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.

Enhancement of Container Terminal in Tacoma

April 12, 2016

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.

International Transportation Service, Inc. (ITS), a subsidiary of “K” Line, has been operating container terminals in Ports of Long Beach, CA, and Tacoma, WA and providing high quality services to customers through major shipping lines, including “K” Line, which call at its terminals along the U.S. West Coast.

Having established its container terminal in Tacoma named HUSKY Terminal in 1983, ITS recently reached an agreement in principle with Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) covering major terms with respect to future rebuilding and reconfiguration of HUSKY Terminal. According to this agreement, the expansion will be completed by July 2018. The extensive enhancement being planned will provide Husky Terminal with approximately 420,000 sqm (104 acres) of leased and preferential berthing area in this major gate port in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. NWSA has additionally agreed with ITS to place an order for four of the largest and most modern gantry cranes to be installed at the new and innovative HUSKY Terminal. Through this ambitious future expansion, the newly-designed HUSKY Terminal will be upgraded to a container terminal capable of simultaneously accommodating two 18,000 TEU mega-containership vessels.

ITS, as one of the major container terminal operators along the U.S. West Coast, will continue in its dedicated commitment of providing high level and top quality services to shipping lines, including “K” Line, and their customers in anticipation of continued growth of future market demand.

Outline of HUSKY Terminal in Tacoma

New Current
Area 420,000 sqm (104 acres) 376,000 sqm (93 acres)
Draft 16 m (52.5 ft) 16 m (52.5 ft)
Quay Length 902 m (2,960 ft) 823 m (2,700 ft)
Gantry Cranes 16-18 rows × 4

24 rows × 4

16-18 rows × 4

 

For further information, please contact:

Naoyasu Nakajima, Manager of Overseas Terminal Business Team

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.

TEL:+81 3-3595-5748/FAX:+81 3-3595-5288

TT Club Alerts Baltic Transport Professionals to the New Demands of the SOLAS Convention

With the effective date of 1st July getting ever closer, the need for all involved in the international transport of containers to be prepared for the revised SOLAS Convention regulations on container weighing has recently been once more emphasised by freight transport insurance specialist TT Club.

6th April, 2016

As a responsible insurer, specialising in liability cover for the container handling and transport sector, TT Club has been leading, advising and consulting on the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) work to amend the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) for the past six years. TT Club participated actively in the comprehensive IMO regulatory procedure to draft the revised regulation and accompanying guidelines that require verified gross mass (VGM) for every packed container before it can be loaded on board a ship*. Aimed at improving safety by ensuring accurate weight information is available, TT Club has been strongly promoting awareness of VGM throughout the period and particularly since adoption of the regulation by IMO in November 2014.

Last month the Baltic region was targeted, with TT Club’s Andrew Huxley speaking at two industry Conferences on the implementation of the SOLAS amendment. During Transport Week in Gdansk earlier in the month, and at a seminar on the issue, specially organised by the Port Authority of Riga, Huxley drew attention to not only to the challenges in the implementation of the regulation but also the advantages.

“We have seen a great deal of debate, which continues apace, about the most efficient way in which shippers can comply, how forwarders, lines, ports and terminals can assist in the weighing process and in streamlining the documentation trail. Many interests have pointed out pitfalls and potential bottlenecks in the transport chain. But more positive voices see opportunities to improve clarity about container contents among stakeholders and improved safety both on land and at sea.”

Above all ignorance of the demands of the regulation should not be an excuse for non-compliance or delay in the mandatory implementation of the regulation. While many individual ports and terminal operator groups have already announced port-based solutions, TT Club continues to advocate that accurate weighing should, for safety throughout the supply chain, be completed before the container leaves the packing facility.

A number of industry associations representing shippers, forwarders and shipping lines have produced guidelines for their members. TT Club, in partnership with World Shipping Council, ICHCA and the Global Shippers Forum have published the ‘VGM – Industry FAQs’, available in PDF format here http://bit.ly/1qnVahK, and continues to work with stakeholders in the industry and governments to clarify the benefits of the revised regulation and how compliance can be achieved.

