Transport communications

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Archives for September 2018

Combi Lift completes first project phase well ahead of schedule

September 25, 2018 by

German heavy lift expert Combi Lift has successfully completed the first phase of the Gazprom Amur Gas Processing Plant Project in Russia. The last cargo was delivered to Svobodn180925 Gazprom Amur GPP Project - transshipment in De-Kastriy one month before the last contractual delivery date.

Thanks to detailed planning by Combi Lift’s project management team in Bremen and tight monitoring by Combi Lift’s on-site team in Russia, discharging was finalised on September 16, 2018.

The Linde Group hired Combi Lift to be the exclusive logistics partner for oversized and heavy lift cargo for the Gazprom Amur GPP Project. The transport can only be done during the summertime, taking advantage of the ice-free periods on the Amur and Zeya Rivers.

“The winning relationship with our client, The Linde Group, ensured that the project preparation phase and later operations were very efficient. There were no damages during the entire first transport phase, which was completed one month before the last contractual delivery date. We aim for the same success with phase two, beginning on May 15, 2019,” explained Holger Krenz, Head of Project Management Gazprom Amur GPP Project at Combi Lift.

The eight tugs and seven barges carried 79 pieces (61,755 freight tonnes) from De-Kastri to Svobodny between May 18 and September 16. Each trip from De-Kastri to the jetty is 2371 kilometres long and takes about 21 days. The entire scope involves transporting over 176,000 freight tonnes of cargo, including 12 columns weighing 900 tonnes each.

About the project: Spanning 2,824 kilometres, the Amur River is the world’s tenth longest river, forming the border between the far eastern part of Russia and north-eastern China. All project cargo needs to be discharged in Svobodny, located on the right bank of the Zeya River, a northern tributary of the Amur River. Heavy lift transportation is quite challenging in a place like this: The water is only 1.10 metres deep in some areas, and weather conditions are often severe.

Combi Lift developed a sophisticated concept to master this difficult feat: Heavy lift vessels will transport the cargo from ports in Europe and Korea, which then will be transferred to barges on the sheltered inner anchorage of the port of De-Kastri. Special shallow draft pusher tugs will tow the barges up the Amur and Zeya Rivers to Svobodny for discharging at jetty and transfer the cargo to the last mile logistics service provider.

The cargo will be shipped in five phases from 2018 to 2022, taking advantage of the ice-free periods on the Amur and Zeya Rivers.

The four Amur River tugs, four Zeya River shallow draft tugs and seven barges were custom-built by the Damen Shipyards Group for this project. They are designed to cope with extremely low water levels, especially on the Zeya River. All of the tugs and barges sail under the Russian flag, and are classed by Russian River Register (RRR) respectively the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RMRS).

Gazprom, The Linde Group, Gazprom Pererabotka Blagoveshchensk and NIPIGAS will use the delivered components for the Gazprom Amur GPP Project – one of the largest natural gas processing plants in the world, with a capacity of up to 42 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year. The plant is part of Gazprom’s project to supply Russian gas from eastern Siberian gas fields to China using the “Power of Siberia” pipeline. This will be built in five phases and completed by 2024.

About Combi Lift: Over the last 18 years, Combi Lift’s experienced mariners and engineers have become experts in the worldwide transport of heavy lift and project cargoes. From the outset, Combi Lift has focussed on developing smart and efficient engineering solutions for complex logistics tasks. The Harren & Partner Group affiliate provides clients with customised solutions that suit individual demands and expectations, developed in close cooperation with expert teams.

For more information about Combi Lift, go to www.combi-lift.net

For more information about Harren & Partner, go to www.harren-partner.de

Filed Under: Harren & Partner

Thanks to its new TMS, GEODIS strengthens the efficiency of its French Distribution Network

September 20, 2018 by

A major change for GEODIS’ Distribution & Express line of business, the parcel delivery leader in France, which just deployed a new Transport Management System (TMS) in the 110 agencies comprising its network. Called TEOS, this new tool was developed on the basis of Alertran, the software created by the Spanish software publisher Alerce, which specializes in the transport and logistics sector.

This new transport management software, provides real-time tracking of all parcel delivery flows for GEODIS in France. Indeed, more than 370,000 parcels are processed daily via GEODIS hubs and then delivered to the final destination. Thanks to its web ergonomics and ease of use this new TMS simplifies the work of operational teams ensuring the smooth running of transport plans and shipment tracking.

“This TMS is a centralized tool that is on the cutting-edge of technology; it’s evolutionary, flexible and customized to support our clients’ growth. It is a valuable asset for the future, as it offers our clients impeccable service quality with increased proactivity in the management of shipments,” says Olivier Mélot, Managing Director of GEODIS’ Distribution & Express line of business.

