Part 10/12:
Stopford advocates for a shift towards large, centralized transshipment hubs like Rotterdam, capable of managing these ships efficiently and distributing containers via smaller, more manageable vessels. Such hubs could reduce overall emissions and improve port productivity—though he also warns against blindly following models that may not be suitable universally, especially in regions with unstable infrastructure or political environments.
The Global Disruption and Black Swan Events
History demonstrates how black swan events—unexpected incidents like the Ever Given blockage of the Suez Canal—can cause massive disruptions. These become even more critical with ultra-large ships, which, if stuck or blocked, threaten entire supply chains.