Cargo To Africa

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  • Elbe River Stuck Container Ship Rescued

    The two previous attempts had failed to free the container ship which had run aground

    What happened?

    A container ship had run aground in the Elbe River near Hamburg almost a week ago. The authorities made two attempts previously which had been unfruitful and failed miserably. It is expected to continue its voyage after the rescue.

    Many container and cargo ships run aground every now-and-then while they sail to deliver sea cargo to Africa, United State, China, United Kingdom and other countries of the world.

    When the rescue efforts began?

    At 2 a.m. local time (o1:00 UTC/GMT), the rescue efforts began and after 20 minutes of extensive efforts the cargo ship CSCL Indian Ocean was freed up. This ship had run aground almost a week ago in the Elbe River about 22 miles northwest of Hamburg. During the rescue attempts the affected section of the Elbe River was closed off to traffic. This operation was facilitated by the south-westerly winds in the North Sea and high tides on a new moon, then there were 12 tugboats that finally released the container ship.

     

    The ship is towed back into the shipping channel and five tugboats pulled it safely to the Hamburg at about 5:30 a.m. local time.

    Is the ship healthy enough to continue its voyage?

    The accident had been caused by a defect in the steering system, said the rescue team from the “Havariekommando Cuxhaven”. They said after initial check-ups that the steering system was in working order again and they have not found any evidence of any lasting damage. The authorities said that it will take a week for further check-ups and after that the cargo ship may leave Hamburg to continue its voyage on due course.

    What are the details of the vessel?

    CSCL Indian Ocean is one of the largest cargo ships in the world which was put in operation last year. It is 400 meters long and 59 meters wide and has the ability to carry the maximum number of containers is 19,100 teu. If you don’t know what teu is then in terms of measurement it is twenty-foot equivalent unit. There are only a few cargo vessels in the world that exceed 19,000 teu.

  • Good Customer Service Can Boost Your Cargo Business

    Customer Service in the Cargo Industry is the key which differentiates you from your competitors.

    The customer service in the has air cargo business vital importance and plays a key role in the growth of the business.  The customer service plays a crucial role in the process of freight forwarding from one destination to the other. The shipper has many  questions about the delivery from the time of packing of the cargo to the time of delivery at the exact destination. The only difference between the good cargo service is the way they treat their customers.The shipper can get exact information about the shipping, rates, location of the delivery and about the destination at any time from the customer service centre of the air cargo company. The best customer service will give you the best stand in the world of air cargo. The superior customer service will provide you more clients and the inferior your service will thrust business in the dark.

    The importance of the customer service

    From all the fields of the cargo the air cargo is very much different. There are many different factors that confused the customers’ experience and every single thing is noticed by the customers from your cargo business. It is important to make good the customer service, working efficiencies and all the major steps in the process of shipping the to increase level of demand for the success of your business.

    Customer service is a standout amongst the most vital elements of the marketing items and managements. The reliability of the customers depends upon your high level of services that your company is offering. Today’s customers fascination is not only for the items they are being offered, but they  are also interested in all other components of the service that they get from the cargo company.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

    Operational skills can boost your cargo business

    The global modernization is the  factor that has affected the cargo business. Technology and the up-to-date system is the most salient demand of the today’s customers. The shipper demands high-quality cooperation from the cargo company during the process of the shipping. From start to tail in the shipping process the shipper faced many complexities and to meet these freight shipping difficulties the shipper demands modern tools and quick response from the freight forwarding company.

    During  the streamline process of your operations, you need to be thinking about in what way your esteem customer can get operational excellence and what kind of modern tools you need to fulfil the customers expectations.  That’s all that will help your cargo business  for the growth in the future.

  • How You can Make Your International Logistics Business Successful

    In this connected world work together and best management is the key practice to make the logistics business successful.

    In this modern period of time, it’s nothing unexpected that many companies are moving their supplies to low price logistics providers. Nonetheless, a number of companies are finding that higher than predicted transportation expenses finish out the exceeding advantages.

    According to a research by Aberdeen Group the worldwide deliveries, price twofold as much, take five times as long and have five times more changeability than national shipments. So the question is how can companies can overcome the difference gap by the use of global logistics? Here are a few useful tips about how companies can make their logistics business successful.

    An effective collaborating  team is the key to develop the logistics business

    The companies with successful performance realize and influence the capabilities of their collaborators to act as one resilient team.

