Skip port congestion in just 3 simple steps

Port congestion is a major challenge in today’s supply chains, often leading to unpredictable delays.

The good news? You can mitigate these disruptions with proactive measures. By following three simple steps, GoComet’s port congestion tracker helps you stay ahead. Our machine learning algorithm analyzes data from over 45,000 containerized shipments monthly, monitoring congestion at major ports in the US, EU, EMEA, and SEA regions. With real-time insights on turnaround times, you can effectively plan and minimize shipment delays..

Let’s explore a real-world scenario involving a manufacturing firm located in China importing critical raw material from Shanghai to the production hub in California. The firm typically moves 100 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) per month and wants to use GoComet’s Real-Time Port Congestion Tool to plan the shipment from China to the USA.

Step 1: Port Selection

Analyze Historical Data: 

By analyzing weekly and monthly maximum delay data, you can identify recurring congestion patterns or peak periods at different ports. By comparing the congestion levels across different weeks & months, you can identify ports with consistently lower congestion, allowing you to make an informed decision regarding port selection.

Analyzing the data, it becomes evident that Long Beach Port, located closer to Los Angeles Port, experiences considerably lower congestion delays. Therefore, based on this robust data, it is a logical and well-informed choice to designate Long Beach as the Point of Destination for the shipment. By leveraging real-time congestion delay data, the tool facilitates the selection of the most suitable port for timely delivery, minimizing potential delays. The analysis reveals that Long Beach Port, in close proximity to Los Angeles Port, exhibits significantly reduced congestion delay. 

Consequently, the decision to opt for Long Beach as the Point of Destination for the shipment is strongly supported by the empirical evidence.

Step 2: Carrier Selection

Selecting the right carrier is pivotal in avoiding port congestion nightmares. GoComet’s smart scheduling tool provides instant access to the latest sailing schedules of international cargo terminals, benchmarked freight rates, and carrier performance. It also gives arrival plans, routing information like transshipments, and the vessel’s name and voyage number.

In our case, let’s select the carrier for our shipment from Shanghai, China to Long Beach, US

• Choose Direct Routing

When selecting a carrier for your shipments from China to the US, opt for carriers that offer direct routing. Direct routing minimizes the risk of delays and potential congestion at transshipment ports, ensuring a more efficient and streamlined journey for your consignments. 

• Select the Best-ranked Carrier:

To further enhance your chances of avoiding port congestion, prioritize carriers with the highest rank based on their performance and reputation. Analyze industry rankings, customer reviews, and historical data to identify carriers that consistently excel in managing congestion-related challenges. These carriers are likely to have robust systems, efficient processes, and contingency plans in place to navigate potential congestion at ports effectively. 

Based on GoComet’s analysis of direct shipment carriers, it seems best to choose CMA-CGM with an 86% performance rating.

Step 3:  Negotiation

The final task entails entering into negotiations with the vendors to obtain the most competitive rates for our shipment. We need to share information regarding the selected port and the carrier that has been recommended for the shipment.

Conclusion

GoComet’s port congestion tool not only helps us select the best ports and carriers at competitive rates, but also equips us with industry best practices to tackle port congestion. With a data-driven approach, we make informed decisions for hundreds of shipments each month across 700+ ports globally. By leveraging GoComet’s insights, we effectively navigate the challenges of port congestion, ensuring smooth operations and timely deliveries. This innovative solution establishes GoComet as a vital partner in optimizing supply chain efficiency.