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Jan - 2024 -
12 January
American Shipper Archives

FMC called complaint’s bluff in 1986

In 1986, the Federal Maritime Commission put a stop to a six-month legal case against a Singaporean shipping line after it decided there was nothing to the case.

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03 January
American Shipper Archives

A look into marine salvage in the ’80s

This article from American Shipper’s archives gives a detailed look at “the business of disaster” in maritime in the 1980s, including marine salvage and issues surrounding liability.

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Dec - 2023 -
27 December
21 December
American Shipper Archives

A peek into the logistics rumor mill of the 1980s

In the age of social media, rumors are rampant in the shipping industry. But this article from the archives of American Shipper examines how rumors also plagued logistics in the 1980s, pre-social media.

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05 December
American Shipper Archives

Looking back to when digital processes started taking hold in shipping

Filing documents electronically is the norm for businesses today. A 1982 article from American Shipper recalls when the industry first embraced this technology.

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Nov - 2023 -
29 November
American Shipper Archives

How persistent fraud led to a pitched battle over workers’ compensation

In 1981, longshore and shipyard union members had to fight to keep the Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act intact, after rampant abuse of an amendment.

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21 November
American Shipper Archives

Shocking insurance claims from 1970s shipping scene

A flashback article from the archives of American Shipper highlights unique insurance claims.

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15 November
American Shipper Archives

How the Port of Portland saved itself from Mount St. Helens eruption

Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980 and caused serious damage to the Pacific Northwest. But one dredge in particular made quick work of clearing the debris in the channel because of its unique history with the port.

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08 November
American Shipper Archives

How maritime workers challenged controversial omnibus bill in Congress

In 1980, maritime workers became enraged by the maritime omnibus bill, resulting in the Boilermakers’ international president threatening to stop building ships in the United States.

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03 November
American Shipper Archives

How a 1979 Korean shipping decree sparked outrage from US shippers

In 1979, South Korea — officially the Republic of Korea — imposed a law reserving 100% of cargo in the country for Korean-only vessels. The decree sparked protests organized by U.S. shippers nervous that the monopoly would raise freight rates.

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Oct - 2023 -
25 October
American Shipper Archives

Carter signed polarizing anti-rebating bill into law in 1979

An article from the archives of American Shipper in 1979 details the climax of a long-awaited signature from President Jimmy Carter to help tamp down rampant rebating in the maritime shipping industry, which was vehemently condemned by the FMC.

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17 October
American Shipper Archives

Revisiting a pointed criticism of FMC leadership

During testimony at hearings on the Federal Maritime Commission’s regulatory functions in 1978, a former FMC chairman called out his successor on a lack of communication within the organization.

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10 October
American Shipper Archives

Miscalculation adds up to thousands in excess ocean freight charges

In 1978, when paper was king, a persistent error cost one company hundreds of thousands in extra charges. But who was responsible for the mistake?

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04 October
American Shipper Archives

Panama canal operations were a hot topic in the ’70s too

An article from 1978 in American Shipper showed that the efficiency of the Panama Canal was an important factor in shipping — something that resonates today with the drought that has created a water level crisis in the canal.

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Sep - 2023 -
27 September
American Shipper Archives

Was bribery rampant in 20th century maritime shipping?

In an article published in 1981 in American Shipper magazine, a Bethlehem Shipyard case focuses attention on a maritime problem as old as the “master’s gratuity,” according to a former company official who was charged with bribery at the time.

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19 September
American Shipper Archives

When shippers battled against a new surcharge

A dockworker strike in 1977 caused major losses to container lines at the time. Their response was to impose a 10% surcharge. But shippers did not take it lying down.

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08 September
American Shipper Archives

Oil spills changed how Americans viewed international maritime

Oil spills, groundings and collisions were the subject of continuous news coverage in 1976 and 1977. There were so many maritime disasters that it piqued Americans’ interest in foreign maritime dealings.

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Aug - 2023 -
30 August
American Shipper Archives

Was evil afoot in 1970s freight forwarding?

In 1976, an investigation into rate rebating and malpractice by carriers did not put a similar spotlight on freight forwarders. An article in American Shipper at the time questioned whether that was fair.

