An Interview with Sheltered International Export Manager William Mosley

Why This Freight-Forwarding Expert Loves Living and Working in Amelia Island

After relocating to Amelia Island from South Carolina six years ago, William Mosley discovered two things: a love for the beach and a new work family at Sheltered International. As the Export Manager, William spends his day-to-day communicating with an array of customers – one of his favorite aspects of the job. Read on to learn a bit more about William, his favorite SI tools, and predictions for 2020.

Where are you from, and what is your role here at Sheltered International?

I am originally from Greenville, South Carolina, and my wife and I moved down here 5-6 years ago. I live around the corner from the office, and we love Fernandina. As the export manager here at Sheltered International, I do a little bit of everything – air freight, sea freight and export truck freight. I work directly with many of our customers and carriers.

How long have you worked at Sheltered International?

I’ve been here for 2.5 years, but I’ve been in this business since I was a kid. Long story short, my father-in-law got me a job when I was a teenager at a hospital where he was an administrator in shipping and receiving, and that’s when I started in the business. I worked within my previous position in Greenville for 28 years, but when my wife and I decided to move to Fernandina, I was able to find a great team to transition to at SI. We have a world of experience here, and I love the people that I work with.

What does your day-to-day entail?

I communicate directly with everyone from customers and overseas agents, to carriers and vendors. Every day is unique. We pride ourselves on being very customer-oriented, and that’s one of the aspects that I love about my job.

Why are you passionate about your job as Export Manager?

I feel like my job entails something new every day. I like promoting exports – I really think that exporting goods is patriotic. The U.S. happens to be the biggest consumer on earth – we are an import-oriented place. We get a lot of folks that come to us that are hesitant to try exporting goods for the first time, and I like to help walk through people through the process to help show that it can be done. Our job is to help guide clients to make the right moves.

What do you feel like is the most helpful online resource or tool Sheltered International offers within the platform?

Utilizing the tracking features we have available is an excellent way of being able to keep up what is going on with cargoes. We also have an instant rate tool, which is very handy. We do have a pricing team that handles the more complex quotations, but our customers are able to easily generate an estimate with the instant rate tool, and then refine it when they are ready to go. Our founder, Andrew Ciccarone has developed the platform so that there are a ton of great resources for both importers and exporters. We try to make everything as easy as possible.

What insights do you predict for 2020 within the shipping and transport industry?

Even though the U.S. has been somewhat shut down due to recent events, we are such a resilient country that I have no doubt that we will bounce back. We might be a bit slow to build export levels back up to where they were pre-coronavirus, but some of these things are going to move no matter what. Vessels may be lighter than normal, but they will still be there.

We have had a lot of customers impacted by the new tariffs, but it has not been quite as bad as the predictors have said. I don’t think 2020 will be all doom and gloom. Numbers won’t look great, but I believe we will be trending upwards.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

You would think I would be tired of the beach, but I’m not! I go to the beach a lot, and enjoy spending time outdoors riding bikes. Maybe one day I’ll even dust off my fishing pole – we’ll see!

Exporting internationally for the first time can be daunting. Our software SiShips, built on years of expertise in the freight-forwarding industry, can streamline your experience, giving you more time to grow your margins.

Contact us today to learn more about how Sheltered International can ease your business’s transition into global markets.

Blank Sailings and Fluctuating Demand Complicate Ocean Freight Forwarding

Lack of demand for ocean freight due to the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increase in blank, or canceled, sailings of cargo ships. Though the number of cancellations peaked in February, major shipping companies are still reducing market capacity in an attempt to maintain freight rates. As carriers and shippers aim to strike a balance between fluctuating demand and capacity, it is more important than ever to be aware of the shifts in ocean freight availability and the impact it might have on your business.

Blank Sailings Increase in Q2

According to data from Drewry, May saw a total of 85 blank sailings out of 457 scheduled sailings, or a cancellation rate of 18.6 percent. For June, this rate decreases to 13 percent, with 58 of a planned 461 sailings have been canceled. Transpacific trade routes have experienced the greatest capacity reduction, with 47 percent sailings blanked.

Positively, cancellations have decreased month/month and the trend is expected to continue into July. However, Danish shipping company Maersk, part of the 2M Alliance, has still announced that it anticipates blanking more than 100 sailings within the upcoming third quarter. Its shares decreased by 6 percent mid-May as a reaction. 2M saw the second-highest number of suspended sailings in June at 34 percent, closely following THE Alliance’s 40 percent.