“But clearly,” concluded Huxley, “VGM Awareness remains an unfulfilled mission that demands our further, wholehearted attention.”

*Outline details of Amendment to SOLAS Chapter VI Part A Regulation 2

  • Gross Mass = contents (cargo/dunnage/securing) + tare
  • Verified gross mass (VGM) obtained by: (a) either weighing the packed container (‘Method 1’) (b)  or weighing all constituent parts (‘Method 2’)
  • VGM to be stated on a signed shipping document
  • Sent to carrier & terminal for use in stowage planning
  • If not, the container shall not be loaded on to a ship

ENDS

About TT Club

The TT Club is the international transport and logistics industry’s leading provider of insurance and related risk management services.  As a mutual insurer, the TT 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.

Customers include some of the world’s largest shipping lines, busiest ports, biggest freight forwarders and cargo handling terminals, to companies operating on a smaller scale but whose operations face similar risks. TT Club specialises in the insurance of Intermodal Operators, NVOCs, Freight Forwarders, Logistics Operators, Marine Terminals, Stevedores, Port Authorities and Ship Operators. The TT Club is managed by Thomas Miller. www.ttclub.com

Thomas Miller is an independent and international provider of insurance, professional and investment services. Founded in 1885, Thomas Miller’s origins are in the provision of management services to mutual organisations, particularly in the international transport and professional indemnity sectors; where today they manage a large percentage of the foremost insurance mutuals. Thomas Miller also manages insurance facilities for all the self-employed barristers in England & Wales, as well as trustees of pension schemes, patent agents and housing associations.

Principal activities include: Management services for transport and professional indemnity insurance mutuals

  • Investment management for institutions and private clients
  • Professional services
  • Building defects insurance

www.thomasmiller.com

 

GEODIS’ Brazil to Exhibit at Intermodal South America

GEODIS Brazil will be exhibiting at this year’s Intermodal South America at the Transamerica Expo Center, Sao Paulo, Brazil, from Tuesday, 5th until Thursday, 7th April 2016.

“GEODIS remains committed to Latin America, despite the recent economic trends and worsening situation in Brazil” said Chris Cahill, Managing Director Geodis Brazil. “GEODIS has successfully grown its business throughout this period by providing extremely high service quality with market competitive pricing.”

GEODIS has over 30 years of operational expertise in Brazil; with its headquarters in San Paulo and a further seven offices in other cities across the country, it offers its customers a full range of services in logistics, storage, customs clearance, freight forwarding, reverse logistics and industrial projects.

Recently GEODIS Brazil invested in a new 40,000m2 logistics distribution facility at Jundiai, near Sao Paulo, which is now processing on behalf of its clients more than 15,000 orders per day. The general warehousing facility has expanded the scope for new business and this means that GEODIS Brazil can now offer warehouse and distribution services to clients without them having to establish their own branches at the warehouse. In 2016, GEODIS plans to further invest in its infrastructure in Brazil to continue to expand our coverage and quality services for existing and potential clients.

Despite the challenging market context in Brazil, the entire region remains one of the fastest growing areas for logistics, cargo transportation and foreign trade. More than 48,000 qualified professionals will visit Intermodal South America during its three days duration. More than 600 companies representing 26 countries will be exhibiting at this major international trade fair thereby making this a significant event for networking with key players in the industry.

ENDS

For more information on the Conference go to – http://www.intermodal.com.br

The GEODIS team can be found at Booth: B215

About GEODIS

Supply chain operator and subsidiary of SNCF Logistics, GEODIS is a global European company, ranking fourth in its field in Europe. Through its ability to overcome logistical constraints and coordinate the different steps of the logistic chain (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding (air and sea), Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, Road Transport), the Group is the growth partner for its clients and offers them tailored solutions. With over 39,000 employees in 67 countries, the Group constantly innovates to improve the performance of its clients. The Freight Forwarding business of GEODIS delivers tailor-made, integrated logistics solutions supported by a specialized Industrial Projects division, managing oversized cargo operations worldwide. This division has achieved international recognition for its innovative and sustainable approach to transportation solutions.

