An analysis of door-to-door service by shipping lines

The increasing need for shipping lines to offer door-to-door services is driven by factors such as globalisation and growing demand from customers. Door-to-door services are mostly offered through the logistics arms, which are the logistics subsidiaries and internal logistics departments of shipping lines. This paper seeks to analyse door-to-door trends and practices offered by the top twenty shipping lines. After which, recommendations are given to the shipping lines. Information collected was cross checked with each other to ensure reliability. Tables and graphs were used to help identify trends in door-to-door services. It has been found that the logistics arms of the larger shipping lines emerged only recently. Moreover, the establishment of the logistics arms is dependent on the global economy. While more logistics arms are likely to be established in future, there may be a more distinct separation for the independent logistics arms. Shipping lines prefer to integrate vertically into areas where they can have greater control to ensure economical, reliable and environmentally friendly transportation modes. This is done through investments like having joint ventures, agreements and setting up subsidiaries. While this is true for most of the largest shipping lines, those who are able to switch their logistics services into profitable business are likely to progress from integration to disintegration. With growing concerns on environment, emergence of large markets like China and new innovative value-added door-todoor services may have contributed to such trends and modal shift.Bachelor of Science (Maritime Studies