Because vessel space is useless without physical containers.
What it is:
Containers are physical assets that must be in the right place at the right time. Global trade imbalances often cause shortages at certain locations.
How it works:
If containers are not available at the origin depot, cargo cannot be loaded even if the vessel has space. This leads to pickup delays or missed sailings. Container shortages are common during peak seasons or on imbalanced trade lanes.
Examples:
A booking is confirmed, but the depot has no empty containers. Pickup is delayed by several days. A specific container type is unavailable, forcing a change in equipment or schedule.
Facts:
- Equipment shortages are one of the most common operational reasons shipments miss planned sailings. Even when vessel space is available and the booking is confirmed, a shipment cannot move if an empty container is not physically available at the origin depot.
- Container shortages usually occur because containers are unevenly distributed across the world. Trade imbalances mean that some regions accumulate empty containers, while others face shortages. Peak seasons, sudden demand spikes, port congestion, and slow container turnarounds make this problem worse.
- When equipment is unavailable, shippers may miss cargo cut-off deadlines or be forced to wait for the next sailing. This often leads to rolled shipments, longer transit times, and higher port-related costs.
In practice, many missed cut-offs are not caused by late cargo, but by the simple fact that the correct container type was not available on time.
Misinterpretations:
- Many shippers assume containers are always available once a booking is confirmed. This is a common misunderstanding.
- A booking confirms space on a vessel, not the availability of physical equipment at a specific depot. Container availability depends on location, timing, container type, and how quickly empty containers are returned and repositioned.
- Another misconception is that shortages only happen during extreme disruptions. Equipment shortages are a normal part of ocean freight and occur regularly on certain trade lanes, especially during peak shipping periods or in regions with strong export demand.
Who solves it:
Skypace addresses this issue during the planning stage, before the shipment is booked. The platform checks container availability by location, container type, and timing while routes and schedules are being evaluated. If availability looks tight, Skypace can recommend alternative sailing dates, ports, or equipment options before the booking is confirmed.
