How Do Adverse Weather Conditions Impact Your Shipping

Adverse weather can be a real challenge for the freight industry. Despite the range of protocols in place for varying weather conditions, this hardy industry still has to take extra care to protect its cargo and maintain efficiency when adverse weather rolls in.

At Allegro Freight Forwarding, we provide tailored, logistics solutions with a personal touch. In this blog, we address how adverse weather conditions can impact freight charges and shipping times, noting what weather conditions might impact shipping, the impact of these conditions and ways to mitigate the impact of adverse weather on your logistics operation.

What Weather Conditions Impact Shipping?

Day-to-day variation in weather doesn’t pose too much of a challenge for freight forwarders. Large-scale weather events, however, can make freight management and transportation processes more challenging. Weather patterns from across the globe can create a rippling effect across countries – impacting how goods can be transported.

Storms

Stormy weather is a leading cause of damage and disruption in the UK – and impacts on the freight industry are no exception. Storms can bring about a range of weather challenges including ice, snow, winds or heavy rainfall. High winds and rough seas can slow or halt the movement of cargo being transported overseas. High winds can also impact wider transportation links and cause damage to key transport infrastructure.

Fog

As with many operations that rely on unobstructed transport routes, fog can generate a number of challenges for freight operations, especially when combined with other weather challenges such as high winds or storms.

Heatwaves and High Temperatures

While high temperatures tend to cause fewer issues for freight forwarding, extreme instances can cause issues along the logistical line.

The Impact of Adverse Weather Conditions on Shipping

These weather fronts present varying challenges for shipping. Changes to shipping routes may result in delayed arrival and certain types of cargo may even perish in particular conditions. Below, we will explore how each of these weather challenges might impact Shipping.

How Do Storms Impact Shipping?

Storms are one of sea freight’s most disruptive weather conditions. High winds and strong waves can lead to delayed shipments due to rerouting, damage from cargo being disturbed or falling overboard and increased costs due to higher insurance premiums.

How Does Fog Impact Shipping?

Fog is another common weather condition that impacts the smooth running of sea freight forwarding operations. Low or reduced visibility increases the risk of collisions and grounding as well as slowing transit times and generating increased congestion at ports.

How Do Heatwaves and High Temperatures Impact Shipping?

While high temperatures do pose fewer issues for shipping, challenges such as the degradation of perishable goods should be considered by freight carriers. In addition, high temperatures can increase fuel consumption due to greater pressure on cooling systems.

How to Mitigate the Impact of Adverse Weather on Shipping

Unfortunately, in many instances, weather delays are an unavoidable obstacle for shipping companies. In the event that disruptive weather is forecast, freight managers should prioritise maintaining clear and open communication with those along their shipping line. This might include alerting key contacts of any foreseen cancellations or changes to schedules.

As some adverse weather may arrive without warning, a useful step – when it’s possible – is to prepare and allow for ‘buffering time’ to offset potential delays as this can reduce the impact of adverse conditions.

How to Mitigate the Impact of Storms

Preparation is of high priority ahead of stormy conditions. Freight management teams should monitor upcoming weather forecasts to adapt plans as required and managers should keep in touch with their shipping carrier with updates as they arise. Stormy weather may also require insurance policies to be reviewed ahead of departure to ensure cargo is sufficiently covered.

Freight carriers can also take steps to ensure cargo is properly secured ahead of departure to limit shifting during high winds and consequent damage. Keeping up to date with sea conditions can also allow for safer travel and the necessity for cancellation if required.

How to Mitigate the Impact of Fog

Reduced visibility creates a number of issues for the routing of freight vessels. For this reason, foggy conditions often require freight carriers to use advanced navigation systems and radar systems to maximise safety. Planning also maintains its importance in foggy conditions, with freight carriers often needing to account for fog-based delays.

How to Mitigate the Impact of Heatwaves and High Temperatures

To prepare for high temperatures and heatwaves, freight carriers should ensure the use of proper refrigeration to reduce the likelihood of goods perishing in transit.

Additionally, it is essential that cooling systems are regularly maintained during warmer periods, to prevent system failures in the event of a heatwave.

As with cooler weather conditions, maintaining a close eye on weather forecasts also allows freight carriers the opportunity to adequately prepare their systems and procedures to minimise issues and delays.

Prepare for Adverse Weather with Allegro Freight Forwarding

Allegro Freight Forwarding are experienced freight forwarders offering tailored end-to-end solutions for businesses. Our range of services support air, sea, road and rail freight – covering all the bases to help your assets reach their destination quickly and reliably.

The team at Allegro Freight Forwarding help take the hassle out of freight management while granting you peace of mind that your shipments are in safe hands. For more information about our services and how we can support your business, contact us today!

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