Tom Peters

“I Want MORE”!

By Tom Peters 2018-03-07 19:10:13

In Charles Dickens’ classic, Oliver Twist, young Oliver, after eating his bowl of gruel, is encouraged by his mates to do the unheard-of and ask for seconds. Much to his Master’s surprise, young Oliver asks, “Please, Sir, I want some more.” It seems the cruise industry has taken heed of young Oliver’s request and put its own twist on ambitions to continue building the business with “MORE” the operative word. The industry is generating more revenue, more and bigger ships,...

COOL PORTS

By Tom Peters 2018-02-23 22:31:00

Market specialist Lauren McCormick at the port of Freeport, Texas says, “The reefer trade, overall, has gone through a great deal of change” in the last few years. Similar thoughts from industry analysts have been widespread in numerous publications. Change or evolution, however you look at it, can signal progress. In fact, in today’s reefer trade it’s still cool to be cool. But change or evolution brings challenges, and various segments of the industry are facing issues.

GAME ON!

By Tom Peters 2018-02-17 01:16:00

A supply chain is only as good as the sum of its parts. If there is a breakdown anywhere in the system, then the chain is flawed and efficiency suffers.“ Efficiency is the prime rationale for intermodal transport, but accessibility is a further reason for using two or more modes of transport,” writes Barry Prentice, Director of the Transport Institute at the University of Manitoba, in The Importance of Intermodal Connectivity and Bottleneck Elimination. “Most exports require trucks or railcars...

Capacity & Velocity

By Tom Peters 2017-11-29 18:20:52

(This article was originally publised in the 2017 Sept/Oct edition) Meeting the challenges of an ever-changing global supply chain can mean constant juggling of port and terminal operations just to stay relevant. The volatility of the container market, for example, has been a virtual roller-coaster ride that has led, at times, to vessel overcapacity and a subsequent drop in rates. But much of that overcapacity was created by the shipping lines themselves, who moved to larger vessels that, in...

Mega-Bucks!

By Tom Peters 2017-09-21 22:09:20

The spending of mega-bucks on container terminal infrastructure continues at a feverish pace at North American ports with no holding back as port administrations and private businesses position themselves for bigger ships. With the new “big ship” era upon us, if you don’t bring your checkbook you may not be in the game. The industry forecast several years ago that container vessels would get bigger. As that forecast evolves, ports are experiencing rapid change. The increased traffic has sparked massive...

Highs and Lows

By Tom Peters 2017-07-30 00:41:14

The Aftermarket is Where the Action is as Newbuilds Languish. It’s not easy making pumps, valves and compressors. Like chameleons forever changing colors, the parts business changes with the frequent highs and lows of the maritime economy, the demands of a harsh environment, and the challenge of serving clients on tight budgets. “Constantly changing dynamics – technical evolution, regulatory adjustments and ever-changing project schedule fluctuations – are among the many industry challenges,” says Mike Sweeney, Manager...

"It's Complicated"

By Tom Peters 2017-05-04 21:55:33

There’s more to marine coatings than covering everything with the swoop of a wide brush or sprayer. The title of a 2009 American movie best describes the industry: “It’s Complicated.” It’s an industry intertwined with an ever-changing environment both above and below the water. Biofouling, fuel efficiency, government regulations, science and technology are just a few of the many considerations that confront an industry charged with developing products to withstand the harshest conditions, provide maximum efficiency and ensure longevity. According...

High Resolution

By Tom Peters 2017-04-01 19:07:05

From January/February 2017 Edition Recent advances have improved the accuracy and security of bridge display systems. The U.S. marine transportation system includes 500,000 square nautical miles of navigationally significant waters, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which adds that “NOAA tools, such as nautical charts, accurate positioning services and weather observations, play a key role in ensuring that shipments move swiftly and safely along our marine highways.” It’s the same the world over as marine...

Ship to Rail

By Tom Peters 2017-02-14 14:10:06

New rail connectors are taking trucks off the road and speeding the flow of cargo from U.S. ports. By Tom Peters In the first 41 weeks of 2016, the Association of American Railroads reported that 10,610,470 intermodal rail cars moved over U.S. tracks. By the end of this year, according to the Intermodal Association of North America, there will be 60 million intermodal dray moves throughout North America. That’s a lot of movement, and most of it involves...

Farm-Fresh

By Tom Peters 2017-02-14 14:09:50

The global demand for perishables keeps growing. By Tom Peters The global cold supply chain is attracting a lot of attention these days from shippers, liner companies and cold-equipment manufacturers who are constantly looking to technology and new reefer systems to keep perishables longer and fresher during transit. The attention is apparently warranted. Shipping consultancy Drewry has forecast 2.5 percent annual growth in reefer cargo through 2020 and expects global tonnage in the sector to reach 120 million...