Why was your container not loaded onto the ship as originally planned, but postponed to the next week?
The freight forwarder initially booked space on this ship. However, when the container was cleared through customs and ready for loading, the shipping company informed you that your container was not loaded onto the ship and would have to wait for the next week’s ship to load it. As a result, your container was rescheduled by the shipping company to be loaded on the next week’s ship.
Why can't your container be loaded as planned?
During the peak season of shipping, the cargo volume is large, but the shipping company has limited space. Overbooking (especially on popular routes) easily occurs, making it inevitable that some containers cannot be loaded onto the ship.
Secondly, the shipping company deliberately releases more booking spaces than the actual available capacity.
For example: a port may have only 100 available slots, but the shipping company might release 110 slots to freight forwarders or cargo owners. At that time, the extra 10 containers will definitely cannot be loaded and only have to be postponed to the space of the next ship.
Why do the shipping company frequently release more booking slots than the actual number of booking slots?
This is a common marketing strategy used by the shipping company.Many Logistics companies often informed by shipping company to cancel the bookings near the departure of ship due to various reasons.
Therefore, in order to avoid wasting slots, the shipping company usually will release additional booking slots. So if some containers cannot be loaded on board, other containers can be loaded on board as substitute to ensure that the ship sails at full capacity.
Which containers are more likely to be postponed to the next week for loading?
This is determined by the shipping company, but does not follow a first-come, first-served basis. Containers are more easily to be postponed to the next week in the following situations:
- Containers with lower freight rates
- Containers from customers with weaker relationships with the shipping company
- Containers from customers that the shipping company considers less unimportant.
Thus, if you are a small-volume shipper, lack a strong relationship with the shipping company, or your freight forwarder is not well-established, the probability of your container being postponed to the next week will be higher.
What to do if your container is delayed for loading to the next week?
- If your container has already entered the port and completed customs clearance, but was not loaded on the ship due to the shipping company’s reasons, the shipping company will arrange another ship for you, or postpone the loading to the next week. No need for a second customs clearance during this time.
- If the shipping company cannot apply for missing loading, or the customs denies such a reply for other reasons, the shipper needs to go through the customs clearance procedures with the shipping company’s new booking space confirmation, shipping company & vessel and bill of lading number. Besides, the relevant fees need to be paid.
How to solve the problem of your container not being loaded on the ship as originally planned?
In actual operation, if you have time requirements, you can try to pay extra fees to load your container onto the ship, but there is no guarantee of 100% success.
Some suggestions for importers
When choosing a freight forwarder, it is recommended that importers do not choose the cheapest or the most expensive option.
If the price is lower than the market rates , it is likely that they are trying to attract you with a low price, and will intentionally raise your price after you have successfully cooperated with them. The freight forwarder who quotes the most expensive price might lack access to the best container rates.
Therefore, when choosing a partner, you should choose a freight forwarder with a moderate price. Gorto Freight, with 17 years of experience in the freight industry. can solve any container-related problems for you. In addition, they offer the most competitive container rates in the industry.
