There is a special situation in china air freight – a blank voyage (also known as an invalid voyage)
This refers to a situation where a scheduled port or entire voyage is skipped or cancelled.
People are reluctant to break their original sailing opportunities, so the factors that make this happen are often out of their control.
Reasons why air voyages happen
One of the most important things to know about air sailings is that they can be planned or unplanned. How much notice you receive depends on the reason the sailing was cancelled. Although the circumstances vary, stoppages are usually due to sailing schedule problems or market fluctuations.
Difficulties in meeting sailing schedules
Shipping companies have a fixed number of days to complete their voyages and each schedule has a specific ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) and ETD (Estimated Time of Departure) for each destination port. Adherence to sailing schedules is essential to keep containers moving through the global supply chain, but it is not always possible to meet every deadline. Shippers may see empty sailings due to delays caused by
Supply chain issues
Congestion and labour shortages are two port issues that can lead to stoppages. In these cases it often makes more sense for the vessel to skip the port rather than risk a delay that will affect the rest of the sailing schedule. Port omissions may be known prior to booking if the event is ongoing (e.g. if the port is heavily congested or locked during Covid restrictions), but may occur throughout the voyage if unexpected challenges arise.
Adverse weather
Weather can also cause a stoppage if the vessel is unable to safely travel to or moor at a specific location. Some ports may even be closed if conditions make it unsafe to complete the required processes. For example, ports may cease operations if cranes are unable to operate due to high winds.
Market changes
Sometimes planned stoppages are required to help control demand. When demand for cargo space is low, shipping companies often use stoppages to help improve operational efficiency. By cancelling certain sailings, routes can consolidate cargo to use all the available space on board – a more cost effective method than sailing multiple ships with a lot of space left.
Due to low demand, stoppages often occur during holiday periods such as Lunar New Year, when factories shut down and outbound cargo volumes at Asian ports fall. Your carrier will be able to discuss historical patterns and current maritime market conditions to help you plan shipments accordingly.
Vessel complications
Although vessels are maintained to help maintain seaworthiness, mechanical problems may arise in the process. Some repairs can only be carried out in specific locations, which may mean re-routing or skipping ports where the problem cannot be resolved. Depending on how long repairs take, additional cancellations may be required to meet the remaining port arrival times.
The potential impact of a stoppage
A stoppage can create multiple challenges for shippers, including
Additional costs
Significant delays due to air traffic can result in unexpected costs. Firstly, any cargo requiring access to the port will require additional service charges. Another possible cost is a demurrage and detention charge for filled containers that are held in port for more than a specified number of free days. In addition, cargoes containing perishable or temperature sensitive goods may result in a total loss.
Inventory issues
Not receiving items on time can lead to long term inventory problems. Initially, you may struggle to keep up with demand while waiting for your goods to arrive, but problems can arise even after delivery – especially if your shipment is seasonal. This can lead to a backlog of items you no longer need, thus limiting the amount of storage space available.
Reducing customer satisfaction
Delivering on your promises and maintaining adequate product stock is key to keeping your customers happy with your brand. Frequent shipping delays or constant out-of-stock inventory can lead to a loss of market share.
Leave your freight to the professionals – TJ China Freight minimises the risk for you.