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23 August
American Shipper Archives

A shipment of shoes led to an ongoing dispute

A story from 1976 shows a battle between a shoe manufacturer and a shipper over what the former believed was an “unreasonable rate.” The company-versus-company drama exhibits the complexity of international trade.

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15 August
American Shipper Archives

Mississippi River crisis disrupted freight markets in 1976

In March 1976, the Mississippi River was logjammed for eight straight days, causing massive shipping losses with an estimated 100 towboats and 900 barges stuck by the riverbank. The event spurred serious reform for operation on this vital route.

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11 August
American Shipper Archives

A cautionary tale of a prepaid shipment that ended up rotting

A story reported in the January 1976 issue of American Shipper tells of a prepaid shipment headed for Bordeaux, France, that ended up stuck in Jacksonville, Florida, causing the fertilizer cargo to rot.

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03 August
American Shipper Archives

Radio-frequency technology was cutting edge at terminals in 1990s

snapshot of ports in 1991 reveals the importance of a new radio-frequency technology launch at the time, when a terminal in Honolulu first received the tech.

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Jul - 2023 -
28 July
American Shipper Archives

How barcoding changed vehicle shipping in 1992

In an article published in 1992, American Shipper details the first use of barcodes for shipping Chrysler vehicles.

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19 July
American Shipper Archives

‘Brain trust’ used game to teach workers how to price shipping in ’70s

Pricing in ocean shipping was done much differently in the 1970s compared to today. To simplify things, a group of executives created a game around the concept for workers to play.

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12 July
American Shipper Archives

How ice and coal hauling led to burgeoning cruise business

The famous Norwegian Cruise Line of today got its start transporting ice and coal between Norway and Great Britain. This article from American Shipper in 1975 describes the company’s beginnings and its success in the cruise industry at the time.

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07 July
American Shipper Archives

The legendary voyages of 2 steamships in their glory days

An article published in the July issue of American Shipper in 1975 tells the stories of two steamships when they ruled the seas. The stories are full of adventure, mishaps and big wins, giving a glimpse into the life of a sailor in the late 1880s.

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Jun - 2023 -
27 June
American Shipper Archives

Special 1975 ‘4-ships-in-1’ design serves route between Mediterranean, US

Two ships in 1975 traveled between Mediterranean and U.S. ports on a fixed 14-day schedule. But they also caught attention because they were able to carry different types of cargo, including containers as well as liquids.

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23 June
American Shipper Archives

1975 Japanese embargo threatened Florida citrus, but it wasn’t political

One shipment of grapefruit to Japan threatened the future of the Florida citrus industry after Caribbean fruit fly larvae were discovered. Japan enacted an embargo on all Florida citrus to protect its own citrus groves in the southern islands. The embargo was lifted after Florida’s sector worked tirelessly to eradicate the larvae.

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13 June
American Shipper Archives

Debates on shipping rebates spurred lawsuits, sensational marketing

In 1975, the shipping industry was grappling with the growth of rebating, an illegal strategy that could upend fair competition. Ultimately, one carrier created newspaper ads saying the practice had become the norm and another faced a lawsuit.

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08 June
American Shipper Archives

Swift response to 1975 capsize prevented an ecological disaster

In 1975, a dredge capsized in the Miami Harbor with 3,600 barrels of oil onboard. But the fast-acting employees of the port allowed it to reopen within 11 hours and prevent what could have been an ecological disaster.

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02 June
American Shipper Archives

A look back at containerization in the ’70s

Growing interest in containerization drove speed and optimization in the transport industry and overtook previous methods of shipping over time. In 1975, United States Lines resumed containerized cargo service, reducing transit time between Savannah, Georgia, and Northern Europe to just eight days.

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May - 2023 -
24 May
American Shipper Archives

The barge carrier craze of the 1970s

LASH carriers were the predecessors to today’s container ships. In 1974, soon after they hit the scene, a record number of the ships were built.

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17 May
American Shipper Archives

Catherine the Great, Benjamin Franklin part of John Paul Jones’ story 

The second part of this account of Revolutionary War naval hero John Paul Jones includes a dramatic battle on the seas and how Catherine the Great and Benjamin Franklin fit into the story.