Carried out in partnership with Spanish software publisher Alerce, the deployment took place over a period of several months. Alerce relied on its Alertran software, which manages production and invoicing operations, as well as on the Senda module for route optimization. More than one hundred people were involved in the various phases of the project: tool design, data collection, execution and user training.

“We are proud to have participated in a strategic project for both our companies and to continue supporting GEODIS. The introduction of this tool is a genuine success that gives us confidence and strengthens our growth in Europe through our subsidiary, Alerce France,” says Pablo Pardo, CEO of the Alerce Group.

ENDS

GEODIS – www.geodis.com

GEODIS is a global leader in transport and logistics, operating directly in 67 countries and serving 120 of them through its global network of partners.  In 2017, GEODIS had more than 40,500 employees and generated €8.1 billion in sales. In 2018, the Group was recognized as a Leader by Gartner in its “3PL Magic Quadrant.”

Alerce – www.alerce-group.com/

Founded in 1989, Alerce specializes in the transport and logistics sector. It brings its expertise to 150 clients in eleven countries around the world. In 2017, Alerce was named an innovative SME by the European Union.

 

Filed Under: GEODIS

“K” Line Continues to be Selected as an Index Component of the Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index

September 18, 2018 by

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) has been selected again as an Asia Pacific Index component of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI), one of the leading global indices on Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) (*). It has been “K” Line’s good fortune to have been selected for 8 consecutive years since 2011.

DJSI is the world’s leading SRI Index jointly operated by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC of the United States and Robeco SAM AG of Switzerland, which only includes the top-ranked companies among all large worldwide companies as a result of its evaluation of their sustainability performance in terms of social, environmental and economic criteria. Launched in 1999, DSJI is one of the first global sustainability benchmarks for investors which integrate sustainability consideration into their portfolios.

We have raised ESG as one of the important initiatives in our medium-term management plan. We will continue striving to fulfill our social responsibility through ESG initiatives and contribute to sustainable progress of the society.

* SRI (Socially Responsible Investment) describes an investment strategy which takes account of enterprises’ social, ethical and environmental aspects as well as financial performance.

Filed Under: "K" Line

As a new training year starts, the Dachser workforce passes 30,000

September 13, 2018 by

180913 New training year beginsKempten, September 13, 2018. As of the first of September, logistics provider Dachser has more employees than at any other point in its history: some 30,500 people around the world are employed by the family company based in Kempten in Allgäu, Germany; that same country is home to 16,246 of those employees. In addition, this year 732 young people have chosen to train or study with Dachser in Germany—the largest number ever.

As the economy continues to boom, its effects are being felt on the labour market, too: logistics provider Dachser currently has its largest workforce since the company was founded. It employed 29,098 people at the end of 2017; now, just six months later, that figure has risen by some 5 percent. “People are and will continue to be our most important resource,” says CEO Bernhard Simon. “After all, it is our employees who pave the way toward a connected, globalized economy, who organize storage and delivery processes that span the globe, and who are the face to our customers.”

The family company is again earning top marks for its training program as well. A total of 732 young people from all across Germany have decided to start their careers with Dachser—5 percent more than in the previous year. In total, Dachser trains 1,757 apprentices and students nationwide; outside Germany, 41 prospective logistics specialists are currently undergoing a training programme to become “Dachser forwarding and logistics specialists”. The most popular options for trainees are freight forwarding and logistics agent, warehouse clerk, and professional truck driver. Development in the number of people that the company is training as professional drivers with the help of Dachser Service und Ausbildungs GmbH is especially gratifying: in summer 2018, 23 drivers successfully finished the program, and another 106 people in Germany started that same program. Dachser now plans to expand its successful training concept to Austria. In fact, eleven people have started training as professional truck drivers at Dachser Austria—an increase from last year, when only three people throughout the whole country signed up for the training.

“As Germany’s third-largest industry, logistics offers a broad range of challenging careers that promise a bright future,” says Vera Weidemann, Head of Corporate Human Resources at Dachser. “In our industry, qualified staff is the limiting factor for growth. That’s why we need well-trained and motivated employees, now more than ever.” Demanding yet effective training is part of the corporate culture at family-owned Dachser: its training rate is about 10 percent. And in the spirit of corporate responsibility, the company hires trainees who successfully complete their programme. 

Filed Under: Dachser UK

“K” Line to Provide Relief for Victims of the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake

September 12, 2018 by

September 10, 2018

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.

