525 S. Douglas St. , #100• El Segundo, CA 90245 • (310) 607-8000
Coppersmith can cover your cargo in a container collapse
 
Again in the news, we’re hearing about container collapses and losses on vessels crossing the pacific ocean during rough weather. The World Shipping Council estimates that every year more than 1,300 containers are lost at sea, making 2020 a banner year for container collapses and losses. Just the ONE Apus collapse alone saw more than 1900 containers lost in a storm that hit while the ship was approximately 1600 nautical miles off the coast of Hawaii, en route to Los Angeles. 

If you’re looking for ways to mitigate potential losses and issues that stem from container collapses and ocean vessel trouble, your Coppersmith representative is ready to take a look at your logistics plan and work to help you fill in the gaps in coverage. As we continue to see weather patterns become more severe, the chances for a loss grow greater every year. Don’t let your cargo become a casualty. Consult with Coppersmith today!
USDA / APHIS TO BE ENFORCED ON MARCH 15TH
If you look over the information that we put out in our January newsletter you will know that, while the “soft implementation” started on January 25th, full enforcement will start on March 15, 2021.

Due to these additional requirements, Coppersmith will need to implement a fee structure to address the added programming along with the additional time needed to file the information into APHIS. We will follow up with customers affected by these new requirements to determine the amount of these new fees, but we need their support in providing us more detailed information about their Animal and Plant-based products to fulfill these requirements.
NEWS FROM COPPERSMITH
COPPERSMITH IS TEXAS STRONG
Coppersmith would also like to take a moment to comment on the storms that passed through Texas last week. Both our offices, staff, terminals, and even airports were without power for much of last week, which has delayed many shipments from being able to be processed in the normal course of the week, and lead to backlogs of deliveries into this week. While the terminals, airports, and our Houston office are back to being fully staffed, our Dallas office was devastated by a ruptured fire suppression system that had frozen during the power outage and flooded our office. 

Our staff has been able to work remotely and our warehouse operations have resumed on an appointment basis until we can get the reconstruction completed, which may take a month or more. We are pleased with the resilience of our staff and the support of our I.T. personnel, as well as our offices nationwide who are providing any needed support to keep our customers’ shipments moving on a timely basis. We thank you for your continued patience and support as we recover from this unexpected disaster.
After a year of chaotic upheaval left in the wake of COVID-19 for the air travel industry, air cargo remains a bright light in the darkness.

Airlines hoping to make up shortfalls in their balance sheets have hesitated at increasing capacity although that trend looks to be diminishing. Some carriers have looked to temporarily convert some of their air passenger inventory to freight capability, removing seats to transform passenger compartments into shipping capacity.

This has proven to be a profitable strategy for routes with cargo rates exceeded $4 a kilogram.
After a year of logistics news that was both dramatic in scope and impact, the freight market has been left in disarray. This year’s winter weather is interrupting shipping across the US in an odd way, enforcing the idea of the current shipping environment’s volatility. While shipper requests for capacity (OTVI) fell over 6%, the request rejection rate (OTRI) increased to a near-peak point this February. This was brought on by not only the nor-easter hitting the NE, but the storms covering the South, where such occurrences are outside of the norm. The volume of capacity dropped drastically because it just wasn’t there. Now as companies rush to replenish inventory and stock, the freight market fights to find some semblance of stability.
Have you been hearing stories of ever-escalating numbers of ships at anchor in San Pedro Bay, waiting for berth and dock space to open up in one of the most colossal traffic jams in the ocean freight history of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach?

Have you ever wondered what it would look like to see dozens of ships waiting in the bay to unload their cargo?

If you want to watch the real time port conditions, marine traffic offers you a view.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Customs and Border Protection recently offered clarification on the import inspection requirements for loads of potatoes, onions, and open field/field-grown tomatoes exported from Canada into the U.S. that have been a valid inspection completed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency or an authorized Canadian Partners in Quality establishment. The U.S. will recognize those inspections, but certification must be completed prior to entering the U.S. commerce.
  The Maersk Eindhoven has announced it will have to make an emergency stop at Yokohama as 260 containers were lost at sea and 60 more were damaged when the engines had issues during a bad storm that struck the ship last week. This is the fourth massive cargo loss on a seafaring vessel in less than six months in the transpacific trade lane between Asia and California.

Do you have cargo insurance? make sure you're covered in the event of an emergency. Coppersmith can help!