An Increase in Ocean Freight Demand

Frustrations with lack of airfreight capacity and high rates have been driving shippers to turn to the ocean, at least for a portion of their freight’s journey. “When rates go up, sea-air becomes a viable alternative for cargo that cannot pay high airfreight rates, nor accept all-ocean transit times,” Morten Bach, global chief commercial officer for Shipco, told FreightWaves.

As shippers adapt to account for available capacity, ocean freight demand is increasing. The American Journal of Transportation attributes this surge to the growth of eCommerce, as well as moves to distribute PPE via ocean to relieve shortages. Combined with a greater number of blank sailings, this has generated an uptick in freight rates. The last week of May saw prices jump by 12 percent.

Managing Ocean Freight with SiShips

Supported by a downward cancellation trend, predictions for July show that container-ship carriers are likely to offer more sailings in July. However, despite signs that industry may be starting to resume, industry experts are remaining realistic about the likelihood of a peak season in 2020. The upcoming back-to-school months should bring about a surge of demand, but most think this is unlikely. “There is concern for the ocean shipping industry that a peak season may not materialize at all this year,” Rachel Shames, director of pricing and procurement at CV International, said in an interview with Furniture/Today.

Without an increase in demand spurred on by a peak season, carriers will need to be cautious about continuing to maintain their rates. As a result, it’s likely that blanking will continue well into Q3.

With many factors influencing ocean freight, importing can quickly grow confusing. SiShips, designed with our years of customs and freight forwarding expertise, can help manage variable rates and shipping options. Plus, you can track your shipment every step of the way, offering transparency and peace of mind.

To learn more about how SiShips can save you time and streamline your shipping experience, contact us today.

What You Should Know About Satellite AIS Tracking and How It Can Help Your Business

From inclement weather to pandemics, there is a myriad of external factors that can affect your shipment. Knowing where your cargo is at all times offers peace of mind. SiShips has integrated with Satellite AIS tracking to expand its freight tracking capabilities, allowing users to check the position of their ocean cargo with accuracy and ease. This update, provided at no additional cost for customers, offers additional transparency throughout the import and export process, along with valuable data that can be used to optimize shipping procedures.

What Is AIS Tracking?

Automatic Identification Systems, or AIS, are used to track ships at sea. While previously, these systems were limited to terrestrial, or T-AIS tracking, satellites, or S-AIS, provide more expansive tracking coverage. The two methods work together to create a complete, global picture of ship locations. This tracking system is vital to preventing collisions on busy marine routes but can also be used as a means of shipment management.

How SiShips Tracks Your Cargo

While your cargo is at sea, SiShips gathers location data from three leading Satellite AIS providers, ORBCOMM, exactEarth, and Spire. These satellites account for a network of 202,848 vessels, allowing you to track your freight anywhere in the world.

The SiShips software automatically checks and updates the ocean freight’s position multiple times per day, providing real-time insights as well as additional information. A report from the satellite includes the ship’s identification number, or MMSI, its current position, and the direction it’s progressing in. It also offers information about the ship’s speed and details about its status, such as whether or not the engine is being used. We put this information together to give you a complete visual picture of your shipment’s journey, as well as its ETA to each checkpoint. Once your freight is near land, the tracking transitions to a terrestrial AIS system, which is more accurate but limited in range.

The Value of Data in Shipment Tracking

Because it was implemented in 1974, there are vast amounts of historical AIS data. This detailed information can be used to anticipate problems, optimize plans, and plan future shipment strategies. With the volumes of data transmitted by these systems, combined with SiShips’ extensive customs and shipment management framework, our software can help businesses apply these insights to manage logistics, reduce costs and react more quickly to disruptions or changes. With more data, your business can improve efficiency, saving you money and reducing stress. Ultimately, with less time spent worrying about your freight, you can get back to the bigger picture: building your business and increasing your margins.

To learn more about how SiShips can save you valuable time and streamline your freight experience, contact us today.

Gain Support and Build Customer Relationships with Sheltered International

Though international expansion can often mean untapped business opportunity, many domestic shipping providers don’t have the expertise or resources to take this step. Delivering years of experience in the international shipping industry, Sheltered International can help. With support, training, and access to our white-label software SiShips, small businesses can grow globally. Read on to learn how partnering with Sheltered International can instantly streamline your international expansion.

