Harbor & Hull Reads

Dispatches on ports, freight lanes, last‑mile logistics, and ocean trade.

Port Pulse · Weekly

Congestion at western gateways continues easing as berth productivity rises. Anchorage times fell below 12 hours for the first time this quarter while truck turn times improved with off‑peak gates.

  • Vessel arrivals: steady, with more feeders than mother vessels
  • TEU throughput: up 3.1% week‑over‑week
  • Rail dwell: sub‑24h at inland hubs

Freight Fundamentals

Spot rates remain volatile across trans‑pacific headhaul while backhaul lanes stay soft. Contracted capacity is holding, but small shippers report tighter box availability ahead of peak.

Vessel Watch

Three LNG‑powered newbuilds entered service on Asia–EU strings, trimming bunker costs and emissions. Slow steaming keeps schedules predictable but lengthens door‑to‑door times by ~2–3 days.

Last‑Mile Notes

Micro‑fulfillment near ports shortens final‑leg delivery and reduces dwell. Carriers test evening delivery windows with locker pickup to cut missed drops.

Archive & Longform

Deep dives into lanes, port strategy, and network design.