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10 May
American Shipper Archives

The unique story of an 18th century American naval hero

Naval officer John Paul Jones’ story sounds like a scene from “Pirates of the Caribbean,” but the true story of the “Father of the American Navy” includes its share of amusing twists and turns.

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03 May
American Shipper Archives

Experimental propeller in 1975 breaks midtrip, but crew notices no difference

In 1975, two identical ore/bulk/oil (O/B/O) ships underwent efficiency experiments. During one of these experiments, a new propeller concept broke midjourney, but the ship continued its duty with no changes in performance and the crew had no idea until it reached its destination.

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Apr - 2023 -
28 April
American Shipper Archives

Shipping company’s collision played key role in US-Chinese relations

A collision on the seas involving an American shipping company sparked a heated letter exchange about who was responsible. This fight surprisingly led to the mending of U.S. and China maritime trade.

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25 April
American Shipper Archives

The history of port terminal charges

American Shipper in May 1974 took a look at charges for the handling of freight, which were largely unrecorded if they existed at all before the Civil War.

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19 April
American Shipper Archives

How did shippers feel about US maritime policy in 1978?

A page from American Shipper’s archives exhibits how shippers felt in 1978 through an eye-catching speech.

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14 April
American Shipper Archives

How different was launching automation in 1974 compared to today?

Today, automation can mean launching a fleet of autonomous robots that can unload shipping containers without human intervention. In 1974, a remote-controlled “bow boat” was considered a major launch.

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12 April
American Shipper Archives

A look back at 1977: Will dockworkers strike?

In 1977, news of the looming threat of a strike by a union of dockworkers was prevalent in the pages of American Shipper magazine. The publisher at the time ended the April issue that year with an opinion piece discussing the threat.

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07 April
American Shipper Archives

The beginning of the ‘catamaran-tug’

In 1975, American Shipper originally covered the launch of the “catamaran-tug,” which completed its maiden voyage to Port Everglades with a 42,000-ton cargo of gasoline for Shell Oil Co.

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Jan - 2023 -
27 January
25 January
American Shipper Archives

Lessons from the 1994 Puerto Rico oil spill

1994: Those involved in response to the 600,000-gallon spill reflect on their efforts.

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18 January
American Shipper Archives

NASA’s historic chopper haul

NASA hauls the longest heavy cargo delivery; Reefers run food to the Bahamas; Submarine cables connect the Virgin Islands.

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13 January
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback 1971: ‘Breakthrough’ reported in test shipment of melons to UK stores

1971: Londoners are able to buy American melons for the first time after test shipments to the U.K. proved successful.

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10 January
American Shipper Archives

Motor carrier finds private telephone network way of the future

We take a look back at the state-of-the-art technology that streamlined trucking in 1961.

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06 January
American Shipper Archives

A look back on bar codes for bills of lading

1992: 2-D bar codes provide an almost infinite variety of codes, which could prove especially useful in international shipping.

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Dec - 2022 -
27 December
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: World ports reach 201 million TEUs

2000: World container port throughput increased 7.8% last year to about 201 million TEUs — the first time volume exceeded 200 million TEUs.

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22 December
American Shipper Archives

Castro and Nixon have 1 thing in common

1974: They may be the last hurdles in the way of renewed trade between the
United States and Cuba. An embargo failed to work and indirect business
has begun.

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06 December
American Shipper Archives

Nissan, Ford test new Autostack system in 1991, transforming auto shipping

1991: The new system allows automobiles to move in regular intermodal containers instead of the multilevel railcards that now are the industry standard.

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Nov - 2022 -
25 November
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: E-shipping blues

1999: eBay ushers in e-commerce’s most dramatic distribution channel disruption in decades.

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Oct - 2022 -
28 October
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Classics: The 1976 crisis on the Mississippi River

A massive eight-day backup of barge traffic at Locks and Dam 26 on the Mississippi River in 1976 resulted in shipping losses estimated as high as $500,000 a day.

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Aug - 2021 -
16 August
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: Bombproof air cargo containers

1996: The FAA says it’s ready to start testing new designs of air cargo containers built to withstand terrorist bombs, but the industry worries the new containers could add weight, be expensive and reduce available cargo space.

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02 August
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: Almost eight years in the Great Bitter Lake

The “trapped” crews found many ways to pass the time, including holding their own Bitter Lake Olympiad, in celebration of the Tokyo Olympics of 1968.