Simplifying International Expansion for Independent Businesses

Our technology platform SiShips simplifies all steps of global shipping, from quoting to tracking to billing. With the software, agents and their clients gain freight forwarding and customs brokerage services in 819 cities across 190 countries. This also makes it possible to produce instant international quotes for shipments, providing clients with the information they need immediately. Questions or obstacles are managed by Sheltered International’s team of industry experts, who are always available to provide support and training.

Plus, SiShips includes powerful tracking technology, allowing the user to track and manage both ocean freight and air freight shipments internationally. With this straightforward freight management, agents can increase sales and expand their business, leveraging relationships with existing customers to serve their international needs. Even better, agents that partner with Sheltered International can also earn a commission, just for using and sharing this software. “Our reps are among the best and brightest in the country,” says Sheltered International President Andrew Ciccarone, “Every day I’m amazed to see how their dedication to customer service. It’s this passion that connects Sheltered with opportunity in countless industries and global supply chains; and vice versa.”

How Our Partner Easy Logistics Management Uses SI Ships

Jeremy Curran, owner and founder of Easy Logistics Management is one of Sheltered International’s partners. While his company utilizes a variety of software programs, he believes SiShips is unique. “I personally haven’t seen a product like that,” he says, “The all-in-one-screen platform – it’s like Travelocity for global logistics.”

Jeremy’s choice of Travelocity for comparison isn’t surprising; he’s an avid traveler, and his passion for adventure has guided his niche in logistics management. He specializes in working with industries that align with his passions, including surf and paddleboards, bikes, solar energy equipment, and snow sports equipment. SiShips has helped him simplify complicated international shipping and offer clients a global range of options. Key to growing his business is the ability to communicate simply and understand client needs, answering questions, determining customer pain points, and identifying what needs fixing seamlessly.

“The ability to see international and global logistics in real-time is a huge selling point. It makes it easier to articulate the value proposition to the clients, visually showing them the tool and how it rates,” he says. After working as an outside sales rep for a large shipping company for three years, Jeremy set out on his own in 2009. His team works remotely, so SiShips’ visual nature has made it easier to communicate and grow the company. He says that software development, which has made business easy, scalable, and transparent, is central to his staying in logistics. “None of us work in the same office,” he says, “If we were still faxing, I don’t think I’d still be doing this.”

Using Technology to Streamline Freight Forwarding

Jeremy is just one of many agents who have discovered the power of our technology. From California to Florida, our domestic partners have enjoyed a streamlined freight forwarding experience, bolstered by extensive systems of knowledge and support. With SiShips’ transparency and expert-designed interface, global expansion is more attainable than ever before, easing the stress of growing your business and giving you more time to develop long-lasting relationships with customers.

If you’re an independent shipping agent or logistics manager and you’d like to expand your business internationally, contact us today to learn more about SiShips can work for you.

Airlines Adapt to Maintain Supply Chains Despite Decreased Airfreight Capacity

As the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent quarantine orders reduce the number of passenger flights, air cargo space has been severely limited. Decrease in airfreight volume and supply has also generated a significant rise in rates, further complicating the importation of goods. This situation, along with the continued demand for PPE, medical supplies, and other essential goods, has required airlines to adapt, reconfiguring passenger planes for the transportation of cargo in an attempt to maintain supply chains.

A Sharp Decrease in Air Traffic

While passenger planes typically carry cargo strictly in their cargo holds, the reduction in flights has limited transportable volumes. Even though some planes are still flying – often with just a handful of passengers – the drastic decrease in demand has forced a cut in flight offerings. In the final week of March, commercial air traffic was 55 percent lower than in 2019. Total air traffic has seen a 60 percent global reduction. Though planes are still in the air, they are primarily flying domestic routes, not international ones. In the United States, there were 72 percent fewer scheduled international flights in the first week of April as compared to 2019.

The Effects on Airfreight

As a result, airfreight traffic has fallen; the volume decreased by 10 percent in February and is predicted to fall by a total of 15-20 percent for the year, according to the International Air Transport Association. This was heavily influenced by the grounding of flights to China and the country’s shut down of factories earlier in 2020.

However, despite a 1.9 percent decrease in airfreight volume in February, freight capacity likewise fell by 4.4 percent, forcing a shortage of space. With a lack of available capacity, freight rates are increasing. These rates are particularly volatile between North America and Europe, given the previous reliance on passenger planes for these routes specifically. Industry experts suggest costs have increased by 4 or 5 times.

