Blank Sailings in 2020 and Beyond
What is blank sailing?
A blank sailing or void sailing is the term used to describe a ship that has not set forth on a scheduled sail. Therefore, a blank sailing is a sailing that has been cancelled for one reason or another. A blank sailing could entail a vessel skipping one port along a route, or the route could be cancelled in its entirety. Unfortunately, this means that importers and exporters can experience significant delays in their delivery schedules.
Reasons Why Blank Sailings Occur.
- Change of arrival port.
- Not enough space on the vessel.
- Last-minute route changes.
- Bad weather at the port.
- Extreme congestion at the port.
- The shipping line may decide to skip a port because stopping may cause a delay in the journey.
Shipping lines are also known to cancel sailings to reduce capacity and increase rates, however other more honourable reasons that blank sailing occurs include:
- They may not have enough crew to man the ship.
- The vessel may skip a port to make up time when behind schedule.
- The ship may need to stop for repairs.
COVID-19- Another Reason for Cancelled Sailings.
COVID-19 is an unprecedented reason for the significant increase in blank sailings that have occurred during 2020. Global trade took a massive hit after China was left reeling from the impact of COVID-19. On March 2, 2020, 77 blank sailings were announced on global shipping routes as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. However, this number was set to increase in the future. Some 149 blank sailings were then announced on deep sea shipping routes as of April 3, 2020, the majority of which were declared between the Chinese New Year and mid-March. The blank sailings were announced as a result of the unfolding COVID-19 crisis in China. These blank sailings, or void sailings, occurred in response to the significant decline in trade with several shipping alliances such as 2M Alliance, reducing the number of port calls to and from China.
Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd announced further blank sailings in their ‘Far East Asia’ service for the third quarter of 2020. The pandemic is eliciting a pattern of continuous schedule adjustments that looks set to continue due to uncertainty regarding spread, new strains/mutations, resurgence and vaccine availability. At present, the seascape is largely dependent on the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and peak season demand is expected to be subdued. The entire 2020 calendar year is expected to be extremely challenging for importers and businesses globally with recovery, albeit slow, expected in 2022. It is anticipated that shipping lines will heavily restrict space throughout 2020 and into 2021 so we strongly recommended that you add 10-14 days to delivery dates. This extension will help ensure that you deliver on your commitments to your clients.
Forewarned Is Forearmed.
There is a comfort to be found in obtaining industry fact-based knowledge for businesses wanting to import or export by sea. By arming yourself with up to date industry information, you may successfully alleviate any concerns regarding blank sailings and how they can impact your business. Our global trade and forwarding experts at Ecosphere Global Logistics are here to offer the latest news and advice at your request. Contact us today to discuss our services and allow us to put your mind to rest.