For more information about GEODIS go to – www.geodis.com

GEODIS exhibits at Automotive Logistics in Bonn

Hamburg, 14 March 2016 

GEODIS will be a silver sponsor at this year’s Automotive Logistics Conference in Bonn, Germany, which takes place at the Kameha Grand Hotel from 15 – 17 March 2016.  Mark Ellis, the Vertical Market Director for Automotive at GEODIS will be addressing the conference and will be joined by several representatives of GEODIS’ Freight Forwarding activity.  

Automotive Logistics Europe is part of the worldwide Automotive Logistics series and will be host to some 300 senior executive participants from the industry. Focusing on “Success through technology and talent in the supply chain”, the conference looks at the pace of technology adoption in automotive supply chain management.

Speaking prior to this key event, Mark Ellis said, “ With its expanding distribution networks, complex supply chains and intense competition, the Automotive sector is one of the most challenging in today’s global economy.  GEODIS‘ commitment to the industry is to help drive the automotive business forward with an innovative approach to analyze supply chains and understand logistics needs for our customers.”

Addressing the conference on the topic “The internet of Everything”, Mark will speak during Session 4 on Wednesday, 16th March from 16.00 to 17.30.

For more information on the Conference Programme, please click here

ENDS

About GEODIS

Supply chain operator and subsidiary of SNCF Logistics, GEODIS is a global European company, ranking fourth in its field in Europe. Through its ability to overcome logistical constraints and coordinate the different steps of the logistic chain (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding (air and sea), Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, Road Transport), the Group is the growth partner for its clients and offers them tailored solutions. With over 39,000 employees in 67 countries, the Group constantly innovates to improve the performance of its clients. The Freight Forwarding business of GEODIS delivers tailor-made, integrated logistics solutions supported by a specialized Industrial Projects division, managing oversized cargo operations worldwide. This division has achieved international recognition for its innovative and sustainable approach to transportation solutions.

For more information about GEODIS go to – www.geodis.com

GEODIS’ Marine Logistics Team to Exhibit at Seatrade Cruise Global at Fort Lauderdale

GEODIS will be exhibiting at Seatrade Cruise Global at Broward County Convention Centre, Fort Lauderdale, Florida from today, Monday, 14th until Thursday 17th March 2016.

GEODIS operates one of the world’s largest freight forwarding networks, servicing its customers with integrated supply chain solutions that deliver cargo by sea and air. In the marine industry, unexpected situations and shortages must be dealt with seamlessly; The Freight Forwarding network of GEODIS provides solutions for this challenge and is geared to reduce costs for its clients by optimizing their supply chain – this is what the company will showcase during the exhibition in Fort Lauderdale.

“Our 20+ years of expertise in this industry have created an environment of continuous product development.” commented Mark Hedin, Marine Logistics Account Manager in the US. “Our dedicated teams, that are strategically located across the world, support your supply chain with our intelligent online tool. This provides order visibility for your logistics and purchasing departments.”  Mark will be attending this event together with other senior executives, showcasing Geodis’ capabilities in this segment.

Seatrade Cruise Global (formerly Cruise Shipping Miami) is the Cruise Industry’s premier global event, serving the cruise industry by bringing together buyers and suppliers for a week of networking, sourcing, and education.  After 27 years in Miami, the 2016 show is being held in Fort Lauderdale, and will feature a revamped sectored show floor, allowing visitors a more targeted approach to expand their network.

For more information on the Conference go to – http://seatradecruiseglobal.com

The GEODIS team can be found at Booth: 1236

About GEODIS

Supply chain operator and subsidiary of SNCF Logistics, GEODIS is a global European company, ranking fourth in its field in Europe. Through its ability to overcome logistical constraints and coordinate the different steps of the logistic chain (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding (air and sea), Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, Road Transport), the Group is the growth partner for its clients and offers them tailored solutions. With over 39,000 employees in 67 countries, the Group constantly innovates to improve the performance of its clients. The Freight Forwarding business of GEODIS delivers tailor-made, integrated logistics solutions supported by a specialized Industrial Projects division, managing oversized cargo operations worldwide. This division has achieved international recognition for its innovative and sustainable approach to transportation solutions.

