Challenges Of Cargo Shipping in 2022

Image by Bellergy RC from Pixabay. Shipments of cargo have been growing over the years, and the growth is expected to continue this year. However, the outlook for freighter shipping in 2022 is clouded with uncertainty and is likely to remain that way until fundamentals improve and the cyclical situation becomes more evident. More and more problems emerge every year with their consequences affecting the global supply chains and hindering the operation of logistics companies worldwide. Many factors create challenges for the cargo shipping industry, but only a few are discussed here. These challenges will determine how effectively goods and services are transported. They will also dictate whether the industry can remain competitive in related areas such as logistics and e-commerce. Port Congestion The coronavirus pandemic is a challenge for cargo shipping today. It caused many problems with supply chains, including port congestions due to a lack of available workers and containers. Many shipping companies have had to face crew changeovers being delayed or canceled due to travel restrictions enacted by governments worldwide. Therefore, there has been a significant amount of pressure on global supply chains, resulting in ships waiting for much more extended periods at the port for unloading or loading cargo. Two years after COVID-19 became a global concern, the shipping industry is still seething from its effects. Even some of the cheapest vehicle transport companies are now reviewing their prices. Fleet Capacity Shipping companies will not keep up with increasing demand without increasing their fleets’ capacity. That means building larger ships, which creates its own set of challenges. Large container ships often require deeper ports than those currently used by many smaller carriers, which means some ports may need to undergo costly improvements before they can accommodate this new generation of vessels. Decreasing carbon emissions Environmental damage is an important issue, and reducing carbon emissions is critical to solving it. The shipping industry has always been a major polluter, but now governments and public pressure is forcing ships to clean up their act. One of the biggest challenges to reducing carbon emissions in shipping is the size and diversity of the industry. Everyone from large corporations to individuals is involved in global trade, with different motivations and resources to change. In addition, the costs associated with going green can be steep, and many companies do not have the resources to get there right now or may take longer than others. Shortage of skilled workers The shortage of skilled workers is present in all logistics industries, including vehicle transportation and other fields related to cargo movement. Many workers are nearing retirement age, and there are not enough young people entering the area to replace them. The new generation is not interested in these jobs because they think it isn’t prestigious enough. And even if they take the job, they need proper training and time to develop their skills. The pool of older workers has developed skills that are not immediately transferable to new applicants who want to enter the logistics field. Cybersecurity As vessels become more technologically advanced, they become more vulnerable to cyberattacks. As shipping companies implement digital solutions like automated tracking systems, they must adhere to new regulations to protect user privacy. Otherwise, hackers will exploit vulnerabilities in IT systems and cause havoc with shipping schedules and operations and steal user data for nefarious purposes. With these increasing cyber threats to the maritime sector and recent strict regulations enforced by organizations such as IMO, cargo shipping will confront new security challenges. The regulatory landscape is expected to become more complex as more rules are introduced, and requirements change over time. Political Challenges Cargo ships tend to rely on predictable demand patterns as they transport goods from one country to another. When politics become unstable between two countries, this affects trade and decreases the overall demand for shipping services between them. Therefore, perhaps the biggest challenge for the shipping industry is the unstable political climate between various countries and regions which often makes shipping routes unpredictable. Even beyond the current Russian crisis over Ukraine, the global economy continues to be in a state of flux, and cargo shipping is experiencing the effects. Cargo shippers must rely on stable diplomatic relationships between various countries to safely reach their destinations without incident. Conclusion The widespread growth of trade and globalization has increased the demand for cheap, quick, and secure transport for goods. Cargo shipping companies will have to find new ways to secure business, setting out innovative shipping solutions. After all, the demand for cheaper, faster cargo transportation will only increase. However, technology offers a glimmer of hope, with new systems in development that are being designed to make shipping more accessible and provide better service.

