[mks]

I fondly remember interning at major freight forwarder during university. The main input interface was paper which was them keyed into the mainframe application. Only the biggest partners have been integrated via EDI. So just putting sensible API in front of all this sounds like good idea.

I have been working on operations data mart most of the time (and saving cca 30 000 dollars on carrier volume discount on shipped containers) but I always felt my most appreciated contribution was stitching together few Excel macros to make Request For Quotation evaluation easier.

So here are my two free ocean freight startup ideas:

- precise container reporting for carrier disputes (10 FCL 40 footers from HKG to HAM), including error detection when port is incorrectly filled in just because it has similar code

- RFQ evaluator - as simple and accessible as excel, but capturing the specifics of ocean freight (tens of port pairs, container specifications, splitting price to freight, terminal and surcharges etc).

Did you know you could have your container shipped for free - only for cost of terminal handling (on certain routes, at certain times)? Fascinating industry.

[deanclatworthy]

Re: last point. I did not know that. Could you provide some more information?

[mks]

Sorry for the linkbaity cliffhanger.

Occasionally there exists a situation when there is huge demand for shipments in one direction (e.g. Hong Kong to Singapore) while there is not much traffic the other way round.

Shipping companies then need to get those containers back to origin, so the prices go down (better ship full container where at least handling is paid rather than empty container where carrier has to cover all the costs).

Not sure how often this happens currently, I got the information from friendly trade lane manager few years back.