For more information about GEODIS go to – www.geodis.com

 

“K” Line Enhances West India Services (INDFEX-1/CIX-2)

KAWASAKI KISEN KAISHA, LTD. (“K” Line) is pleased to announce the upgrade of its West India Services with additional calls at Pipavav port (INDFEX-1) and Mundra port (CIX-2).

“K” Line continue to offer stable and value-added services with varied network.

Details of the service are as follows:-

INDFEX-1

  • Vessel Deployment:  Six (6) x 4200 TEU type vessel
  • Port Rotation:  Shanghai – Ningbo – Hong Kong – Singapore – Port Kelang(North) – Nhava Sheva(JNPT) – Pipavav – Colombo – Port Kelang (North)  – Singapore – Shanghai
  • Commencement Date: 19th February 2016 ETA Shanghai

CIX-2

  • Vessel Deployment:  Six (6) x 5600 TEU type vessel
  • Port Rotation: Tianjin Xingang – Qingdao – Singapore – Port Kelang(West) – Nhava Sheva (JNPT) – Mundra – Colombo – Port Kelang (West) – Tanjung Pelepas – Singapore – Tianjin Xingang
  • Commencement Date: 13th March 2016 ETA Tanjin Xingang

Isis Communications Rebrands as Portcare International

portcareLogo

The marketing and media communications consultancy specialising in the maritime, freight transport and logistics sectors has rebranded as Portcare International. The change is being made to focus attention on the company’s service offerings and to avoid unintentionally extending visibility of a terrorist organisation.

1st March 2016

As of today Portcare International will serve as both the trading name, or brand and the official registered company name of the marketing and media communications consultancy that has been serving the global maritime and freight transport industry for nearly twenty years.

Over this time the company has built a strong reputation for providing relevant and well-crafted communication services to a range of clients that include blue-chip organisations in container shipping, maritime insurance, port and terminal operations, logistics, freight transport and supply chain management.

It is unfortunate that in recent years the Isis brand has been increasingly used to describe a particularly destructive terrorist group, deflecting attention from the company’s professional abilities and tainting its image. However, Portcare is now confident that the consistency of its service levels and strong relationships with both media and clients will maintain its reputation in the industry.

Managing Director Peter Owen commented, “Over the past months we have resisted changing our name, feeling that we would be giving in to forces seeking to destabilise our society. However, more recently we have felt an increasing moral obligation to cease being an unwitting promulgator of a ‘brand’ with such evil connotations. We thank our clients for their support and sympathy in taking this necessary step and reassure our friends in the media that we strongly maintain a ‘business as usual’ attitude”.

Portcare International has been the official limited company designation since the organisation was established in 1997. It now becomes a brand representing honest and effective communication, intimate understanding of the industries served and of values that hold personal relationships with both clients and the media in the highest esteem.

ENDS

About Portcare International:

Portcare International is a leading media and marketing communications specialist in the maritime, international freight transport and logistics sectors. Formed by transport people for transport people, we can truly claim to understand our clients’ needs and ‘talk the same language’. We provide effective, value for money consultancy in reputation management and brand promotion through communication with all stake-holders; investors, employees, customers and community partners. Formed in 1997, Portcare is an enthusiastic and expanding enterprise, which capitalises on the extensive media knowledge and first-hand industry experience of its management team. We deliver tailored communication programmes to a broad range of clients across the freight transport spectrum and have long standing relationships with many blue-chip clients, who appreciate a high quality, personal service.

Contact Details

Peter Owen , Director, Portcare International

T:            +44 1737 248300

E:            info@portcare.com

W:          www.portcare.com

Dachser is growing the business with industry-specific solutions

New Corporate Unit is also bundling the logistics provider’s research and development activities

Stefan-Hohm, Corporate Solutions, Research & Development

Stefan Hohm, Corporate Solutions, Research & Development

Kempten, February 25, 2016. Dachser has created a new central organizational unit, Corporate Solutions, Research & Development, in order to advance its business with global, industry-specific logistics solutions and bundle its research and development activities. Stefan Hohm, an experienced Dachser manager, will head up this new Corporate Unit. He has led the Logistics Center in Hof for the past seven years.

