Episodes

  • Seafarers at the Helm

    Seafarers at the Helm
    Sep 18 2024
    Seafaring is a critical yet often overlooked part of global logistics, carrying most of world trade. But what does life look like onboard a container vessel, and what risks do seafarers face daily? Join our latest ‘Shipping Insights’ podcast episode, where host Sara Vollmer sits down with Jeremy Nixon, CEO at Ocean Network Express Co Ltd, to explore the human side of maritime shipping. From the roles and duties of crew members to the increasing presence of female seafarers, Jeremy offers a comprehensive view of life at sea. Sara and Jeremy dive deep into the critical safety protocols, including how to mitigate the risks of hazardous cargo and the unique challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Key topics of this episode are: The diverse roles and duties of crew members aboard a container vessel, managing risks onboard, from piracy and weather to the dangers of hazardous cargo, the unprecedented challenges faced by seafarers during the Covid-19 pandemic, strategies for ensuring the well-being and safety of seafarers in a demanding environment. Recorded in September 2024. Details: (01:08) An introduction to our guest, Jeremy Nixon. (02:55) Sara brings up SOLAS, and Jeremy talks about seafaring. (04:43) Sara asks Jeremy how many people work on a container vessel. (06:38) Jeremy explains the roles and duties of the people on a container ship. (08:40) Jeremy describes the seafarers' working schedule and how the crew is rotated. (10:06) Jeremy talks about the increasing presence of female crew in seafaring. (11:06) Sara and Jeremy discuss the risks onboard a vessel, including piracy, attacks, fires, and weather. (13:53) Sara queries Jeremy on how they ensure the safety of the crew while onboard. To answer this question, Jeremy goes through the greatest dangers on a vessel, particularly the danger of misdeclaration of hazardous cargo. (17:25) Jeremy goes over what can be done to reduce the risk of undeclared hazardous cargo. (21:08) The challenges seafarers faced during the Covid-19 time. (25:15) Jeremy shares his advice on the importance of viewing shipping with a human element and considering the safety of the seafarers.
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    29 mins
  • Navigating Drayage Challenges

    Navigating Drayage Challenges
    Jul 22 2024
    Drayage, the truck-based transport of containerised cargo from the port to the final destination or from the origin premises to the loading port, plays a crucial role in the US freight industry. Despite being a landside logistics service, it faces challenges from #ShippingDisruptions, union strikes, and evolving government regulations. How do drayage professionals navigate these changes while meeting customer expectations and finding optimal solutions? Join our latest ‘Shipping Insights’ podcast episode, where host Sara Vollmer and guest Mason George, President at IMC Companies National Accounts, explore strategies for tackling these constant disruptions. Key topics of this episode are: The impact of the current disruptions, in particular the Red Sea crisis, on the drayage market in the US, how to handle and discuss the impacts of the constant changes with the customers and the green legislation happening in the US and how it influences the industry. Recorded in July 2024. Details: (01:36) An introduction to our guest, Mason George. (02:24) Sara explains what drayage is. (02:42) Sara and Mason discuss the impact of the Red Sea crisis on the drayage market in the US. Mason explains how the cargo is shifting between regions and is affecting the market. (05:05) Sara mentions the contract negotiations on the East Coast with The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and asks Mason how the drayage professionals handle these changes and discuss them with their customers. (09:58) Sara and Mason talk about the potential impact of the Canadian rail strikes on the transportation of cargo into the US. Mason mentions the lack of flexibility in the current freight industry and how drayage professionals should try to stay flexible for their customers and offer them tailored solutions. (12:52) Sara and Mason discuss the new green legislation happening in the US, in particular in California, and Mason mentions how the uncertainty of some of these changes causes problems for the stakeholders in the market. (17:00) Mason shares his advice for shippers in the current market and how thinking differently could make the transition we are in easier.
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    19 mins
  • Sea Freight Industry and its Road Ahead

