Transport communications

Portcare International is the press relations consultancy for the shipping and logistics industry. Formed by transport people for transport people. We can truly claim to understand our clients’ needs and ‘talk the same language’. Portcare provide effective, value for money PR to some of the industry’s best-known names.

Archives for August 2011

“K” Line Donates Reefer Containers to Quake-stricken Area in Tohoku, Japan

August 25, 2011 by

4 units arrived at Kesennuma City

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) has donated five 20-foot reefer containers to Kesennuma City in Miyagi Prefecture and Miyako City in Iwate Prefecture, which   suffered devastating damage from the March11 earthquake and tsunami.

The donation was made in cooperation with “Kibo-no-Noroshi”(+), an aid fund supported by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as well as the Fisheries Agency of Japan. The reefer containers, which were delivered to the destinations on 22 August, will be used for refrigerated storage of fishery products at fish processing facilities in the two cities – 4 units in Kesennuma, 1 unit in Miyako.

“K” Line continues to proactively take part in various relief activities in the quake and tsunami stricken areas by using its resources as a shipping company.　

(+) “Kibo-no-Noroshi”, which literally means “Beacon of Hope”, is an newly-established private aid fund for the purpose of ensuring the supply of essential equipment (such as reefer containers, forklifts, etc.) to assist in re-opening fish markets within the March11 disaster-stricken areas.

Filed Under: "K" Line

“K” Line Adds Direct Thailand – East India service

August 25, 2011 by

August 25, 2011

KAWASAKI KISEN KAISHA, LTD. (“K” Line) is enhancing its East India service with the introduction of a new Thailand – East India Express (TCX) service starting 7th September 2011 from Laem Chabang as a slot operator.

The port rotation will be as follows:

Laem Chabang – Singapore – Port Kelang – Chennai – Visakhapatnam – Port Kelang – Singapore – Laem Chabang

With this new direct service, the transit time from Laem Chabang to Chennai will reduce to 8 days, thus “K” Line will be able to provide an even better quality service to our valued customers in this region.

“K” Line presently operates another weekly service (called INDFEX-2) calling at Pusan, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shekou, Singapore and East India.

For further information, please contact:

Fumiyoshi Sato

Manager, Planning Team, Containerships Strategy Group

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.

Tel: +81-3-3595-5341　Fax: +81-3-3595-5288

Filed Under: "K" Line

Dedicated Team to Handle Shipowners Services to the Offshore Sector

August 22, 2011 by

The Shipowners’ Club, a leading P&I insurer, specialising in the provision of cover for small and specialist vessels worldwide,  has announced the establishment of a dedicated team of underwriters and claims handlers to service its expanding book of business in the offshore sector

 London, 22nd August, 2011

The Shipowners’ Club recently announced measures to reorganise its London branch.  This included the setting up of two internal syndicates, bringing together both underwriters and claims handlers specialising in specific geographical regions; a third syndicate will focus on the offshore sector.  Providing liability insurance to the vast array of offshore and platform support vessels, from anchor handlers, tugs and workboats to the fast crew boats employed in the energy industry, already forms a prominent part of the Club’s portfolio.  Shipowners plans to develop its reach to owners and brokers of this vessel type even further.

Charles Hume, Chief Executive of the Club comments, “The syndicate concept is one that we believe will ensure the Club’s high service levels are maintained and indeed enhanced.   We recognise that our membership in the offshore sector represents a key element of our overall business.  We expect this specialist syndicate to provide both outstanding service to existing Members and to further develop our market share in this area, which demands significant expertise.”

The Offshore Syndicate will be headed by William Tobin as Underwriting Manager, with Helen Todd as his deputy and Jonathan Clark as Claims Manager, all three having a wealth of experience in handling offshore business. They will be supported by a team of underwriters and claims handlers, many with legal experience, who will be ready to respond to all enquiries which often include the urgent assessment of contracts, an ever-increasing demand from this industry sector.

