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Hapag-Lloyd Freight Vessel

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After the merger with UASC (United Arab Shipping Company), Hapag-Lloyd has boasted one of its youngest fleets in the cargo industry. The vessels will be dismantled accordingly to the environmental regulations and certified shipyards. The seven-year-old container ships that had a capacity of 4,101 TEU will be recycled in Turkey and in China. The shipyards within Turkey and China are certified to recycle ships in an environmentally friendly manner.

The COO of Hapag-Lloyd said that the recycling of these ships is part of the restructuring project of their fleet. In 2017, the company already had three older vessels from the former UASC fleet that was dismantled in an environmentally friendly manner.

Also, Hapag-Lloyd is now offering a service to the East Coast of Africa for the very first time. They are already demands to Mombasa and Daar-es-Salaam over Jeddah for onward transshipment and local distribution.

They are expecting in April to deploy four vessels each with a capacity of 1,200 TEU in the new East Africa Service. This will be a sole operation.

Senior Managing Director Region Middle East, Lars Christiansen, informed that this would a trade which their customers have wanted the company to serve for awhile now. And EAS will benefit from Hapag-Lloyd’s strong presence in the Middle East and connection to the global network.

No matter where you are located, Ramon Inc. is an International Insurance Brokerage that can provided you coverage anywhere in the world. Freight Insurance, Cargo Insurance, Shipping Insurance is how our clients find us. For more information www.freightinsurancedirect.com

Written by Iris Arden (Ramon Inc.)

Source: https://www.worldcargonews.com/news/hapag-lloyd-to-recycle-more-vessels-49099

Canada’s Freight Industry

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Canada’s importance in the world is a lot greater than many may perceive. With the world’s third largest proven petroleum reserves and the fourth largest exporter of petroleum, Canada is the 12th largest export economy in the world. And Canada’s ports are extremely important to it’s economical growth.

Port Metro Vancouver is one of Canada’s largest port that handles more than 50% of all container cargo. In 2017, Port Metro Vancouver handled 2.7 million units of containers. Ports Prince Rupert and Halifax handled approximately 2.3 million. To maintain the flow of traffic, Vancouver is improving the infrastructure with a $700 million investment. The port’s main terminal TSI Terminal Systems’ Delta port handles 70% of container volumes.  The ports officials are in the early stages of planning Roberts Bank 2. This would be a new terminal that would handled 2.4 million TEUs of annual freight.

Canada’s fastest growing port has been Prince Rupert. The port is located 350 miles north of Vancouver and was opened in 2007 as a ship-to-rail transfer port. This port became a success with containerized shipments rising by double-digit percentages during the past six years. The benefits of Prince Rupert’s import cargo are the U.S. Harbor Maintenance Tax on value shipments whose destination would be to the United States. Shippers cite CN Rail stack train service to Chicago and other points within the U.S. The containers are deliver in 100 hours to Chicago. This port participates with the U.S. and Canadian customs agencies in the Beyond the Border project. This allows the all imports that are U.S. bound to be screened and examined by the Canadian Border Services Agency on behalf of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection making the shipment even quicker.

Port of Halifax is Canada’s easternmost major container port that grew by 17.4%. More growth is anticipated by June due to the G6 Alliance service from Asia via Suez Canal. All of the Asian shipments that arrive in Halifax through the Suez Canal compose 48% of the port’s cargo. Two-thirds of the containers at Halifax move by the CN Rail to and from points in Canada and Midwest United States. The two terminals in the port which are called Halterm and Fairview have an on-dock rail ramps. With an $35 million pier extension and three cranes capable of reaching across ships that are wider than the current Panama Canal locks, the amount of freight passing through these terminals is expected to increase.

According to International Monetary Fund, the Canada’s economy is expected to grow by 2.3% this year (2018) and by 2% next year (2019).

Ramon Insurance has been the leading insurance provider in Canada offering direct insurance in leading cities such as Montreal Toronto and Vancouver. Check us out at www.freightinsurancedirect.com

Written by Iris Arden (Ramon Inc.)

Sources: https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/americas/canada

https://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/can/

https://www.joc.com/port-news/international-ports/port-metro-vancouver/canada%E2%80%99s-big-4-container-ports-put-focus-infrastructure_20130902.html

http://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/imf-hikes-forecast-for-canadian-economic-growth

Food Runs the World

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Food provides almost one in three of the world’s population with a livelihood.  From restaurants, supermarkets, entertainment, food runs the world.