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Jun - 2021 -
28 June
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: Whose flag is the most convenient?

1986: Liberia fights to remain a leading flag of convenience as competition increases.

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07 June
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: Ford reduces in-transit damage by 70%

1991: In-transit damage used to be a major problem for Ford, but the automobile manufacturer has amped up its hauling standards.

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May - 2021 -
24 May
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: Oakland targets intermodal

2002: The Port of Oakland gears up intermodal capabilities to catch up with in-state rivals Los Angeles and Long Beach.

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17 May
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: US may set aside 30% of oil for US ships

1974: Administration opposes HR-8193, but House sub-committee gives it an OK. Mountainous Bolivia asks 50% for its ships; others get 100% share of their own trade.

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10 May
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: A simple error in measurement

1978: More than a decade ago, someone accepted the measurement given in a manufacturer’s advertisement at face value. The figure has been used since then to compute ocean freight rates on certain chemicals. Who is liable? The shipper or the carrier?

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03 May
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: How much bigger will box ships get?

2001: Several shipping lines are close to ordering the first container ships of 8,000- to 9,000-TEU capacity, but others in the industry are warning of the associated risks.

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Apr - 2021 -
19 April
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: Customs to X-ray your pallet

1992: U.S. Customs is contracting with a Massachusetts-based company to design and construct an X-ray unit that can examine the cargo inside a standard container in about three minutes.

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12 April
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: Advance on the new Silk Road

2006: Istanbul-based freight forwarder Advance International has made use of international agency plans to re-establish reliable landbridge routes between the two continents.

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05 April
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: US yards watching plans for floating electric generating vessels

1981: Plans to use offshore vessels for the generation of electricity by use of ocean water temperature differences could develop into a “good market” for the nation’s shipyards, according to an industry spokesman.

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Mar - 2021 -
22 March
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: ‘Dry canal’ across Nicaragua

1997: “Comparing our project to the Panama Canal is to confuse an apple with an orange,” New York lawyer Don M. Bosco said. “Our competition won’t be the canal. Instead, we intend to take significant business from the 3,000-mile U.S. landbridge system.”

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15 March
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: Deborah Dempsey charts a course as pioneering female mariner

As part of Women’s History Month, FreightWaves spotlights the first American woman to make it to the top at sea.

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01 March
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: Maersk launches first 6,000-TEU ship

1996: At 1,044 feet (318.2 meters) long, the new Maersk ships are longer than the Eiffel tower, but they are still capable of a high speed of 25 knots.

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Feb - 2021 -
22 February
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: JFK changing with the times

2002: “It’s a myth that we are out of land,” said Jim Larson of the NY/NJ Port Authority, discussing the airport’s cargo possibilities.

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08 February
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: Study shows Pacific container trade slowing down

1988: The U.S.-Far East container trade will undergo a significant drop in growth over the next few years, according to a study recently completed by the research firm of Temple, Barker & Sloane Inc.

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01 February
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: Stowaways — a $20-million problem

1999: To avoid the costs and delays of processing stowaways at destination ports, some ships’ crews have been known to shove stowaways overboard and set them adrift at sea.

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Jan - 2021 -
25 January
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: LA/Long Beach set records

“Not only are we at the height of the Christmas season, but we’re at the height of the Y2K concern as well. Importers and major trading houses are trying to move their goods now to beat any chance of problems with the changeover to the new millennium.”

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04 January
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: Customs X-rays containers

1994: Despite its effectiveness in catching contraband, Customs pulls the plug on X-ray procedures at Tacoma.

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Dec - 2020 -
28 December
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: UPS picks MD-11, sets financial course

2000: UPS Airlines has signed an agreement with Boeing Co. to take delivery of 13 MD-11 widebody freighters over the next four years.

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21 December
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: Miami airport theft estimates range from $100,000 to $3M

1971: Security at Miami International Airport will be increased with a move aimed at protecting precious cargo as well as travelers.

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14 December
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: Caterpillar truck engines now available to Florida truckers

1961: The first of a complete line of lightweight, compact, heavy-duty diesels for the over-highway trucking industry by Caterpillar, the 1673 has been tested on some 200 trucks throughout the nation.