Passenger Planes Reconfigured for Cargo

Increased demand for personal protective equipment has forced airlines to find creative solutions to maintain the supply chain. In an attempt to provide more space, passenger planes are being converted to cargo planes. Air-safety regulators have reduced restrictions, allowing the cargo to be held in the cabin as well as in the belly of the aircraft for more efficient flights. Air Canada has scheduled 20 all-cargo flights per week using reconfigured Boeing 777s. Delta and United Airlines, among others, are also operating freight-only charters, often with added routes. These flights will prioritize medical supplies, food and other time-sensitive items.

“Operating regularly scheduled cargo flights means suppliers in China can get these supplies to hospitals and healthcare facilities across the US within hours, no the days or weeks it would take via cargo ship,” said Shawn Cole, Vice President of Delta Cargo. Delta’s flights are striving to maintain the supply line between the US and China, where a majority of PPE is currently manufactured.

With these adjustments, transporting goods is more unpredictable than ever. With years of expertise in the freight industry, Sheltered International is available to help importers streamline their air cargo experience and get their products up in the air quickly.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help minimize shipping complications.

Sheltered International Donates 3,000 Face Masks to Nassau County First Responders

As medical-grade masks become increasingly rare in the United States, many importers are turning to the PPE category in an attempt to reduce the shortage. However, businesses unfamiliar with the process of importing medical equipment may encounter obstacles with FDA registration and licensing, delaying the much-needed shipments further. With years of expertise in the freight industry, Sheltered International can help facilitate this importing process to ensure medical personnel and first responders can access this necessary equipment as soon as possible.

With this knowledge, Sheltered International has imported 3,000 surgical masks and 100 face shields, to be donated to local Nassau County first responders. Chief Hurley of the Fernandina Beach Police Department, Sheriff Leeper of the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, and Kaleigh Simmons of the Fernandina Beach Fire Department will each receive 1,000 masks.

The Availability of Personal Protective Equipment

Though personal protective equipment is available, it is in limited quantities. Many importers new to the medical supply industry are looking to place large orders of surgical masks in numbers of five million or more. With only several factories in China producing medical-grade masks, this order can be difficult to fulfill. Instead, Sheltered International suggests placing smaller orders weekly, particularly for those new to the industry. An order of 50,000 masks a week is both more manageable and more likely to be filled.

Managing FDA Registration

To expedite the import of PPE, the FDA has reduced the amount of information required to register products for nonmedical use; however, for medical use both the factory and importer of record must register with the FDA. For the importer, this license costs $5,238. Sheltered International is available to help importers navigate the registration process, saving them valuable time and ensuring their shipment doesn’t get caught in customs.

Importers must also remember that both they and the shipper need FDA registrations. Though many factories, including toy factories and clothing companies, have converted their facilities to make surgical masks, these factories are often not FDA registered. As such, they cannot ship or market their masks for medical purposes. If looking to import as a medical supplier, importers can ask Sheltered International to confirm FDA registration of the factory.

Chinese Restrictions on Medical Exports

On April 10, China issued additional restrictions on exports, including a mandatory customs inspection. These policies affect any medical supplies, including medical masks, protective gowns, thermometers, ventilators, surgical caps, goggles, gloves, shoe covers, ICU monitors, disinfectant tissue, and disinfectant.

New restrictions require the shipper to provide an 18-digit Code of Customs Clearance Form of Export Commodity for customs clearance, attained after the product receives its export commodity inspection, or CIQ. If the shipper’s name is not the same as the factory’s, a contract must be established between the shipper and producer. These codes are required per shipment and can take at minimum two to three working days; however, with a significant uptick in applications anticipated after these new restrictions were established, this timeline may extend to five to seven days, though the application can be done during production. Though they are likely to slow production and importing of PPE, advocates of the restrictions say these regulations have been established to prevent counterfeit goods from entering the market.

Facilitating Imports of PPE

For importers unfamiliar with the medical supply industry, registering with the FDA and securing the necessary documentation can be overwhelming. With years of experience in customs and freight shipments, Sheltered International can offer valuable insight into facilitating this process and guaranteeing these much-needed supplies can be delivered to those who need them.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can ease your import experience.

