Shippers looking to ensure goods arrived on time in 2021 faced an array of challenges this year. Ports were congested, ocean freight rates had skyrocketed, and shipping lines' schedule reliability was near rock-bottom. As a result, many big companies took the unusual step of chartering their own ships.

Chartering vessels can get expensive, but the alternative was worse for many. Here's a look at some of the companies that sought to charter ships to exercise greater control over their supply chain.