The 43-year-old Hohm and his team will implement worldwide supply chains for customers from focus industries. The new Corporate Unit will also bundle Dachser’s research and development activities and will be working closely with the Corporate Unit Corporate Development & Strategy, as well as with Corporate IT. Hohm will report directly to CEO Bernhard Simon.

Responsibilities of the new unit also include new and continuing development of value-added services, which complement (upstream or downstream) transport and warehousing in the standardized Dachser groupage network. This includes dedicated services for special customers, industry-specific value-added services, and premium services associated with deliveries to end customers.

Well-established on the market

Dachser has already established two industry-specific solutions in Europe: Dachser DIY Logistics and Dachser Chem-Logistics, which handle six million shipments annually. Ralf Meistes (DIY Logistics) and Michael Kriegel (Chem-Logistics) will continue to head these two departments, which, however, will be assigned to Corporate Solutions, Research & Development. Dachser is combining a great deal of industry expertise in this unit at the global level as well. For example, Dachser Air & Sea Logistics handles shipments for customers from the automotive, fashion, sports, pharmaceutical, and life sciences industries.

“We strive to understand the complex logistics requirements of different industries down to the last detail, develop custom-tailored solutions, and implement them worldwide by way of our effective and efficient standardized networks,” says Hohm, Corporate Director, Corporate Solutions, Research & Development.

In his 23 years at Dachser, Hohm has proven himself in several management positions, most recently as General Manager of the Logistics Center in Hof, where his responsibilities included integrated contract logistics solutions in the European Logistics and Food Logistics business lines.

About Dachser:

Dachser, a family-owned company headquartered in Kempten, Germany, is one of the leading logistics providers. Dachser provides comprehensive transport logistics, warehousing, and customer-specific services in three business fields: Dachser Air & Sea Logistics and Dachser Road Logistics. The latter is divided into two business lines, Dachser European Logistics and Dachser Food Logistics. Comprehensive contract logistics services and industry-specific solutions round out the company’s offerings. A seamless shipping network—both in Europe and overseas—and fully integrated IT systems provide for intelligent logistics solutions worldwide.

With a staff of around 25,000 employees at 437 locations all over the globe, Dachser generated revenue of EUR 5.3 billion in 2014. The logistics provider moved a total of 73.7 million shipments weighing 35.4 million tons. Dachser now has country organizations in 42 countries.

For more information about Dachser, please visit www.dachser.de

DACHSER again the top logistics brand

Winning awards in the categories “General load forwarding and groupage freight services” and “Food and consumer goods logistics,” DACHSER secures a double victory as the most successful logistics brand in the 2016 Image Ranking published by the „Verkehrsrundschau“ trade journal.

Geschäftszahlen

DACHSER again the top logistics brand

DACHSER remains popular with buyers of logistics services in Germany. In the “Image Ranking,” which the trade journal „Verkehrsrundschau“ puts out every two years, the DACHSER brand was awarded first place in two different categories. In the “General load forwarding and groupage freight services” category, buyers of logistics services gave DACHSER 738 out of 1,000 total possible image points, while in the “Food and consumer goods logistics” category, a score of 747 image points secured the company top place in the ranking. “We’re happy we were able to defend both Image Awards again,” says Bernhard Simon, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DACHSER. “The award shows that our commitment to quality, expertise, and service is seen in a positive light. At the same time, it motivates us to stay on track.”

Ninety-six percent of surveyed logistics decision-makers from the world of industry and commerce stated that a service provider’s reputation plays a significant role when it comes to awarding transport and logistics contracts. They also said that a logistics provider’s image is mainly determined by three factors: price-to-performance ratio, service quality, and customer service. Almost as important to buyers of logistics services these days is the issue of compliance—whether or not the hired service provider meets all government and company standards and provisions.