William Tobin explains the thinking behind the move, “We have merged the underwriting and claims teams working with offshore Members in order to deliver the most relevant, and at the same time widest possible, specialist cover for vessel owners in this sector.  The move will also enable us to create close and productive relationships with the broker community. 

We always recognise the importance of finding tailored insurance cover and service packages.  In the case of our offshore Members, contract review is a vital part of our service. Detailed review enables us to ensure that the cover we provide can match Members’ contractual liabilities.”

The enhanced focus provided by the Offshore Syndicate is in line with the Club’s strategy to strengthen relations with Members and brokers alike and learn from them what more the Club can do to develop any additional insurance products they would like to see. .  This is underpinned by an existing, systematic and focussed development of simplified insurance products in response to Member and broker demand.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

The Shipowners’ Club is a mutual marine liability insurer, providing Protection & Indemnity insurance to small vessels since 1855. The Club currently insurers over  29,000 vessels from more than 5,600 Members worldwide and is a member of the International Group of P&I Clubs.

The Club has branches located in Luxembourg, London, Singapore and Vancouver.

Filed Under: The Shipowners' Protection Ltd

Menlo Strengthens Management Team in Europe

August 11, 2011 by

To further strengthen its growing operations in Europe, Menlo Worldwide Logistics has made two senior management appointments to be based at its European headquarters in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam, 11th August, 2011

Menlo Worldwide Logistics (Menlo), the global logistics subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW), has announced the appointment of Marco van Walraven as Director of Operations, Europe and Edwin Schouten as Senior Manager, Transportation, Europe. 

Menlo has experienced a steady but significant expansion in its business in recent years.  With extended warehouse capacity in Germany, the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands there is a clear need to reinforce its operational management structure.  In addition the expansion of Transport Management Services (TMS) product has been welcomed by customers and requires the resource of a Senior Manager to develop further.

In announcing the two positions, Menlo’s Managing Director in Europe, Tony Gunn said, “Menlo has a reputation of providing long-term solutions to its customers’ supply chain management requirements.  These are always dynamic in nature and a close working relationship is essential for us to deliver our solutions.  Both Marco and Edwin are tasked with managing Menlo’s commitment to this intense level of customer relations.  Marco will be also be responsible for the continued focus and delivery of Lean within the operation and Edwin will be responsible for all transportation accounts for current customers, as well as have an instrumental role in the future strategy and implementation of that strategy in the region  I have every confidence in their abilities to deliver successfully.”

Marco van Walraven, Director of Operations, Europe, Menlo Worldwide

Van Walraven has worked for Menlo for 8 years, in various operational management positions for accounts across Europe and has played a key role in the delivery of service quality to customers.

Schouten’s career in logistics and transport spans over ten years and includes project management in warehousing for Tibbet and Britten, in the process of which he was involved in services for HP, Unilver and Levi Strauss among others.  More latterly, he held positions of Operations Manager and Procurement Manager of International Transport at BU International Transport and Logistics Director at the HZ Transport Group, before joining Menlo.

ENDS 

About Menlo Worldwide Logistics:

Menlo Worldwide Logistics, LLC, is a US$1.4 billion global provider of logistics, transportation management and supply chain services with operations in five continents, including North America. As a third-party logistics provider, San Mateo, Calif.-based Menlo Worldwide Logistics’ services range from dedicated contract logistics to warehouse and distribution management, transportation management, supply chain reengineering and other value-added services including packaging, kitting, order fulfilment and light assembly through a strategic network of multi-client and dedicated facilities. With more than 16 million square feet of dedicated warehouse space in North America, the Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America, and industry-leading technologies, Menlo Worldwide Logistics creates effective, integrated solutions for the transportation and distribution needs of leading businesses around the world.

Menlo Worldwide Logistics, LLC, is a subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW), a $4.3 billion diversified freight transportation and logistics company. For more information, please visit us on the Web at www.con-way.com.

