The UK’s decision to leave the EU customs union has made the land bridge across the UK less appealing for shippers. Now freight is being shipped directly by sea from the Irish Republic to mainland Europe

‘As one of the world’s most prominent entrepreneurs, you have unparalleled influence, which we hope you will use to join us in pushing public recognition of seafarers as key workers, and champion the cause at the highest levels of government, including in the United States with the incoming Biden administration,’ Jeff Bezos is urged

Seafarers have transported retail goods needed to satisfy the demand generated by platforms such as Amazon ‘throughout some of the most difficult conditions in living memory’, the shipping trade groups tell Jeff Bezos

The industry has spent eight months complaining that its key workers should be repatriated swiftly. In reality, it has spent years ignoring protests that rest and work hours regulations are openly flouted

The Brexit transition period ends on December 31, but many forwarders have yet to make arrangements for how they will handle customs. This could lead to bottlenecks at ports on both sides of the English Channel

Wallenius Wilhelmsen returned to a $4m profit in the third quarter and expects recovery in auto volumes to continue. But the Oslo-listed car carrier company expects more volatility until markets return to normal, and says the virus’ impact on production in parts of the world is hard to predict