    The use of information technology in the collaboration is the most positive part of the global logistics. Cooperation and team work is fruitful for the logistics business development. To make the logistics business more healthy and strong it is important to join hands with an effective team. Pick a partner that can figure out your vision and mission and give reverence  to your goals and needs.

    A strategic team management is a key to business growth

    A solid strategy is necessary for the development of the international logistics business. A strategic work and team management are the key practice to achieve the success in the world of logistics.

    Having a sensible and strategic system is a key best practice to accomplish the objective of logistics business growth. This helps you to drive continuous improvements in your business and gives you a direction for new initiatives. It is crucial to express your ideas  to your partners.

    Up-to-date system and the use of technology

    In this robotic world the use of technology is crucial for the growth of the any business. In this world of technology, any company does not attention on the technology is bound to be beaten by its opponents in the field of business.

    The use of technology is fruitful to drive your business necessities and it is the most common idea in among the companies of high performance. Mostly the developed logistics companies prefer the use of technology over the manual management system. The use of technical system in the logistics business has allowed the companies to be always one step ahead of their rivals in the same field.

  • Ethiopian Cargo Hits Below the Belt of Brussels Airport

    Brussels Airport continued to hurt from the departure of Ethiopian Cargo services from the airport

    In January only, the Belgian airport recorded a big decline in airfreight demand and all happens due to the withdrawal of Ethiopian cargo services from the airport. Till 2015, this airport was one of the real success stories but suddenly saw a decline of 2.4 percent by year on year in January to almost 37 thousand tons.

    Actual situation of Brussels airport

    It is not only Ethiopian cargo services caused that big dent to the airport but the full freighter demand also suffered and faced more than 11 percent decline on a year earlier to around 10 thousand tons, while integrator volumes were almost flat at 15,699 tons.

     

    Belly cargo on other hand, remained high by 3 percent to around 12 thousand tons.

    What Brussels airport believes?

    The airport said that the full freighter segment of its cargo department was still recovering from the departure of Ethiopian air cargo withdrawal after the carrier did not get the mandatory traffic rights to sustain its operations at the Brussels airport. The airline now nested to dutch hub Maastricht-Aachen airport.

    Brussels airport company chief executive, Arnaud Feist believes that growth is all more striking because the air cargo services in Europe looked unwelcoming in the past year.

    Overall situation in the region

    Overall, the Brussels was one of the fastest growing airports in the region and it recorded the demand increase of around 8 percent in 2014 to just under half million tons. On other hand, the busiest airport in the area, Frankfurt cargo facility recorded a decline of 2.3 percent on year-on-year in 2015.

    Brussels in that particular time remained vigorous with a full year cargo volume growth of 7.8 percent because of the arrival of new cargo carriers and express services at the Belgian airport. It is not only the cargo where Brussels has shown a growth but at the passenger side, it showed an increase of 7 percent and handled more than 23.4 million passengers, an increase of around 15 percent.

    Ethiopian cargo to left Brussels

    A spokesman to European cargo hub said that the Ethiopian cargo left the Brussels skies because they did get the air traffic rights to fly over the Belgian territories. In November this year, Brussels airport will no longer remain the home to Ethiopian airlines. The result is full freighter volume will decrease by 25 percent in the last two months compared to 2014.

  • What are the Major Differences Between Strategic and Transactional Shippers

    Two types of the shippers are working in the logistics industry that are the Strategic and Transactional shipper. The key difference between both the shippers is given in the following article.

     What is Strategic shippers?

    The strategic shippers are risk opposing and they worked with renowned logistic companies. They are cost sensitive and strategic shoppers pay less price for freight and to get better services.

    Strategic shippers  consider their logistics capacity as basic to their prosperity.

    What is Transactional shippers?

    They do not  work for any logistics company. The Transactional shippers are price driven and see logistics services as a trade product.  In transactional shipper case the decision on the purchase is based only on the value of the freight.

    What are the key differences between the both types of the shippers?

    A solid  relationship with logistics providers

    The Transactional shippers have less sense about  to create a solid relationship as the strategic shippers build. The relationship between the workers and surroundings is most fruitful for the business development.  The strategic shipper on the other hand can build a healthy relationship with  logistics services. However the transactional shipper are not the true image of relation development.