  

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. announced that it will provide a monetary donation in the amount of 5 million yen toward relief efforts from the earthquake damage in Hokkaido Eastern Iburi.

We would like to express our deepest sympathy to those in the disaster areas and sincerely wish for the earliest recovery from this most unfortunate event.

 

 

Filed Under: "K" Line

TT Club Emphasises Need for Cargo Integrity Ahead of IMO Meeting on Container Safety

September 12, 2018 by

London, 10 September, 2018

The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) latest meeting of the Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) takes place in London this week and the international freight insurance specialist, TT Club is calling for more urgent action on issues pertaining to the safety of container transport.

For some time now the insurer has been drawing both industry and regulators’ attention to the need for greater ‘Cargo Integrity’, by which is meant the safe, secure and environmentally sound packing, handling and transport of all goods in containers and other transport units, in compliance with conventions (such as SOLAS[1]) and codes, including IMDG Code[2] and the CTU Code[3]. 

TT Club’s Risk Management Director, Peregrine Storrs-Fox comments, “Achieving such Cargo Integrity across the complex web of the international freight supply chain is a big ask and we are in little doubt that a comprehensive result will take time to achieve.  However many industry bodies are making significant strides, particularly in the areas of dangerous goods identification, declaration and handling as well as container weighing and packing.  We are calling on the regulators, in this case the IMO, to assist in taking action to identify appropriate legislative and behavioural change that will improve safety and certainty of outcome.”

A primary concern is the problem of mis-declared dangerous goods, with some sources suggesting that container fires occur on a weekly basis and that a major container cargo fire engulfs a ship at sea on average once every 60 days.  Such incidents are costing seafarer lives, result in loss and damage to goods and ships running into hundreds of millions of dollars, impact the environment and are significantly disrupting supply chains serving markets throughout the world.

TT Club has analysed data pertaining to such losses and contributed the aggregated experiences of those it insures, carriers, forwarders, ports, terminals and cargo owners, to help inform the cargo handling trade association, ICHCA, which benefits from consultative status at IMO, in its submissions to CCC sitting this week.

There are both general and specific issues addressed in these submissions, which are intended to urge the committee members to propose positive action.  Storrs-Fox emphasises just two of the more urgent initiatives required, “Reports by IMO member states of container inspections are woefully few; just seven countries submitting reports this year.  Furthermore, TT Club and ICHCA have submitted details of the Top 10 commodities that may lead or have led to incidents – not all of which are classified as dangerous goods.  Understanding in detail the parameters in force for the various stakeholders involved with such cargoes should inform how advances in safety can be achieved.”

In addition, there is a need for increased regulatory coordination and harmonisation.  The TT Club/ICHCA submission recognises the need for greater collaboration by all stakeholders in industry and government to engender consistency in the guidelines that all may follow and promote greater safety in transporting cargoes around the world.  “As a step towards the goal of true Cargo Integrity, we are calling on the IMO to initiate a correspondence group to advise on the best means of achieving such unified guidelines,” concludes Storrs-Fox.

For full details of the TT Club/ICHCA Submission to IMO please click here ICHCA CCC5    Further information on current regulations and codes of practice, please refer to TT Club’s latest newsletter, TT Talk www.ttclub.com/loss-prevention/tt-talk

[1] International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974 as amended

[2] International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code

[3] 2014 IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units

About TT Club

TT Club is the international transport and logistics industry’s leading provider of insurance and related risk management services. Established in 1968, the Club’s membership comprises ship operators, ports and terminals, road, rail and airfreight operators, logistics companies and container lessors. As a mutual insurer, the Club exists to provide its policyholders with benefits, which include specialist underwriting expertise, a world-wide office network providing claims management services, and first class risk management and loss prevention advice.

TT Club is managed by Thomas Miller.

www.ttclub.com

 

Filed Under: TT Club

Evergreen Group Celebrates 50th Anniversary

September 12, 2018 by

“Full Steam Ahead” into the future180901 Evergreen Group Celebrates 50th Anniversary (Image 1)

Taipei, Taiwan (01 September, 2018) – Evergreen Group celebrates its 50th Anniversary today at the Chang Yung-Fa Foundation, home of the charity set-up by Evergreen Group Founder and Chairman Dr. Y.F. Chang. In addition to senior executives and employees of the Group’s businesses, the event was also attended by public officials, customers and business agents from both the shipping and airline industries as well as representatives of supply chain partners from more than fifty countries. The celebration commenced with a performance by the choir of the Yihsing branch of Jiahsing Elementary School from Hsinchu County. The choir was a gold medal winner at the 31st Franz Schubert Choir Competition in Vienna this June and their sublime singing reflected Evergreen’s passion and enthusiasm to connect the world and enrich people’s lives.

