Effect of COVID-19 on the Shipping Sectors

Outbreak of the infectious COVID-19 has resulted in the cessation of several regular activities and occurrences, including and especially the shipping and maritime industry. These sectors were shut down for the safety and prevention of all. This setback has resulted in the standstill of all cargo shipping. This widespread pandemic has resulted in a major brunt of the shipping and maritime industry across all global ports. Major import and export trade chains faced issues as well. In the time of adversity and urgency of this situation, bans were imposed by various countries on container entry and vessels operated from other ports. These impeded operations have tampered with logistics and operations of several industries. Ports are operating at low capacities, in addition to overcrowded storage facilities. Maritime transport and shipping industry have faced several challenges and issues, as detailed below:

1. Port Closures

Ports were closed on account of quarantine periods on account of the various conditions imposed, such as the ban of marine vessels into certain countries to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The entry of vessels to certain countries has been restricted or prohibited, causing chaos among the marine transport facilities globally.

2. Lower Cargo Demand

There was a decline in import and export of products and goods between nations on account of COVID-19 related restrictions. Goods previous transported via ships have to follow a set standard of protocol that has limited the demand for cargo. Delay in transportation due to added complications of quarantine periods led to further cargo decline.

3. Disputes

Owners & Charters: Charters hiring vessels from owners arise on account of time and money losses. Periodic hire of vessels are facing issues in the sense that the time period is negated due to force majeure.

Lay Time Settlement: Owners grant vessels to charters for limited periods of times, for fixed costs. Overriding of time periods leads to additional costs to be paid for surpassing the set time period. COVID-19 has imposed major difficulties on the settlement of time periods, such as that the vessels are prohibited from entering certain ports forcing them out on territorial waters for extended periods of time. This forces them to be a party to pay additional costs under light of dispute. Again, on account of force majeure, costs are not paid and this causes losses.

Looking for some more advice and inputs regarding shipping? Get in touch with among the best shipping and logistics companies in Dubai, Fit Movers. One of the leading freight forwarding companies in Dubai, Fit Movers is sure to assist you with all your needs.

Moving Checklist You Need To Have While relocating

Home relocations are a big decision - it is never easy to completely wrap up the lives of you and your families, and move to a different place altogether. Aside from the logistical challenges, it can be a daunting task to start fresh in a new place. Understanding the lay of the land, the people, facilities available and many more is key in putting stress factors at ease in terms of home relocation. Please find below, some important tips to alleviate stress during the home relocation process:

1. Understand where you are moving to

A big part of the stress associated with home relocation is the uncertainty of whether your needs and necessities can be met as per your liking in your new home. How close is the nearest medical facility? How many shops are in your vicinity? What type of restaurants are located near where you live? These questions are best answered by means of research. And with the internet at our disposal, this is no big challenge. Going a further step and asking locals or natives of the new place about this information would give you an insider perspective about how it feels to be living in that area, which will play a big part in putting your mind at ease about your new home.

2. Plan suitably and in advance

Are you relocating for a new job opportunity? Or are you considering a home relocation for higher studies? What about being closer to family? Whichever the reason might be, it would have an effect on planning for the home relocation. Packing, for instance, can vary if you’re moving to a smaller or larger home. And modes of transportation need to be planned accordingly too. It is also equally important to stay physically and mentally prepared for the move - a clear mind and sufficient time to execute the relocation would help you schedule your move much better, thereby reducing associated stress.

3. Prepare a check-list

Moving can be a stressful yet exciting process, and it can be easy to forget a lot of key points. A checklist can be an essential tool to make sure you have everything you need to stay ahead of the workload of relocating. It is easy to forget simple, but essential, things when you are caught up in the move… so a checklist is an effective way to make sure you have all that you need to make this a smooth and stress-free process for you. 

4. Consult with the experts

When planning and executing something as major as an entire home relocation, it is always best to take the help of experts who have years of experience in the field, to do this for you. Home movers and packers are best equipped to handle this task since they understand the best means of packaging and transporting goods, in addition to facilitating an easy and hassle-free relocation process. In the meantime, this leaves you free to focus on wrapping your head around the dynamics of your home relocation, and settling into your new home.

Need some shifting services in Dubai? Contact Fit Movers, among the best moving companies in Dubai. Sure to assist you with the best relocation companies in Dubai, Fit Movers is guaranteed to ensure you a smooth transition into your new home.

Step By Step Office Moving Checklist

Moving offices is far more complicated and disorienting than moving homes; additionally, a minor oversight could disrupt office operations, costing you money. The process of moving office buildings is always daunting, from organizing your team members to deciding what furniture goes where and making sure you don't fall behind on projects.

Here is a helpful guideline to assist you in efficiently relocating your business by selecting us as your office movers in Dubai:

1. Consider your office move needs: Before making the big move, it is critical to assess your company's needs. There are numerous reasons for relocating an office, but identifying the reasons for relocating early in the process can help you form a more strategic, well-thought-out office moving process. But the most common reasons are business expansion, client acquisition, productivity enhancements, and talent acquisition

2. Plan your office move: Whether you're switching to a new phone system or to a different office, a well-organized office move plan is essential in any transformation strategy. Examine your new location and become acquainted with its IT capabilities, facilities, and utilities.

3. Identifying costs and planning your budget: Moving offices can be costly, as well as a major disruption in terms of the costs incurred by any downtime. Before establishing a budget, it is critical to identify all potential costs for your office relocation. This allows your office relocation project manager to determine what level of budget is reasonable and feasible.

4. Creating a project task checklist: When you decide to change offices, you'll need a plan in place to ensure that you don't overlook any important details during the relocation process. An office move, if not handled properly, can cause a slew of problems and significantly harm your bottom line.

5. Prepare your office equipment when moving offices: If you intend to migrate to cloud communications or already have a hosted system, all you need to do is relocate your desk phones and other endpoints.

6. Address your telecommunications system: The hardware in your telecommunications system is only one component to consider during your office relocation. You'll also need to consider other aspects of your business communications strategy.

Fit Movers is a professional Movers and Packers company that assists clients in making their moving process as simple as possible. Our expert team assists with everything you need using their experience and knowledge. If you are looking for office movers and packers in Dubai, contact us.