The shipping supply chain is facing unmatched disruption as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic. In over 60-years of global shipping history, the industry has never faced an interruption of this size. While China is finally showing progress in human and economic health, the damage on the supply chains is already done. There is no guarantee that factories will return to full capacity soon. China travel restrictions and quarantine efforts have prevented factories from receiving crucial components from their suppliers. The backlog of factory orders and limited travel options have stressed exporters, container lines and importers. What does this mean for the shipping industry, and how long is the road ahead to return to normal operations?

Cargo vs. Travel Restrictions for COVID-19

The Presidential coronavirus travel ban, proclaimed on March 11^th and expanded on March 14^th, bans travel to 26 European countries. This ban pertains specifically to travelers, not cargo. The CBP confirms cargo movement is not viewed as a viable form of transmission of the virus at this time. Crew members are also exempt from the travel ban. The Coast Guard issued a guidance in February stating that so long as a crew member does not display symptoms of COVID-19, they can assist in cargo shipment as usual. However, the crew may be subject to additional air screenings upon arrival. In the case of air freight, cargo flights may continue as usual with crew-only flights.

If CBP receives a different guidance from the medical community regarding cargo shipment and transmission of the virus, they will relay the information immediately and adjust practices accordingly.

A Shortage of Shipping Containers Leads to Jump in Spot Rates

Shippers are finding container equipment hard to come by in Europe due to an increase in blank sailings, leaving carriers unable to re position boxes. A blank or void sailing a sailing that has been canceled by the carrier. A blank sailing could mean a vessel is skipping one port, or that the entire string is canceled. While blank sailings can occur for multiple reasons, they commonly happen when demand for vessels is low.

Decreased Chinese manufacturing production due to COVID-19, paired with tariff pressures, decreased US imports from China in February to a near four-year low. This caused empty containers to stack up in Chinese yards while waiting for demand to return.

Now, after extensive preventative measures to slow the spread of the virus, Chinese factories are back up to 60% capacity. This increase in China imports, combined with capacity management by carriers and uneven equipment distribution, has led to an 18 percent increase in container spot rates this week from Asia to the US West Coast, and a 9 percent bump to the East Coast.

While US imports from China are increasing, short term demand from Europe is looking increasingly uncertain. Companies in Europe are experience a sharp drop in sales and will most likely refrain from ordering goods overseas to prioritize cash flow preservation. Uneven equipment distribution and uncertain demand could lead to delays re-positioning shipping containers once these special conditions pass.

Domestic Carriers Facing Interruptions

While Chinese imports are recovering, the shipping disruption is moving closer to home. The rapid spread of COVID-19 raises concerns regarding shipping and delivering goods domestically as businesses are urged to shut down.

On Monday, New Jersey became the first state to declare a curfew for non-emergency travel between 8:00pm and 5:00am. This curfew could raise issues for companies that receive trucks and shipments outside of normal working hours. In turn, this will raise demand for more precise delivery times during the day.

With the widespread closure of stores, warehouses, factories and distribution centers across the country and a surge of imports from China finally on its way, the process of shipping and receiving goods faces a problematic future.

Looking Ahead

The shipping industry faces an unbalanced and unpredictable near future due to COVID-19. However, analysts predict a strong rebound starting in fall 2020 or early 2021, driven by consumers beginning to spend money again and the resulting increased demand in goods and inventory.

The shipping industry can be unpredictable. Keep track of any delays or disruptions that might affect your business with SiShips.

Learn more about SiShips can simplify your freight experience.

Chinese and American Exports See Decrease in Duty Rates

As part of a Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement between the United States and China, signed on January 15, 2020, both countries have halved tariffs on many imported goods. The relevant duty reductions were applied on February 14, 2020.

China’s reductions will affect only the extra tariffs put in place on American imports last September. Tariffs on U.S. crude oil will drop from 5% to 2.5%, while total duties on soybeans are reduced from 30% to 27.5%. In total, this will affect roughly $75 billion of exports from the United States. China’s Ministry of Finance announced the reduction and stated it was designed to “advance the healthy and stable development of China-U.S. trade.”

Similarly, a White House spokesman stated the China trade deal “protects American innovation and creates a level playing field for our great farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs.” As of February 14, the U.S. has cut duty rates from 15% to 7.5% for a wide variety of goods, including any imports which fall under List 4A. These Chinese imports account for about $120 billion of goods. For List 4B, planned additional duties of 15% have been suspended. However, an additional $250 billion of goods will retain a 25% tariff, including Lists 1, 2, and 3.