0ed6f43f6f27e75e3a92e0443cf18312--grilled-avocado-avocado-mozzarellaAgriculture, food, and related industries contributed $992 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product in 2015. In 2016, 21.4 million full and part-time jobs were related to agricultural and food sectors composing 11% of the total U.S. employment. While employment in agriculture and food-related industries supported another 18.7 million jobs. Food service locations accounted for the largest share with 12.2 million jobs with food/beverage stores supporting 3.2 million jobs. And the remaining agricultural-related industries together added another 3.3 million jobs. In 2017, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which refers to restaurants as food services and drinking places, informed that sit-down restaurants compose 50% of the jobs; while, fast food restaurants composes 37%.

In 2016, America exported $24 billion in soybeans, $17 billion in meat and poultry, and $11 billion in corn.  And in imports, it was $130 billion with food variations from fish and shellfish to tea. With the high volumes of exports and imports, the demand for refrigerated containers and trucks has increased. According to the Maritime Research, Consulting and Financial Advisory Services (Drewry), the demand for refrigerated transportation will increase by 17% within 3 years.

And as the demand of food increases, so does the risk of food scarcity. With climate change affecting crops and studies predicting by the year 2050 deaths due to starvation, new strategies to maintain the world’s current population with enough good supply has become a challenge.

Although America has not faced agricultural hardships, other countries have. For example, Japan has included buckwheat alongside rice as part of their food culture; which means eating soba noodles has now become a part of being Japanese. France, India and Italy have included lentils and beans alongside wheat.

Food is at the center of almost every culture, a big part of the world’s economy, and a necessity to live.

Written by Iris Arden (Ramon Inc.)

Sources: https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials/ag-and-food-sectors-and-the-economy/

http://www.bbc.com/news/av/business-39998549/value-of-global-trade-in-food-growing-strongly

https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/08/restaurant-jobs-boom/536244/

https://www.thebalance.com/u-s-imports-and-exports-components-and-statistics-3306270

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/03/02/food-scarcity-caused-by-climate-change-could-cause-500000-deaths-by-2050-study-suggests/?utm_term=.d730fde0e3ae

https://ideas.ted.com/what-americans-can-learn-from-other-food-cultures/

The Age of Google

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In the age of the internet there are so many options available for just about anything. As consumers, it is imperative that we do our due diligence and research before making any purchases. For example, you may do research on the company’s history, read product reviews, or ask a friend for a recommendation.

world-of-internetWhen it comes to cargo insurance, the same is true. Many cargo insurance companies advertise on Google; however, Google is not a regulatory body. They are not responsible for whether a company is conducting unlicensed activity or not. More than just seeing a nice ad or a beautifully designed website, it is in your best interest to look past the surface. Here are three questions you can ask to help you identify a quality cargo insurance provider.

  1. Longevity – Do they have proven success and longevity in the industry?

Ramon Inc has been in business since 1982. We insure billions of dollars of cargo each year and work with the world’s highest rated insurance carriers. Our effectiveness in the industry has been proven and stands the test of time.

  1. Customer Service – Are they responsive to your needs?

Ramon Inc is centered around customer satisfaction and making our clients lives easier. With so much to do while running your business, you don’t need another hassle. Our company pioneered the technology that allows clients to issue their certificates online, anytime, anywhere. Additionally, our clients are consistently impressed with our quick turnaround time for any requests.

  1. Licensed – Are they licensed to sell insurance?

Ramon Inc. is licensed every state which includes major states: NY, CA, FL, GA, OH, NJ, MO, MI, NV, MA, PA, CO, TN, IN and other states. It is illegal for any company to sell you a certificate of insurance if they are not licensed. Insuring your cargo with a company who is not licensed is a substantial risk because in the even of claim, you will not be protected under any laws.

The staff at Ramon Inc are experts in the cargo industry. Contact us today and we would be happy to advise you further.

Written by Iris Arden (Ramon Inc.)

Mother Nature Wrecking Havoc on Freight & Trucking

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Extreme freezing weather has caused chaos in recent weeks across the United States. The Midwest and the Southeast has faced the worst impact of winter storm Inga and many shipments have been delayed or destroyed as a result.

Hundreds of roads in the affected areas have been declared too hazardous to drive on, leaving drivers to seek alternate routes. For those who have dared to brave the highways, they have seen closed ramps and major accidents caused by the slick, icy roads. In Columbus, Indiana one lane had to be shut down after a trailer attached to a truck flipped over a concrete barrier. This is just one example of the level of destruction that winteingar weather can cause.

According to Freight Waves, weather contributes to up to $3.5 Billion losses in the freight industry each year. Also, more than 50% of all weather-related traffic delays are specifically due to snow and ice. This time of year can be very challenging for businesses as they are at the mercy of Mother Nature.

With so many unpredictable scenarios that can occur while your valuable goods are in transit, cargo insurance should be at the top of your priorities. Be proactive and prepared by purchasing cargo insurance before your next shipment.

Written by Iris Arden (Ramon Inc.)