The liner shipping industry must urgently address the poor quality of service afforded to shippers since the consolidation of the world's top 20 lines into 'super alliances', says the Global Shippers' Forum (GSF).
GSF today called for the establishment of a Maritime Industries Supply Chain Forum at an international level to address the full range of challenges facing the sector.
One year on from the publication of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development International Transport Forum's report on 'The Impact of Mega Ships' there has been no serious response by the shipping industry to the issues it identified - namely the wider external costs imposed by mega ships and alliances of others in the supply chain, including shippers, port and terminal operators and governments.
Several years on from the introduction of so-called larger ships and the consolidation of the world's top 20 lines into four 'super alliances', shippers continue to experience poor quality services and disruption to their supply chains through the bunching of vessels, void sailings and delays.