For updated duty rates for all lists, see STR Trade’s compilation.

Effects of the China Trade Deal

International trade relationships with China have also been recently affected by COVID-19, which has shut down factories, seriously reduced the efficiency of ports and delayed supply chains across Asia. Former Macy’s CEO Terry Lundgren has stated that the combined effects of coronavirus and the Chinese trade war have revealed the retail supply chain’s potentially detrimental reliance on China. Similarly, American technology companies including Apple and Google are looking to reduce their reliance on China’s production. Supporters of the administration’s efforts agree that the trade war was a necessary step in forcing a shift away from dependence on Chinese production.

Most business leaders, including executives from Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Intel Corp., and Boeing Co., are in favor of the new trade agreement, though they hope these negotiations will continue.

In contrast, the deal has been criticized as being harmful to privately-owned businesses in China who can’t afford the more expensive American imports, allowing state-owned enterprises more market power. Additionally, as the agreement requires China to purchase $200 billion of American goods within two years, government-subsidized SOEs are likely to increase their share of imports. Critics of the China trade deal say this is counterintuitive to the Trump administration’s focus on reducing SOE’s influence over the economy. Trump trade advisor Peter Navarro has stated that these state-owned enterprises will be the target of “phase two” trade talks.

Stay Up-to-Date with Tariff Changes

SIShips makes it easier to keep track of international trade shifts and how they might affect your shipments.

Learn more about how SIShips can simplify your freight experience.

How Coronavirus is Affecting Trade with China

After the outbreak of the SARS epidemic in 2002, medical experts called for stricter quarantine laws regarding international travel, and thus the shipping industry, in the case of a future outbreak. These regulations are now being put into place as coronavirus spreads through the Wuhan province in China. This quarantine is affecting factories in China as well as those in neighboring countries whose employees have been unable to return to work after visiting family in the Hubei region during the Lunar New Year. Reduced production, coupled with concerns for the safety of operating crews on board sea and air vessels, has resulted in significant disruptions for the shipping industry.

Coronavirus Quarantines and Reduced Exports

Many factories around China have been temporarily closed following the outbreak of the virus, with some not anticipated to open until March 1. With these facilities shuttered, exporters can expect to see similar effects as with the Lunar New Year, which sees the pausing of production for nearly three weeks annually. Delays are typically expected to continue for several weeks following the holiday as well but are being exponentially compounded by the effects of coronavirus. Major corporations, including Hyundai Motor, Deere & Co., and PSA Peugeot Citroen have all been affected by these closures and supply disruptions.

Sea Freight Shipping Demand

With limited production, demand for shipping containers is dropping rapidly, resulting in low freight rates. Sea-Intelligence, a maritime analyst, predicts a loss of $300-350 million weekly for carriers. Further, according to maritime data provider Alphaliner, major Chinese ports have seen a 20% decrease in ship calls since January 20. To combat this, sixteen Chinese ports are offering reduced rates in an attempt to lure liners back in. In contrast, nearby ports like South Korea’s Busan are experiencing spillover and rising container capacities. If these levels continue to rise, ports’ efficiency will be compromised, adding to potential delays.

This reduction has also led to lower demand for oil. With prices seeing a decline beyond the expected from Chinese New Year, refiners are being driven to negotiate and limit crudes runs.

Effects on Air Cargo

Air travel to China has been suspended by nearly all airlines, and flights to and from Hong Kong have also been halted. While some importers anticipated delays on shipments for the Lunar New Year, they are now experiencing disruptions beyond their predictions. Where ocean freight is seeing reductions in shipments, air cargo space is now extremely limited. Cargo on passenger flights has been redirected to available freighters, but these flights have also been drastically reduced or suspended entirely out of concern for the crew’s safety.

Short- and Long-Term Effects

With imports redirected and substantial disruptions in production and exporting, businesses should anticipate delays until mid-March. Experts agree that long-term consequences remain difficult to determine at the time; however, if the SARS epidemic is any indication, Chinese markets will manage to recover once coronavirus has been contained, resulting in only short-term interruptions.

The shipping industry can be unpredictable. Keep track of any delays or disruptions that might affect your business with SiShips.

Learn more about SiShips can simplify your freight experience.

Keep shipping simple with our calculators, converters, and more.