本图片源自Pixabay平台，作者为Bellergy RC。多年来，货运总量持续增长，预计今年这一增长态势仍将延续。然而2022年货轮运输（freighter shipping）的前景却笼罩着不确定性，且这种不确定性或将持续至行业基本面改善、周期性态势愈发明朗之时。每年都会涌现越来越多的问题，其影响波及全球供应链，掣肘全球各地物流企业的运营。货运行业面临诸多挑战，但本文仅探讨其中数项。这些挑战将决定货物与服务的运输效率，同时也将决定该行业能否在物流、电子商务（e-commerce）等相关领域保持竞争力。

港口拥堵（Port Congestion）
新冠疫情是当下货运行业面临的一大挑战。疫情引发了供应链的诸多问题，其中包括因劳动力与集装箱短缺导致的港口拥堵。由于全球各国政府实施旅行限制，许多航运公司不得不面临船员换班延迟或取消的困境。因此，全球供应链承受了巨大压力，导致船舶在港口等待装卸货物的时间大幅延长。新冠疫情成为全球关注的焦点已过去两年，航运行业仍未摆脱其影响。就连部分最平价的车辆运输企业如今也在重新审视其定价策略。

船队运力（Fleet Capacity）
若不提升船队运力，航运公司将无法满足日益增长的运输需求。这意味着需要建造更大吨位的船舶，而这本身也会带来一系列挑战。大型集装箱船往往比众多小型航运企业当前使用的船舶需要更深的港口水深，这意味着部分港口可能需要投入高昂成本进行升级改造，才能容纳新一代大型船舶。

碳排放削减（Decreasing carbon emissions）
环境破坏是一项重要议题，而削减碳排放是解决该问题的关键所在。航运行业一直是主要污染源之一，但如今各国政府与公众舆论的压力正迫使船舶行业整改减排。航运业削减碳排放面临的最大挑战之一，在于行业的规模与多样性。从大型企业到个体从业者，各类主体均参与全球贸易，且其转型的动机与资源各不相同。此外，实现绿色转型的相关成本可能极高，许多企业目前尚无足够资源完成转型，或所需时间长于其他企业。

技术工人短缺（Shortage of skilled workers）
包括车辆运输在内的所有物流行业均面临技术工人短缺的问题，货运相关领域亦不例外。众多工人已临近退休年龄，而年轻劳动力的供给却不足以填补岗位缺口。新一代年轻人对这类工作兴趣缺缺，认为其社会认可度不足。即便有年轻人愿意从事相关工作，也需要接受系统培训并花费时间提升技能。资深工人所积累的技能，无法直接迁移至想要进入物流领域的新求职者身上。

网络安全（Cybersecurity）
随着船舶技术愈发先进，其遭受网络攻击的风险也随之升高。当航运公司引入自动化跟踪系统等数字化解决方案时，必须遵守新的法规以保护用户隐私。否则，黑客将利用信息技术系统的漏洞，扰乱航运日程与运营，并窃取用户数据以实施不法行为。面对海事领域日益增多的网络威胁，以及国际海事组织（IMO）等机构实施的严格新规，货运行业将面临全新的安全挑战。随着更多法规的出台与要求的不断更迭，监管环境预计将愈发复杂。

政治挑战（Political Challenges）
货轮将货物从一国运往另一国时，往往依赖可预测的需求模式。当两国间政治局势趋于不稳定时，将影响双边贸易，降低彼此间航运服务的整体需求。因此，航运行业面临的最大挑战或许在于各国与各地区间不稳定的政治氛围，这往往会导致航运航线难以预测。即便撇开当前俄乌冲突不谈，全球经济仍处于动荡之中，货运行业正承受其带来的影响。货运企业必须依赖各国间稳定的外交关系，才能安全无虞地将货物送达目的地。

结语
贸易与全球化的广泛发展，提升了对廉价、快捷且安全的货物运输服务的需求。货运企业必须探寻新的业务获取途径，推出创新性的运输解决方案。毕竟，市场对更廉价、更快速的货运服务的需求只会有增无减。不过，技术为行业带来了一线希望：多款正在研发中的新系统旨在提升运输的可及性并提供更优质的服务。