, arrival dates and delivery receipts. The mass adoption of big data will be a game-changer in logistics.

Blockchain technology will increase transparency for importers and exporters in 2019. It will replace needing extra time and personnel to record transactions within the supply chain. When shipping globally, there are many parties involved, so it will benefit shippers to minimize information disruption, reduce paperwork needed, and maintain access to original information without worrying about tampering during and after shipment. Additionally, blockchain will eliminate intermediaries, as it enables direct communication between participants.

3. Payments Will Be Safer, And Cross-Border Transactions Will Be Easier

In 2019, new payment technology will reach the logistics industry on a widespread scale, leading to secure transactions globally.

Cryptocurrencies Positively Impacting the Supply Chain (WTC, VEN, AMB, TRAC, ARY

The global trend of the last decade toward widespread credit and debit card use, as well as the introduction of cryptocurrency as an alternative form of payment, will accelerate in logistics. In 2019, most shippers will choose to pay for the shipment of goods with major credit or debit cards, as freight companies and other intermediaries are pressured to offer this payment convenience. This will help everyone, as small to midsize importers and exporters will have payment flexibility, while freight companies can get paid faster.

Globally, the introduction of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin will become widely accepted, leading to safer payments with an eye toward maintaining customer privacy. Whether a major financial institution introduces its own cryptocurrency remains to be seen, but logistics will be ready. For the logistics industry, cryptocurrency will make it easier for cross-border, international payments to be done safely and privately.

4. The Logistics Industry Will Consolidate: there will be just a Few Major Players

Between 2016 and 2018, major developments in logistics led to the consolidation of major shipping companies. The result is fewer shipping carrier options for shippers.

In 2019, this consolidation will continue, with major players in the shipping industry already numbering less than 10. It has become difficult to survive as an independent shipper with a fleet of cargo ships. To compete, shipping companies have joined forces to form shipping alliances.

Today, the top three shipping alliances are 2M, Ocean Alliance and THE Alliance. Together, they are composed of 11 shipping lines, including most major shipping players. In 2019, more alliances may be formed, shipping lines may move to start new alliances or two alliances may merge.

By the end of 2019, further consolidation may mean higher rates due to less competition. However, through consolidation, shipping companies will offer top-tier customer service and increased capacity. In 2019, consolidation will continue to be a double-edged sword.

No matter what happens in 2019, it’s clear that change is coming to logistics... in a big way! Be prepared.  

Presentation on New Mangalore Port, India

Presentation on New An interesting presentation and short documentary on New Mangalore Port

New Mangaluru Port is a deep-water, all-weather port at Panambur, Mangaluru in Karnataka state in India, which is the deepest inner harbour on the west coast.^[3] It is the only major port of Karnataka and is the seventh largest port in India.^[4] This port is operated by New Mangaluru Port Trust (NMPT).

Presentation on New Mangalore Port, India

Presentation on New An interesting presentation and short documentary on New Mangalore Port

All About the All rounder of shipping container : The Side opening shipping containers

If your cargo is long and challenging to load or you simply want fast and easy access to the load then a side door container is exactly what you need. There are 20ft & 40ft options with side doors on one or both sides and the option for an internal deck if the load needs to be divided along the length of the container. For any long or awkward load that does not require additional high the solution will be found in a side door shipping container



20'ft Side opening shipping containers

The  20'ft side opening shipping containers are very popular with customers wanting quick and easy access to items stored. Often used for pallets, or for the storage of large and bulky items that won’t fit through the end doors of a shipping container.

20'ft Side opening shipping containers

There is a lot more interest in conversions, turning 20ft side opening shipping containers into self contained mobile exhibition stands, cafes and snack stands and retail outlets. We also find these very popular for generator housings, biomass boilers and for a number of specialised engineering applications.


For export use these 20ft side opening shipping containers are very popular for vehicles or oversize items – anything that you can’t easily load through the end doors of a container. Only some of the ranges of side opening containers we have available have floor mounted lashing points – so if you need these for securing your cargo please make clear to us early on.

For storage use these offer excellent easy access secure storage units. If you need to store pallets but don’t want to spend your time digging out a pallet from the wrong end of a standard shipping container then this solution can be ideal. Also if you have any rapid response storage requirements, or if you’re storing any stock that is simply too big to fit through the end doors in a shipping container.


Watch Video on Side Door Container
Video on Side Door Container

40ft high cube side opening shipping containers 
These new (one trip) 40ft high cube side opening shipping containers offer excellent capacity, easy flexible access and a superb level of security. They are ideal if you need to store pallets, large oversize items or for emergency response setups where you may need access to a variety of kit at very short notice.

40ft high cube side opening shipping containers 

This is a relatively new design and the shipping lines do not use them in their own fleets, 

These shipping containers are fitted with 1 huge set of side doors and a single set of end opening doors. This configuration is ideal to ensure that you can access to your goods quickly and easily, especially if you have a large turnover of goods and want to rotate them frequently without the need for expensive warehouse space. Some ranges offered do come with 2x sets of side doors and a central pillar also.


Side Door Container : Applications 

• Application as container home : This type of container is also used in the private domain. It is insulated at the walls, doors, roof, and floor to provide an attractive living area with an interior paneling of your choice. The movable side wall can be fitted with a glass front to provide a maximum of natural light. If the container home is not in use, the glass front can be closed and secured with a foldable door. The functionality of the doors is preserved.
• Application as freight container : This type of container shows its advantages when used to transport bulky goods by truck or train. Thanks to the option of loading from the side, unwieldy machine parts, wire boxes, pallets, and many other items are easily loadable.
• Application as bulker container :  When loading individually packaged goods, the Side Door Container can be loaded or unloaded by at least two workers at the same time, which speeds up the whole process. Smaller companies that don’t have the luxury of their own loading ramp also profit from the convenient functionality of the container since it allows forklifts to handle pallet goods easily and fuss-free.
• Application as storage and assembly container : The Side Door Container is a perfect storage container for storing large machinery, parts or other goods that would not fit through the doors of a standard container. Side Door Containers are also used as assembly containers – installations customized to your individual needs.
• Application as container with permanent installations :  The Side Door Container can be converted to a container with a grid installed at the movable side. This way aggregates, generators, power switching stations, heating systems, pumping plants, or storage tanks can be used effectively.
• Other possible applications :  The advantages of the Side Door Container are obvious. It is versatile, offers more flexibility and guarantees a faster and more cost-effective work process. Anything that won’t fit through the double door on the front-end of a “normal” container wfill find its place in a Side Door Box. It is low-priced, convenient and reliable. Once you have experienced the advantages of this container – in the industry, for transportation, as storage space – you surely won’t want to miss them in the future.
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