    Difference of  shipping cost

    The strategic shipper’s sole concentration is on the cost of the shipping. In some events they pay some amount for the shipping but they consider the total cost to decrease the logistics charges.On the other hand the transactional shippers do not examine the cost of the shipping because their sole decision of the purchase is based on the total price of the freight.

    The use of  technology

    Strategic shipper is connected with a logistics company so that they can use their software to store the information and records of the shipping.  They are advanced than the transactional shippers in the setting of technology.  The use of technology reduces the risks and errors in the process of shipping. However, the Transactional shippers do not use the technology. They cannot take the benefits of software provided by outdoor logistics services.

    The use of KPIs (Key Process Indicators)

    The use of KPIs is a key process in the system of shipping. The value of KPIs can describe the quality value of the logistics service. In the case of strategic shippers and transactional shippers the concept of key process indicators is very different. According to the  strategic shippers point of view without the use of key process indicators you cannot manage the process of shipping. They use the KPIs to decrease the cost and to develop the shipping service.  The transactional shippers are totally different from strategic shippers because they don’t use KPIs in their process of shipping.

  • How You Can Minimize Your Customer Anxiety in the Delivery Process

    The delivery services, whether they be dealers, parcel services and couriers are the major ways to decrease the customer’s anxiety about the delivery.

    The major point of frustration among the customers and the delivery service is the phone call dealing between them.  Customer’s anxiety in the process of delivery can be minimized by following ways.

    Business website must be informative

    It is very crucial for the online business company that the website of the company has all the information about the products that your company sell. The website of your company must have all the details about your product delivery.

    Best practices for your website is dependent on your business. The  websites of online businesses  should be descriptive of products sold, including images.

    The online order of the products

    The major cause of customer  anxiety is the inability in the online orders of the goods. This inability may be  caused by your own business website or by a third person. The addition of ordering and delivery  section of the goods on the website is the easy method to solve the problem of customer’s worry.  The online ordering section on your business website is the key for your business development.

    It also helps the customer to buy the products easily at the same platform.

     Online Tracking of the order and delivery

    Another key method of decreasing the concern of the customer in the delivery of the cargo is the online tracking of cargo and the delivery after the order of the product. It is a very important point to reduce the anxiety of the customer because after the order of the product the customer wants to know the exact detail about his purchased product delivery.

    So it is important for the business to add the online tracking section to their business websites for the help of the customers.

     Communication Link  Between Customer and Driver

    A communication link between the driver and the customer is also a way of removing the customer’s irritation in the process of cargo delivery. Sometimes the customer wants necessary to communicate with the driver to inform him about the delivery of his product. Instead of calling the business and having them pass on the message to the driver, causing quite a little anxiety. Better to allow direct communication link between the driver and the client.

    The system of direct communication between the driver and the client is the best method of decreasing the anxiety of the customer and to save the time of the driver.

  • Tips to Purchase a Shipping Containers

    A large steel box of rectangular shape  which is used to transport goods from one place to another is called container.

    Malcom McLean, a trucking company owner and Kenneth Tantlinger, an engineer developed  the container in 1995. Containers are used for the transportation of the goods around the globe. But there are many other uses of the containers. People used the shipping containers for building offices and houses because they are easy to move.

    How you can purchase the shipping container to meet your needs here are a few tips that will helpful for  you in the container purchase.

    Why you want to purchase the shipping containers?

    Before you purchase containers, ask yourself first for why you want to buy them.

    If you want to use the container for the short period of time, then it is suggested to you that rent a container instead of purchase.

    But if you want to use the container for house building purpose, then it is important for you to buy the shipping container.

    What are the rules and laws regarding container use in your area?

    Before the container purchase it is crucial for you to know the rules and laws regarding the use of containers in your city. Because in many cities storage containers is prohibited to use for personal determinations. To know about the information about the utilization of the container go to the city hall and ask them about the laws. If your city permits container buildings, then it’s better to start seeking on how to acquire building permits as well.

    To purchase a container search a container dealer in your area
    To buy a container it is important for you to choose a container dealer.  You can search the container dealer on the internet. To purchase a container go to a reliable dealer that sells container at affordable prices.

    What is your budget?

    Buy that container that is affordable for you an the payment process is suitable to your budget. A few suppliers convey the containers to the locations their customers have given while others have areas where you can get the container you’ve purchased.

    It’s dependent upon you to choose whether you’ll lift it up or have it carried to your region.