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Nov - 2020 -
23 November
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: What NAFTA means for cross-border trade

1992: Textiles and trucking are among industries with the most at stake in the North American Free Trade Agreement.

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18 November
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Classics: Conrail divided between CSX and Norfolk Southern

1998: The Surface Transportation Board has approved the division of Conrail between Norfolk Southern and CSX, which will be left in control of most railroad traffic in the eastern half of the United States.

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16 November
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Classics: Colts corraled; round-up of import autos nears finish at Jacksonville

1971: The round-up of all imported autos into Jacksonville is near conclusion as the latest arrival of 785 Chrysler Colts enters the Port.

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06 November
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: England gets its orange juice by sea, land and air services

1966: Seventy thousand American gallons of frozen concentrated orange juice were imported into the United Kingdom from Florida in 1965. This quantity represents nearly two million cans, retailing at about 32 cents for 6 fluid ounces, appreciably higher in fact than the American price.

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Oct - 2020 -
30 October
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: Hapag-Lloyd fleets merge

1970: After 123 years of Hapag history and 113 years of Lloyd history the first page of Hapag-LIoyd AG history will be written in 1970. The new company has a staff of 11,500 of whom some 5,000 are sea-going personnel.

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23 October
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: Should neighboring ports actually marry?

1981: Civic pride and more than a little politicking have scuttled — at least temporarily — a controversial proposal to study whether the competing Puget Sound ports of Seattle and Tacoma should cooperate and, ultimately, merge.

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16 October
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback: ACL Railroad obtains versatile whopper hopper

1964: The Whopper Hopper is the most advanced design of any freight car fabricated from USS Tenelon stainless steel. In a single trip it can transport 135 tons of bulk material and enough sugar to sweeten 30 million cups of coffee.

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09 October
02 October
Sep - 2020 -
25 September
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback 1963: Rail piggyback captures 9.3% of citrus movement in two years

1963: Trucks have moved into the lead as the primary mode of transportation for Florida’s half billion dollar citrus and vegetable crops.

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11 September
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback 1969: Eastern Airlines invests $4 million to containerize baggage

1969: The system will cut baggage delivery time by at least 50% while protecting luggage from loss and damage.

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Aug - 2020 -
28 August
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback 1963: Airplane displaces ship in Saturn S-IV transportation role

1963: NASA will employ a specially enlarged aircraft to aid in the transport of the Saturn S-IV rocket from California to Florida.

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07 August
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback 1960: “Walk-Through” Containers Give Maximum Flexibility

The walk-through feature makes it possible to handle cargo within both containers without removing either from the chassis.

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Jul - 2020 -
31 July
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback 1982: New container box stacker for Jax Port is state of the art

The new unit can pass over stacks of boxes four high (48 feet) and five wide (plus a truck lane, a total of 69 feet).

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17 July
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback 1972: Tropicana employs rail-sea shipping for its citrus exports

1972: Tropicana is now exporting around 70,000 shipping tons annually with 90% going to Western Europe.

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Jun - 2020 -
26 June
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback 1963: Florida berries to Germany

Shipments of 3,000 to 4,000 pounds of Florida strawberries make their way to Germany via Boeing 707 jets.

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May - 2020 -
15 May
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback 1973: Piper Aircraft delivers its planes in 40 ft. containers

Piper Executive Victor C. McCollum outlined how improvement in containerization could further benefit his company and its distributors abroad.

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08 May
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback 1963: Baby chicks⁠ — big export business

One Florida hatchery credits modern innovations and personal overseas visits to customers for its continued success.

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01 May
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback 1961 – Orange juice cold chain flows from Port Canaveral to NY

The SS Tropicana routinely hauls 650,000 gallons of orange juice from Florida to New York every eight days.

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Apr - 2020 -
24 April
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback 2003 – Unknown impact of SARS

17 years ago, the SARS outbreak topped the list of concerns for the international shipping industry.

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17 April
American Shipper Archives

FreightWaves Flashback 1974 — JAX mini-bridge speeds delivery of 7,000 West Coast-bound VWs

An overflow of West Coast-bound vehicle shipments characterized one of the largest mini-bridge operations ever assembled for a single movement.

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10 April
Mar - 2020 -
27 March
Feb - 2020 -
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