Blank sailings in the peak season

24 July 2019

Year in, year out, we see a huge peak in the number of shipments from Asia in July and August. Large volumes of winter clothing are shipped during this period. Add to that the announcements by shipping companies that there will be more blank sailings this year, and there’s a chance of insufficient shipping-space availability for all loads. But what causes these blank sailings, and what can you do to avoid any problems?

Supply and demand out of balance

Contrary to forecasts, world economic growth is lagging. At the same time, a large number of mega-ships are being launched. And that means that the volume of shipping space versus load supply is out of balance. Shipping companies are struggling to fill their ships. And that’s why several blank sailings have been announced for July and August.

Furthermore, the new IMO regulations that take force on 1 January 2020 also play a role. Shipping companies have announced that they will be taking various ships out of service in July and August to fit scrubbers. This takes around 30 to 40 days, so these ships will miss their weekly sailings.

We therefore expect a shortage of shipping space over the coming period. However, it’s difficult to predict how much of a problem this will be.

Book in good time

We therefore advise you to factor the blank sailings into your planning schedule. By booking in good time, you’ll prevent your shipment from suffering any necessary delays. If you have any questions, you can always call or mail your Ritra Cargo contact person.