Prepared byPREM KUMAR, H.S. on 26/Aug/2009 (Lecture 1)

Liner Service Routes Factors to consider in planning sailing

schedules: The number of ships and availability The volume, type and special characteristics

of the traffic. Traffic fluctuation such peak demands.

Maintenance of time margins where service connect.

For example, with multi-modalism involving container tonnage and the dry port concept involving rail network, port turn-round time crucial.

Availability of crew and cost. Arrangement for relief measure which

may arise in cases of emergency

Climatic conditions – some ports are ice-bound throughout certain periods if the year, which prevents any shipping activity at these particular ports.

Eg. Russian port of NOVOROSSISK, Northern Europe, the Baltic sea, Canada and the USA

Competition – this arises when conference and non-conference tonnage.

Eg. Operate schedules alongside each other and compete in the same market place. This gives emphasis to the ‘value added’ benefit derived from the service provided to the shipper.

Ports stay: Time necessary for terminal duties at the port. This will include loading and/or discharging, customs procedures, bunkering.

Voyage time: To complete a cycle on a specified route The vessel type: The actual types of ships available and in particular their size, incorporating the length, beam and draught together with any special characteristics. For instance, some may be suitable for cruising. Other vessels, by virtue of their size can only operate between ports that have deep-water berth facilities. Hence a large fleet of small vessels has more operating flexibility than a small fleet of large vessels which are restricted to a limited number of ports. Another vessel may require spl. equipt.

Political climate: Any hostile activities taking place or envisaged in any particular waters. Political actions such as flag discrimination, bilateral trade agreements causing unbalanced trading conditions.

Geographic constraints: Location of canals such as the Suez and Panama as alternative routes.

Voyage cost vs business: Actual estimated voyage cost and expected traffic receipts

General availability of port facilities and dock labour, and any tidal restrictions affecting times of access and departure.

Plying limits of individual ships, and for liner tonnage, any condition imposed by liner conference agreements.

With multi-purpose vessels conveying road haulage vehicles, passengers and accompanied cars, the number of cars and road haulage vehicles shipped can vary according to the time of the year and/or period of the day.

The schedule ultimately devised in liner cargo trade should help the operator to increase his market share of the trade, having particular regard to the need to operate a profitable service.

Thus it is apparent that sailing schedules are based primarily on the following considerations:

Commercial Political Economic Geographic Climatic Technical capability of the ship