News & Insights

With the 2nd quarter (Q2) of 2021 just a week away, we review five key issues, that are likely to impact maritime logistics platforms over the next three month period and the actions that you can take to protect your cargoes and the integrity of your supply chains. Equipment, space and congest... Read more

The sea freight bunker industry has been undergoing significant change since the introduction of the IMO2020 rule and the impact of measures taken in response to the Coronavirus pandemic have contributed to major shifts in oil market dynamics, with rising prices encouraging shipping lines to incr... Read more

With our joint venture partner Fracht, Metro plan, organise and manage the protection, handling and global transportation of large, heavy, high value, and complex pieces of equipment. Project movements are all about attention to detail, effective briefing and the proven audit and planning proc... Read more

Industrial action at London’ Heathrow Airport by workers in the engineering, fire service, security, terminal operations, airside and landside sectors, will run from from the 2nd to 25th April, with the union Unite predicting “a massive effect” on cargo handling operations. The Heathrow ... Read more

Global lockdowns continue to drive consumer demand for goods, keeping ships full, sea freight rates high and leading shipping lines to take ever more desperate measures to increase their capability to take revenue opportunities. But, have they got their calculations right, or will their drive to ... Read more

At 7:40 am on 23 March 2021, the 20k TEU container ship Evergreen Ever Given was navigating the Suez Canal when it ran aground, turning the ship sideways and blocking the canal, with the potential to impact oil and sea freight prices if she cannot be freed quickly by the tugs currently trying to... Read more

Environmentalists have long voiced concerns about the CO2 emission damage of the global shipping fleet. They believe that shipping laden containers are doing untold damage to the climate and are extremely concerned about the volume of empty containers that have been travelling the globe recently.... Read more

The extension of import border controls is good news for some importers but may undermine negotiations with the EU for reciprocal easements and highlights the challenges still faced by exporters. Imports from the EU, which fell 28.8% in January, maybe buoyed by the government’s decision to ... Read more

Driven by the negative impact of COVID-19, the number of payroll employees has fallen by 726,000 in a year across the UK, and vacancies were down by nearly 60%, with many graduates losing their work placement opportunities or job offer - But not at Metro! University and life after graduation s... Read more

The impact that the pandemic-driven global supply chain challenges, disruption and increased costs experienced since last year will have for consumers in 2021 has been bought into sharp focus by BBC News this week. Continuing supply chain issues and the massive increases in the cost of ship... Read more

Michael Gove informed parliament last week that the introduction of stricter EU import controls, in line with Phases 2 and 3 of the government’s Border Operating Model, are to be delayed by at least six months. The minister for the Cabinet Office insisted that the go... Read more

The container shipping industry continues to face heavy port congestion and vessel delays worldwide. The situation adds to the severe lack of vessels and empty equipment availability, forcing carriers to blank sailings on some trades when these sailings could generate record revenues, encouragi... Read more