Filed Under: Menlo Logistics

“K” Line issues its “Social and Environmental Report 2011”

August 9, 2011 by

August 9, 2011

“K” Line has issued its “Social and Environmental Report 2011” in English and Japanese, which summarizes their activities for social contribution and environmental preservation. The report has been published to provide “K” Line’s stakeholders with easy-to-understand explanations on their approach to social responsibility and measures they take for safety in navigation and cargo operations and environmental preservation, which are based on their corporate principles.

In this year’s report, “K” Line emphasize articles on four themes considered important from the viewpoint of responsibility as a shipping line. These themes are Safety in Navigation and Cargo Operations, Environmental Preservation, Work Environment, and Social Contribution. They also striveto show as many opinions from people working for the “K” Line Group as possible.

The report is available to download from the “K” Line  (http://www.kline.co.jp)

Filed Under: "K" Line

Shipowners Beefs Up Its Singapore Branch

August 9, 2011 by
P&I insurance provider, The Shipowners’ Club,  continues to expand business in the Asia-Pacific region; invests additional resource in its Singapore branch in order maintain service levels and respond to market growth.

London & Singapore, 9th August, 2011

Steve Randall - General Manager Director, Singapore

Growth in demand for its liability insurance cover for small and specialist vessels of all types is cited as a major imperative behind Shipowners’ moves to expand its team of underwriters and claims handlers at its Singapore branch.  Improved customer service to Members and their brokers based on local, time zone based expertise is another goal of the expansion.  As is the development of new products and simplification of existing cover more appropriate to the market’s needs.

In announcing a raft of new employees and some changes in the responsibility of personnel, Shipowners General Manager of the Singapore branch, Steve Randall said, “Since opening our Singapore branch in 2009, we have continued to provide our customers with a global service but on a local basis. This has allowed us to forge closer bonds with our Members and their brokers in the region. As a result, we are seeing a constantly growing membership and broker base here, which requires us to increase significantly our office personnel.”

Robert Hunt has responsibility for the Club’s Australasian and Far Eastern Members

Robert Hunt, is moving from the London branch to Singapore in early-August.  Robert, who has worked in the P&I market for many years, firstly as a broker and for the last seven years at  Shipowners as an underwriter, has had responsibility for undertaking the Club’s Australasian and Far Eastern Members for some years and will be better positioned geographically to service these accounts from the Club’s Asian hub. 

Dolf Ng

Joining Shipowners after five years with Standard Asia is Singaporean Dolf Ng.  Also an underwriter, who started with the Club earlier this year, Dolf will bolster the branch’s underwriting capacity and help develop the Club’s business in the Asia-Pacific region.  The department is also well supported by two underwriting assistants; Celinne Lim gained experience in commercial underwriting before joining the Club a little over two years ago and Yang Shangrong, who joined late last year and has a varied background in business commerce solutions and sales and customer support.

Celinne Lim

Yang Shangrong

On the claims side, the Singapore branch has significantly developed its resource within the last six months with two claims handlers having been appointed earlier this year; Shirley Ng has experience as both an insurance broker and a claims manager at a freight forwarding company in Singapore, while Rosli Bin Samat has a wealth of marine and cargo related experience.  Having joined Shipowners from a position responsible for insurance claims at a major shipowner involved in the offshore industry, Rosli also has experience as a marine surveyor and has three years sea-going experience. 

Shirley Ng

Steve Randall comments, “We are determined to resource the branch with the relevant skill set to further improve our service to Members and their brokers here in the Asia-Pacific region.  Our commitment to provide insurance solutions and to develop new products has never been stronger and we will develop our programme of tailored seminars to help inform Members on loss prevention and claims reduction management in particular.”

Rosli Bin Samat

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

The Shipowners’ Club is a mutual marine liability insurer, providing Protection & Indemnity insurance to small vessels since 1855. The Club currently insures almost 29,000 vessels from 5,624 Members worldwide and is a member of the International Group of P&I Clubs.

The Club has branches located in Luxembourg, London, Singapore and Vancouver.

Filed Under: The Shipowners' Protection Ltd