ESC lauds, cautions Maersk over industry changes

ESC lauds, cautions Maersk over industry changes    The European Shippers' Council on Wednesday lauded Maersk Line Chief Executive Eivind Kolding for a recent speech suggesting the container shipping industry needs to overhaul its model to focus on schedule reliability and ease of use for customers.

Kolding

   'ESC agrees with Maersk CEO Eivind Kolding that reliability 'is not good enough'; that container shipping is 'too difficult' and complicated for customers; and for shipping to be more environmentally sustainable it must display greater 'transparency,' ' the council said in a statement.
   However, the ESC cautioned that such changes won't be easy and that Maersk will face frontline doubts from shippers that the liner industry is actually interested in fostering better relationships with cargo owners.
   'It will not be surprising that many shippers have become cynical about the true intentions of the liner shipping operators when they speak of improving customer service and reliability,' said ESC Secretary General Nicolette van der Jagt. 'Maersk will no doubt bear the brunt of this cynicism from many shippers as it finally espouses the sentiments shippers have been crying out for decades. But can they practice what they preach?

van der Jagt

   'ESC for one, certainly hopes so, and we will support actions which address the fundamental problems with the sector. We hope Maersk can set a shining example for other carriers to follow suit by changing their business models to focus on their customers' long-term needs. But shippers are impatient for change, so the pressure is on for changes to take place quickly.'
   Van der Jagt added Kolding faces 'a heavy legacy to try and overcome.
   'Schedule reliability has been getting worse in recent years; slow steaming has been introduced without discussion with customers and extended lead times have caused real problems for many shippers,' she said. 'Also the consequential equipment shortages and changes in services, often without warning, and often at times of rising demand have created difficult conditions for shippers and consignees.'