„Verkehrsrundschau“ commissioned the market research firm Kleffmann (based in Lüdinghausen, Germany) to survey 400 logistics decision-makers from German companies in the world of industry and commerce (buyers of logistics services) regarding the image and name recognition of the 79 most important brands in five logistics market sectors. The resulting study, titled “Image Ranking for Transport and Logistics Services in 2016,” also rated the image of small and medium-sized freight forwarders operating regionally within the individual submarkets, as well as the reputation of the fifteen most important European logistics regions.

TT Club Presents European Logistics Award at BIFA Ceremony

BIFA Awards

The PSL Group receiving their award from Brian Sullivan (l-r) Sally Boazman, BBC Radio 2 Travel Reporter; Richard Gibbs, PSL Freight; Kevin Johnson, PSL Freight; Mark Ford, PSL Freight; Michael Douglas, PSL Freight; Brian Sullivan, TT Club. Photo credit: Photographer Philippa Gedge

London – 4th February 2016:  At the British International Freight Association (BIFA) Annual Awards Lunch in London last month, the global freight insurance specialist, TT Club presented the European Logistics Award to UK-based, independent freight forwarder The PSL Group.

The Award attracted a wide-range of entries, which the panel of judges praised for their innovation and technical prowess. This year’s winner, The PSL Group is a multi-service global forwarder with strategically located offices throughout the UK. It provides a range of supply chain management and forwarding services to a variety of industry verticals including fashion, healthcare and publishing.

Brian Sullivan, TT Club’s Development Director, in presenting the Award said, “TT Club is once more delighted to sponsor this Award and appreciates the role BIFA plays in encouraging best practice in the international freight and logistics industry. The judges were particularly impressed by the investment PSL made both in their staff and in quality systems to deliver a new rapid response offering”. The result is that PSL customers benefit from much faster turnaround times and the company has been able to generate new routes and new customers.

As in recent years, TT Club and BIFA have found from the excellent entries for the Award that innovative technology is very important in advancing customer service, but what ultimately makes the difference is the investment that an organisation makes in its staff. IT solutions are employed in a tailored fashion to improve efficiency but, critically, the human touch has not been abandoned. In fact, an emphasis on stable personal relationships and effective customer service has proved crucial to success.

“Perhaps the ‘human touch’ can become a modern day panacea for the operator searching for that elusive competitive edge,” concludes Sullivan.

TT Club is certainly seeing more extensive services being provided by its customers.  Many companies that in the past offered traditional freight forwarding now take on a much higher degree of supply chain risk and become exposed to greater liability by providing increasingly complex and sophisticated services. The trend is, however, seen as positive.  The increased complexity of service offerings and the ingenuity of operators in designing alternative supply chain solutions strongly demonstrate the logisticians’ value and provide opportunities for new entrants as much as established logistics companies.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

The TT Club is the international transport and logistics industry’s leading provider of insurance and related risk management services.  As a mutual insurer, the TT 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.

Customers include some of the world’s largest shipping lines, busiest ports, biggest freight forwarders and cargo handling terminals, to companies operating on a smaller scale but whose operations face similar risks. TT Club specialises in the insurance of Intermodal Operators, NVOCs, Freight Forwarders, Logistics Operators, Marine Terminals, Stevedores, Port Authorities and Ship Operators.

The TT Club is managed by Thomas Miller.

www.ttclub.com

Thomas Miller is an independent and international provider of insurance, professional and investment services. Founded in 1885, Thomas Miller’s origins are in the provision of management services to mutual organisations, particularly in the international transport and professional indemnity sectors; where today they manage a large percentage of the foremost insurance mutuals. Thomas Miller also manages insurance facilities for all the self-employed barristers in England & Wales, as well as trustees of pension schemes, patent agents and housing associations.

Principal activities include:

  • Management services for transport and professional indemnity insurance mutuals
  • Investment management for institutions and private clients
  • Professional services
  • Building defects insurance

www.thomasmiller.com