Managing your business takes a lot of time, and spending an afternoon Googling complicated acronyms or trying to calculate your shipment’s volume weight by hand should be the last thing on your to-do list. That’s why we’ve put all of our tools in one convenient place, ready to quickly answer any questions you might have throughout the shipping process. Just as SiShips guides you seamlessly through each step of the freight experience, our shipping resource center leads you to the knowledge you need.

Conversions Resources

No matter how good Gary in your shipping department may be at math, running numbers all day can be tedious. That’s why we’ve brought together three of our favorite tools that avoid human error and help save Gary time to work on more important things.

Found within our shipping resource center, the Currency Converter can quickly calculate the trade value for two different currencies. Powered by Bank of America, it offers always-accurate exchange rates. Next door, the Metric Converter is an easy way to convert your numbers, whether volume, pressure or another unit, into whatever system of measurement you may need – all with one click of a button. That means you can spend less time dividing out your metric tons and more time multiplying your margins.

Our favorite tool, though, is our Volume Weight Calculator. Simply input the dimensions and weight of each of your boxes to quickly determine the total volume weight of your shipment. With a precise calculation, you can be assured that your shipment costs are accurate too. Since we love saving time and money, this one makes us really excited. We’re pretty sure Gary would agree.

Information Resources

With six categories of containers and different size variations in each, you might feel spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing freight containers for your shipment. To help you narrow down your options, our Air and Ocean Containers tool gives you all the details on dimensions, volume, weight, door openings, and more. It’s all the information you need, found right within our shipping resource center, to become a true container guru.

We know most things are easier to understand when they come with a picture, so we’ve made an infographic to help you compare the eleven different Incoterms, or international terms of trade, that might apply to your shipment. Say farewell to the days of trying to remember if your shipment was DAP or DDP – and what that means for you as the seller. We’ve got it all laid out for you, with fun colors, through every stage of the shipment process.

As our infographic proves, acronyms aren’t just for texting teenagers anymore. If you’re scratching your head about what ICCO could possibly mean, we’ve got you covered. Explore our Acronym List for definitions of over 100 acronyms and terms, from BOTB (“British Overseas Trade Board”) to HVR (“Hague Visibility Rules”) and yes, ICCO, or “International Cocoa Council.”

Similarly, check out our list of Hazmat Definitions to make sure you don’t run into any trouble shipping fireworks (Class B Explosive) to France for Bastille Day because your hazmat certification is out of date. With this easily accessible list of terms, you’ll be sure to feel cool and confident with all of the shipping lingo.

Still need more information? Stay on top of industry news via our list of reputable resources, and dig deeper on trade information, including customs and economic indicators, with easily accessible links straight to the source.

World and Culture Resources

The world of international shipping is just that – international. This can make it hard to keep track of all the different elements that might affect your business. For example, anticipating Chinese New Year can help you avoid costly shipment delays, so make sure to keep track of relevant world holidays. Understanding current storm patterns can help you effectively communicate with your business partners – that why we offer a resource to stay up-to-date on the weather. Accidentally calling your shipping partner in Amsterdam at 3 in the morning is never a good idea, so we’ve included a world clock, and if you need the country calling code for the Netherlands we’ve got that too.

Plus, we’ve gathered maps of both the world and international sea ports so you can know just where your shipment is and help your daughter with her geography homework – it’s a win-win situation. With these resources right at your fingertips, you can avoid the unexpected and the stress that comes with it.

Government Resources

International shipping means international governments, customs, and laws. Our government resources help you stay knowledgeable about how these might affect your shipment and who to get in touch with if you need more information. For example, keep up to date with the Federal Maritime Commission to be aware of all things marine, and explore Forwarder Law to keep informed on current legal cases within the freight shipping world.

Need to do a little diplomacy? Easily search for the contact information of any international embassy or explore our curated list of worldwide customs contacts so you can put out fires without having to search online for a phone number first. It’s the next best thing to having the embassy on speed dial.

How can SiShips be a resource for you?

We understand how important it is to simplify the importing and exporting process. Just as these shipping resources make staying informed easy, SiShips is ready to make your freight experience smooth and straightforward. With our expertly designed software, we can save you time, money, and stress with every shipment. From quoting tools to customer management, SiShips offers methods to streamline each step. That means you can say goodbye to frustrating shipping experiences and hello to more time building the business you care about.

Want to discover how SiShips can change your import and export experience?

Get in touch with us.