Ask Ahab: January 2026

Dear Ahab:

There seems to be a lot of uncertainty in the market, even for carriers. It seems to me that at some point there could be a rush of cargo into the U.S. market. How do carriers prepare for spikes in demand if a rush of cargo does occur?

– Curious Carrier

Dear Curious Carrier:

Carriers prepare for cargo‑volume spikes through proactive capacity management, schedule adjustments, and strategic network planning. One of the primary tools carriers use is capacity management, which includes reinstating blank voyages, deployment of larger vessels, and adding extra‑loader ships.,

If the rush is predictable, such as peak season or pre‑Lunar New Year rushes, carriers will look to adjust schedules and reposition vessels. These strategies allow carriers to maintain operational control and protect rate stability during sudden demand spikes.

Dear Ahab:

I have been hearing about blank sailings for the past couple of years and am now wondering how blank sailings affect rates?

Don’t Know Blank

Dear Don’t Know Blank:

Let’s first understand what blank sailings are. Blank sailings are when carriers remove voyages that have poor loading to eliminate losses. That’s because when a carrier removes sailings, it reduces space in the market, even if demand hasn’t risen. This artificial tightening helps prevent oversupply, which is one of the biggest downward pressures on freight rates.

Carriers strategically increase blank sailings, especially during volatile demand periods when volume demand is low, to preserve pricing power and reduce carriers’ loss.

In addition to keeping rates from sinking too low, blank sailings can, unfortunately, also create short‑term congestion and shipment delays, which further increases rate pressure as shippers compete for reduced space. In essence, by removing capacity, carriers can prevent rate erosion from reaching disastrous levels and position themselves to maintain capacity on the next demand upswing.