    Sea Freight Industry and its Road Ahead
    Mar 26 2024
    The #SeaFreight industry has faced numerous disruptions in recent years. These disruptions have not only transformed the industry itself but also had a global impact. How can shippers proactively prepare their supply chains to mitigate the effects of such incidents on their businesses? In this “Shipping Insights” podcast episode, our host, Sara Vollmer, and her guest, Michael Aldwell, Board Member of Sea Logistics, explore the repercussions of these recent disruptions. They delve into both the challenges and opportunities arising from these forced transitions. Key topics of this episode are: The path ahead for the sea freight industry and for Kuehne+Nagel, how the delicacy of supply chains became visible due to the disruptions and how to plan resilient and agile supply chains in current conditions. Recorded in March 2024. Details: (01:28) Michael talks about what the sea freight industry means to him and briefly describes his role at Kuehne+Nagel. (02:41) Sara and Michael discuss how Kuehne+Nagel has always evolved with time, sharing what they see in the road ahead for Kuehne+Nagel and the industry. (05:03) Sara asks Michael about the disruptions and their impact, and he responds by sharing his perspective on the delicate system of the supply chains and how this delicacy has become more visible to us in the past few years due to the disruptions. (07:43) Sara brings up nearshoring, and they discuss how companies with a single sourcing strategy might experience such changes in their supply chains. Michael points out the advantages of such changes and their benefactors. (10:14) Michael talks about the big decisions companies must make and how they can ensure a more agile and resilient supply chain. (11:33) Sara and Michael discuss TPM 2024, and Michael shares his expectations and mentions what TPM means to Kuehne+Nagel. (13:07) Michael shares his advice for shippers and points out the importance of having agile, resilient supply chains.
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    15 mins
  • The Convenience of Refrigerated Containers

    The Convenience of Refrigerated Containers
    Feb 8 2024
    Nowadays, we are used to the convenience of buying our favourite fresh products from the local supermarket all year round. But how do these products reach us when the shipping world deals with disruptions? In this episode, our host, Sara Vollmer, and her guest Marc Meseguer, Regional Sea Logistics Reefer Manager, talk about Reefer Logistics and the journey of temperature-sensitive cargo to consumers in times of regular disruptions. They also discuss FRUIT LOGISTICA, the world's most important trade fair for the fresh produce industry, and its significance in the world of cold chain. Key topics of this episode are: What Reefer Logistics is and its impacts on our world, how disruptions can drastically impact the temperature-sensitive cargo’s supply chain and FRUIT LOGISTICA and its significance in the world of cold chain. Recorded in February 2024. Details: (01:40) Sara and Marc discuss what Reefer Logistics is. (02:39) Marc talks about the popular time for fruit and vegetable transportation in the northern and southern hemispheres. (04:10) Sara asks Marc about what is happening right now (early February 2024) in the world of Reefer Logistics. (05:08) They discuss the privilege of having access to various fresh products all year round and where they come from. (06:22) Sara asks Marc what the downside to this privilege is.
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    21 mins
  • Supply Chain Planning Tools

    Supply Chain Planning Tools
    Jan 9 2024
    In a market with approximately 60% global on-time schedule reliability, guaranteeing exact delivery dates has become a challenge—especially with the added complexities of current geo-political situations affecting supply chains. How can shippers successfully manage their supply chains in this unpredictable terrain? In this episode, our host Sara Vollmer and her guest Allison Macdonald, Global Key Account Manager Corporate Partner Consumer, discuss today's unpredictable shipping world and how to navigate its rough waters using the available digital tools. They particularly talk about seaexplorer and how it can be used to make better-informed decisions. Key topics of this episode are: Shippers' concerns in a world where disruptions have become a norm, seaexplorer and the valuable data it offers and how to plan shipments when on-time reliability is low. Recorded in January 2024. Link to seaexplorer: seaexplorer.com Link to SeaNews: mykn.kuehne-nagel.com/news Details: (02:25) Sara and Allison discuss customers' concerns in an ever-changing world. Allison points out customers' need for a platform with reliable information that enables them to plan better for tomorrow. (04:44) They discuss the challenges of shipping in a world with a 60% global on-time reliability. Allison then discusses seaexplorer and its benefits by sharing her memories of when she first introduced seaexplorer to the customers. (10:02) Sara asks Allison how to discuss carriers' unreliable delivery schedules with customers even though their contracts state certain delivery times. (12:54) Allison gives her advice to shippers who are interested in the podcast's topic. (13:49) Allison talks about SeaNews as a valuable source of information for her. (16:17) The episode ends with Allison’s advice on what to take away from the podcast.
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    18 mins
  • Emergency and Relief Logistics

