When the consumer of shipping services doesn't pay enough

THE general rule in any industry is that the customer pays for the service he enjoys. It is such a basic premise that one would not normally expect it to be a matter of debate.

But liner shipping is not "normal" in that sense. Last week, at the Asia-Pacific Maritime event, I moderated a conference discussion that essentially hinged on this issue.

Three top executives from different parts of the liner shippin…