Evergreen’s gratitude for its past success and expectations for a more prosperous future are fully demonstrated within the design of the event banner. The green waves cross the 50th anniversary insignia and the rhythmic lines show the magnificent energy of the ocean, symbolizing Evergreen’s continuous breakthroughs and innovative achievements through its development. The compass represents the corporate philosophy of Evergreen Group Founder Dr. Chang, guiding the group’s employees to adhere to the company’s values and to conquer obstacles along the way, sailing full steam ahead into the future. The pulsating dots, meanwhile signify the vitality of each business entity under Evergreen’s banner.

Mr. K.H. Chang of Evergreen International Corp. delivered the welcome address. He thanked business partners and all employees for working hand in hand with Evergreen Group for the past 50 years and expressed his gratitude to the general public for the support and encouragement, which helped Evergreen to achieve the scale of its business today.  He encouraged all Evergreen staff to remain true to Dr. Chang’s values, keep pace with the times, and work together toward achieving the next milestone – a centennial anniversary. He also looked forward to getting together with all the guests once again to celebrate Evergreen’s 60th birthday in ten years’ time.

Taiwanese Minister of Transportation and Communications, Mr. Wu Hong-Mo, noted in his remarks that Evergreen Group builds a comprehensive shipping network and international flight routes, providing quality transportation service to facilitate world trade and serve the general public. In addition to its core businesses, Evergreen Group is also devoted to charitable activities and giving back to society.  He wishes Evergreen Group a prosperous development and long-lasting future.  

Evergreen Group evolved from its operation in marine transportation. Evergreen Group Founder and Chairman Dr. Y.F. Chang, established Evergreen Marine Corporation on the 1st of September 1968. In the early years, the company encountered numerous hurdles, such as the fire that ravaged Ever Island, a lack of lending support from financial institutions and competitive monopoly of freight conferences. All these obstacles were overcome under Dr. Chang’s leadership and with the ‘Evergreen Spirit’ embodied in all his employees. 

In 1972, Evergreen launched Taiwan’s first Far East-Middle East liner service, helping local shippers transport their cargoes to the fast-developing Middle East region. In 1979, it opened the Far East to Europe full container service as an independent carrier, breaking the monopoly of the Far Eastern Freight Conference. In 1984, Evergreen launched the unprecedented two-way, round-the-world container services. This turned a new page in the history of the global marine transportation, establishing Evergreen as the world’s largest container shipping line in 1985. Today, Evergreen remains one of the leading brands in the global shipping industry.

After building a solid foundation in shipping industry, Dr. Chang sought to expand Evergreen’s transportation service into the airline industry. On the 20th anniversary of Evergreen Marine, he announced his plan to invest and build the first privately owned airline in Taiwan, EVA Air. Dr. Chang once said, “Although it will not be possible for EVA Air to grow to be the biggest airline in the world due to the restrictions of air traffic rights, EVA has to be the safest and best airline in the world, following the example of Evergreen Marine in the shipping industry.”

Dr. Chang made huge investments in the establishments of EVA Air, including training centres, maintenance facilities and software systems, to make sure that its flight safety and service quality met the most stringent standards.  In spite of numerous difficulties, including adverse smearing campaigns, the fledgling airline successfully took to the sky in 1991.  In just a few years, EVA expanded route network to many cities across Asia, Europe, North America and Australia. The pace of EVA’s service expansion had been rarely seen among newly-established airlines at that time.

The airline owed much of its successful growth to Evergreen Group’s experience in marine transportation. At an early stage of EVA’s development, Evergreen Marine transferred many of its skilled employees to provide the professional talents needed to build the airline.  EVA was able to obtain many of its air traffic rights thanks to Evergreen Marine’s business relations and economic contribution to the relevant countries.  In the succeeding years, EVA has always been at the forefront of international airlines and has won much prestigious recognition for flight safety and service quality.  

In addition to marine and air transportation, Evergreen Group has developed into a global conglomerate across sea, land and air, expanding its business scope into aviation technologies, international hotel chains and steel production. Within each and every one of Evergreen Group’s business entities, the astute management of their executive team keeps their business moving forward.  The dedication remains to continue efforts to provide better service for customers and the community at large.  Looking to the future, Evergreen Group will continue to embrace Dr. Chang’s corporate philosophy of generating profit, caring for employees and giving back to society as it heads into the next 50 years.

Filed Under: Evergreen Line