    Emergency and Relief Logistics
    Dec 17 2023
    When a disaster strikes, relief logistics entities support charitable organisations in delivering aid and emergency items to the impacted areas. In this episode, our host Sara Vollmer and her guest Cormac O'Sullivan, Global Head of Emergency and Relief Logistics, discuss how Emergency and Relief Logistics experts at Kuehne+Nagel develop strategies to deliver emergency aid when most of the established logistics infrastructure is destroyed. They also talk about the potential paths of entering this sector. Key topics of this episode are: What emergency and relief is, how emergency and relief experts prepare before and act after a disaster, how to join this community or change from other fields of logistics to relief logistics and how we can prepare for geopolitical changes. Recorded in November 2023. Details: (2:08) Cormac talks about Emergency and Relief Logistics, its history, different sectors and community. (06:16) Cormac explains how the emergency and relief global community can predict which areas are more likely to be hit by disasters, which allows them to adopt pre-positioning strategies in various areas of the world. (10:05) Cormac then explains how Kuehne+Nagel works in these situations by giving some examples. 13:19) He shares how he joined the emergency and relief field to help those who would like to join this field as well. (17:22) He gives his advice on how to join the Emergency and Relief Logistics. (20:30) Sara and Cormac conclude this episode by suggesting that we are already in a decade of action, and Cormac emphasises the importance of the expertise of logisticians in keeping our world moving.
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    25 mins
  • Resilient International Supply Chain

    Resilient International Supply Chain
    Dec 17 2023
    In this episode, host Sara Vollmer and her guest Yutaka Matsuyoshi, Global Head of Sea Logistics International Supply Chain at Kuehne+Nagel, talk about the current trends of International Supply Chains and the lessons learnt throughout the experience of a global pandemic. They specifically address the importance of not only leveraging advanced digital tools but also making sense of the data supplied for optimum transparency. Key topics of this episode are: The connection between International Supply Chain and Order Management, how strategies and supply chains have changed throughout the pandemic, post-pandemic measures seen by customers, the available platforms and tools and their technological improvements, as well as the future trends of the International Supply Chain. Recorded in October 2023. Details: (03:08) Sara and Yutaka discuss the connection between International Supply Chain and Order Management. (04:57) Yutaka talks about the changes in the strategies and supply chains throughout the pandemic years compared to those of the post-pandemic years. (08:00) The post-pandemic measures taken by customers are compared to their pre-pandemic actions. (10:54) Yutaka shares his thoughts about the available platforms and tools, how they have been improved and the areas where they need more improvements. (14:25) He then is asked how to deal with the issues that customers face when using these platforms and how to make the best decisions. (18:47) Yutaka shares his predictions for the future of the International Supply Chain in the upcoming years.
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    21 mins
  • Dried fruit and nuts

    Dried fruit and nuts
    Dec 17 2023
    In this episode, host Sara Vollmer and her guest Knud Meyer, Global Sea Logistics Development Manager Dried Fruit & Nuts at Kuehne+Nagel, talk about the growing global dried fruit and nuts (DFN) market. Sara and Knud discuss the specific products, the trade lanes and the challenges in the DFN segment. Key topics of this episode are: The products that fall into the DFN category and their market size, the main import and export regions and the global trade lanes, the challenges that exist in the supply chain of DFN, and the role of sustainability in the DFN industry. Recorded in July 2023. Details: (02:58) Knud introduces the dried fruit, nuts and seeds (DFN) industry, its subcategories, and their production volume. (04:57) Sara and Knud discuss the factors that are driving growth in this industry. (07:14) Knud goes over the main import and export regions and global trade lanes of DFN products. (09:35) Knud talks about the challenges that exist in the supply chain of DFN. (12:19) He discusses the sustainability of DFN and the changes that are being made. (14:05) Knud mentions that the current trends in DFN could be because of health and economic changes. (15:32) Knud shares his thoughts on the future opportunities within DFM and where more growth might come.
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    18 mins