Shipping and the Environment

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The strategies employed by liner shipping companies are increasingly influenced by concerns for the natural environment. With the help of real-world examples, discuss how such strategies are impacting liner shipping operations.

Since the industrial revolution, the impact of humanity on the environment has grown considerably. This also pertains to the influence of humans on the marine environment (Andersson et al. 2016). The considerable increase in the number and scale of shipping operations means that it is now paramount to take into account the effects of these operations on the marine environment to prevent major environmental changes that could lead to highly adverse consequences for the ecosystem of the planet.

Generally speaking, shipping operations have a significant negative impact on the environment. For instance, the use of toxic antifouling paint; the discharge of cargo hold cleaning waters, grey waters, ballast waters, sewage, and solid waste; the acoustic pollution; the discharge of gasses resulting from the use of fuel for enabling ship mobility–all pollute the marine environment; the atmosphere is also affected (Andersson et al. 2016). Due to the increase in scale and number of shipping operations, the amount of pollution also grows to an extent that may not be neutralized by the marine ecosystem. Therefore, controls have been implemented to decrease the adverse impact of shipping on the natural environment of seas and oceans (Andersson et al. 2016). In particular, International Maritime Organization (IMO) is an international body that introduces such controls in order to restrict shipping in a manner that would allow for preserving the marine environment while still utilizing it for the purposes of shipping (Visvikis & Panayides 2017).

In this respect, it should be observed that such regulations have had a considerable impact on the strategies that are employed by sea transport companies for the purposes of shipping products and transporting people (Visvikis & Panayides 2017). For instance, some of the legislation introduced by IMO forbids discharging waste in certain areas of the world ocean (Andersson et al. 2016). As a consequence of this, routes of ships and liners are influenced, for shipping companies have to create alternative routes through areas in which ships would be able to discharge waste when the need arises (Andersson et al. 2016). It has also affected the shipping infrastructure on the whole because certain canals and other marine areas become preferred if fewer restrictive regulations pertain to them, which means that ports emerge so as to serve ships using these canals and areas (Andersson et al. 2016). This, in turn, may affect the development of an area and its population. In contrast, in the areas where shipping is restricted due to its negative impacts such as gas emissions, noise, etc., the local population may also be affected because of the restrictions placed on the local infrastructure.

To provide an additional example, it is possible to discuss the routes through the Arctic region. On the whole, many of such routes can considerably decrease the distance that needs to be crossed in order to transport something, which is beneficial in multiple respects, such as the economy of the fuel. However, utilizing such routes raises a number of specific environmental concerns that outweigh the benefits of such an economy (Andersson et al. 2016). Therefore, restrictions are placed on shipping operations through these areas, and shipping companies are often forced to find alternative routes to transport goods.

On the whole, it should be stressed that the majority of the shipping companies have adapted to the regulations placed on sea transportation, incorporating sustainability in their strategies so as to meet the needs of today while avoiding the impairing impacts of shipping on the marine environment, as established in 1987 by the Brundtland Report (Andersson et al. 2016).

Discuss how the use of information technology is increasing the visibility and cost-effectiveness of services provided by container shipping companies.

In the modern world of business, companies are forced to engage in stiff competition n order to survive in the market. This also pertains to container shipping businesses. Some of the most efficacious tools for increasing the cost-effectiveness of such organizations and their visibility to a wide array of stakeholders involve the use of modern information technologies (IT). Some of the uses of IT in the shipping industry are discussed below.

On the whole, the complexity of shipping services can be considerably lowered by employing key information about the products shipped and providing that information to various stakeholders (FlashGlobal 2017). Therefore, it is clear that employing IT technologies for this purpose can provide quick, safe, and effective dissemination of such information. This allows for enjoying a multitude of benefits such as enhanced effectiveness in the coordination of shipping services, better contacts with customers, etc.

The increased visibility and quality of data provided by information technologies permit improving the effectiveness and efficiency of a multitude of shipping services. This is achieved in a variety of ways; for example, the quick exchange of information enables faster movement of containers between vessels, ports, and trains or land vehicles (Visvikis & Panayides 2017). Also, rapid data exchange is highly useful when it comes to managing supply chains–for instance, land transport operators, terminal operators, custom services, and freight forwarders all benefit considerably when data can be transferred almost instantly via the utilization of IT technologies (FlashGlobal 2017). In addition, this is also highly useful when it comes to the issues of security.

Digitalization of the data pertaining to inventory also allows for its quick and effectual organization, as well as for monitoring and managing the information related to tracking and shipping (Andersson et al. 2016). The implementation of the achievements of the sphere of IT permits utilizing innovative technologies of supply chain management, which provides an opportunity for considerably lowering the time that is required to receive, track, and compile data related to orders, as well as for reducing the chance of making mistakes, decreasing the operating costs, and simplifying the supply chain in general. As a consequence, it also allows for preserving additional temporal and financial resources of the shipping organization.

In addition, the utilization of IT enables shipping companies to achieve a greater amount of visibility to customers, as well as to improve customer experiences (FlashGlobal 2017). For instance, because of the use of IT, clients are often supplied with an opportunity to track the status of the orders that they have made to a shipping company. This also lowers the chances of making errors, for customers may point out a mistake if it is made. Also, shipping companies may create websites, which let clients easily find them. In addition, the utilization of social media also provides shipping businesses with an opportunity to present themselves to customers, who are widely present on these media and can easily be found in specific groups and on certain pages related to projects and organizations that may require shipping services. The use of social media permits shipping enterprises to easily communicate with clients, promote new types of services, report weather conditions that may affect the schedules, and so on (FlashGlobal 2017).

All in all, it should be stressed that the utilization of IT by container shipping companies allows for greatly enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the latter. The quality of customer experiences is also improved. On the whole, the implementation of information technologies by such organizations practically becomes a necessity in the contemporary competitive market.

Reference List

Andersson, K, Brynolf, S, Lindgren, JF & Wilewska-Bien, M (eds) 2016, Shipping and the environment: improving environmental performance in marine transportation, Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

FlashGlobal 2017, 4 uses of technology to improve supply chain management, Web.

Visvikis, ID & Panayides, PM (eds) 2017, Shipping operations management, Springer International Publishing, Cham.

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Shipping and the Environment

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