| The international shipping industry has seen better | | | | Some very wise international shipping companies are |
| days and many of the large cargo ship container | | | | purchasing new ships that are more energy efficient |
| companies have parked large numbers of vessels at | | | | and use less fuel, and can carry over 15,000 cargo |
| docks, and have offloaded cargo containers that are | | | | containers at a time. And they are doing this at the |
| piling up in the ports empty. Many of these ships are | | | | bottom of the recession, even as some would |
| taking what few containers that are left that need | | | | consider this a very big risk. But in reality it is very |
| to be shipped around the globe and traveling at 5 to | | | | wise. |
| 8 knots, along with the currents in the ocean, to | | | | Getting rid of older ships that are inefficient and |
| save fuel. | | | | cannot carry the number of cargo containers needed |
| There are no more free rides for containers going | | | | in such a robust global economy makes sense. When |
| back to the home ports, because the shipping | | | | the economy was batting 1000 every ship no matter |
| container companies can no longer afford to do that. | | | | how inefficient was running full speed ahead. This did |
| They have to cut costs, cut labor, cut crews, cut | | | | not help the international shipping companies that |
| fuel consumption, and cut the number of ships that | | | | were using these old ships, some of them were built |
| are sailing in their fleets. | | | | over 50 years ago. So, which companies will emerge |
| But, I must warn you that the international shipping | | | | winners in this shipping industry in the future? It will |
| industry will return, it always does as recessions end | | | | be those companies that did not let the global |
| and commerce and trade increases. The same goes | | | | economic meltdown scare them into canceling orders |
| for the air cargo industry, the trucking industry, and | | | | for new ships. Please consider all this. |
| the rail industry in the United States and abroad. | | | | |