Annual Review and Outlook

In 1990, global container fleet capacity stood at 1.7 million TEUs; today, it’s 14.3 million TEUS, according to AXS-Alphaliner.

The economic conditions of the past two years have given us a timely, albeit stark, opportunity for self-examination and perspective as we plot strategies to best take advantage of a changing global e

2011 will see the beginning of a paradigm shift in the way public port infrastructure projects are financed in the United States.

“Faster, better, cheaper” has been the mantra of successful businesses for generations.

As the global economy, ports, and shipping lines slowly move toward recovery in 2011, a key issue will be maintaining a balance between supply and demand.

The economic downturn in recent years followed by the quick upturn in early 2010 affected everyone in the maritime community and has taught us all a few very important lessons.

The next 12 months will be a year of change and transition. Voters have spoken and the 112th Congress will look very different, with new Republican majority leadership in the House.

The new role of the terminal operator will be to reach beyond the traditional handling of cargo. It will be imperative to maximize advancing technology to improve efficiency capabilities.

As the maritime industry recovers from the “Great Recession,” shippers, carriers and ports are experiencing a new set of market dynamics.

In 2011, we expect the economy to continue its gradual and somewhat erratic recovery.

I believe we’ll see a return to better business practices in 2011.

Shipping will expand this year, as will the crisis of recruiting and retaining sufficient numbers of skilled seafarers to operate the vessels needed to sustain growing commerce.

Two areas dominate the European logistics markets in 2011. First is the growth in demand for green logistics supported by intermodal rail services.

As we progress through 2011, a major problem in the industry will be maintaining normal labor relations between the International Longshoremen’s Association and management.

Thanks to our industry’s public relations efforts and new attention by the media looking for bright economic news in today’s challenging climate, the general public is aware of the economi

The recent recession has had a profound effect on consumer buying habits.

Looking to 2011, we foresee some challenges, but remain optimistic on the overall outlook for the shipping and trade industries.

Our 2011 advice to West Coast ports, and to the workers whose jobs depend on their operations, is to batten down the hatches.

As we move into 2011, the economy remains the key issue. The maritime industry has proven time and again to be an excellent barometer of the world economic climate.

The global economy and U.S. domestic politics will be the keys to understanding and predicting the dynamics of the maritime industry this year.

With the 2000s behind us, we are in a new era in terms of our economy and our national security. We have to look outside U.S.

Despite the appearance of recovery, the world economy is quite fragile, and container shipping is clearly in the midst of an adjustment period.

The corporate drive for supply chain efficiency is as strong as ever, but has taken a new twist in terms of network reconfigurations.

I suspect we join many others in the transportation sector when we say we are cautiously optimistic as we look to 2011.

The supply chain will reign as 2011’s primary issue, with its security dominating societal and media concerns.

Transportation leaders face myriad commercial, economic and political challenges. Our task is to figure out which are most important to manage so to enable our organizations and industry to thrive.

If current trends continue, 2011 is shaping up to be a more aggressive year for supply chain managers.

Manufacturers and retailers that rebounded from the global recession are cautious about making large investments due to the risks and uncertainties that lie ahead.

Chess or checkers? The stakes are higher in chess, and the moves more calculated. The same can be said for transportation in the supply chain in 2011.

Some notable events we believe could affect maritime recruitment in 2011 include expanded services by a key Jones Act carrier, new international ocean carriers operating in the U.S.

Although volume increases will moderate from the rebound, 2011 will bring more and larger container ships to the U.S. East Coast.

We believe that in 2011 manufacturers and logistics providers will begin to focus on growth as the nation comes out of the recession.

Transloading is a firmly ingrained trend in importer supply chain strategies.

2011 will see continuing changes at the Surface Transportation Board as it adapts to the economy of the 21st century and continues its process of openness and transparency.

The first important consideration in transportation will be, again, the price of oil.

Economists say the longest post-World War II recession has officially ended; apparently, we have been in recovery since June 2009.

Having assumed chairmanship of the American Association of Port Authorities, I’m regularly engaged in interface with legislative leaders.

Moving forward in 2011, we see an expanding focus on growing U.S. exports, especially from the U.S. to Asia.

Over the course of the global economic recovery in 2010, the shipping industry reactivated routes that had been temporarily halted in 2009, opened new routes and cautiously expanded its capacity.

When it comes to predictions for the year ahead, one answer gets recycled enough to be a cliché: “cautious optimism.” Usually that just means you have little clue of what’s to