    Scanning of the container

    After the arrival of the container in your place of living, it is the most important step to completely scan the damages of your container. If the container is damaged, then  inform the dealer about the damage of the container and do not use it for the purpose of living.

  • Nigerian Shippers Council Starts Cargo Tracking

    Nigerian shippers council starts tracking the cargo to check swift practices and opted for the International Cargo tracking Note (ICTN)

    Shippers’ Council begins cargo tracking to determine the sharp practices, the Nigerian Shippers Council has opted for ICTN systems with an early revenue target of around $87 million. The new tracking policy will also assist the country authorities to ascertain of goods coming to the country and it will be implemented Nigerian port transportation authorities.

    Estimated Cost To Instigate The Scheme

    According to the documents based on the 2014 NPA operational cargo statistics, the sum of N17,238,054,156.84 or $87,060,879.58 is estimated to instigate the system. The system proceeds to be generated at the present rates of administrative  fees for different cargo types.

    All cargo types supposed to depart from Nigerian ports either they are exported cargo imported from other countries or transit cargo must take a Nigerian Shippers Council entry number or ENS when it is a cargo from the UK or anywhere else from the world. An Exit summary Number EXS shall be needed in case of exports departing fro Nigeria. The Bill Of Lading must show these numbers and the final manifest of the vessel also require thee numbers.

    Advanced Cargo Declaration process

    The Shipper can use top 5 cargo carriers for shipping purpose. The shipper of the cargo according to the declaration is the person who is responsible for the declaration procedure. He delivers all the relevant information to the cargo.

    The procedure will ensure that the declaration made, is correct and all the information provided is true.  If the vessels are chartered ships, the Advanced Cargo Declaration shall be completed by the Chartered who issues  the Bill of Lading rather than the company owning the vessel.

    Projected Revenue Breakdown

    The projected revenue breakdown is mentioned according to the type of the cargo shipped, Containerised cargo at N5,263,731,000, while the Ro-Ro Cargo has N491,047,920, General Cargo N736,444,912, Bulk Cargo at N2,282,225,580, and the Crude Oil exports at N3, 464,604,744.48.

    Presidential approval by Ministry of Transport

    On 14th of May Ministry of Transport has given the presidential approval for the ICTN system to Nigerian Shipper Coucil NSC, but the scheme yet to be taken into effect.

    The documents show the presidential approval letter which is as, “Please evoke that following the presidential approval to the Federal Ministry of Transport (FMOT) for the re-introduction of the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) scheme and the execution of the system by Nigerian Shippers’ Council – being the Interim Economic Regulator of the port sector in Nigeria, as carried to the council by the Director (Maritime Services) vide a letter Ref. T.0160/S.30/T4C dated 14th May, 2015, the Hon.

    Minister of Transport, in line with the presidential approval, requested Nigerian Shippers’ Council to work out/negotiate the Terms and conditions of the implementation contract of the scheme with Messrs Transport and Port Management System (TPMS) Nigeria Limited, as the technical implementation agents, and enter into an agreement with them in that regard.”

  • Boeing 747’s Next Stop is Elephant’s Graveyard

    Cargo market was the playground of the Jumbo Jet for quiet long but it is having its fall now

    Citing the collapse in demand of Jumbo Jets, world’s most renowned aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, has recently stated that it is reducing the number of 747s being produced to only one every two months. The original 747 is best known for its vital role in cargo services, delivering cargo to Africa, major Asian cities, U.S., and other countries around the globe.

    Previously, Boeing announced its plans to slow down the production of the 747 jets to just one jet a month from 1.3 jets but now this number has been cut down further. 747-8 is the newest model of 747 that arrived in 2012. It is featuring plenty of new and advanced manufacturing techniques used in 787 and other aircraft which are lighter, newer and cheaper-to-operate.

    Boeing has received only 121 new orders and of those, only 51 were in configuration to carry passengers, rest of them are air cargo freighters. The 747 has made a massive contribution to global tourism and cargo services. The 747-400 is a remarkable machine that doesn’t need a touchdown for more fuel on a twelve-hour journey, as an example, Europe to all major Asian cities.

    In jet engine manufacturing, significant improvements in power and reliability makes it possible to rival the capacity and range of Jumbo Jet with twin-engine aircraft. That eventually makes the 747 a less attractive buy and more expensive to operate. The 777 passenger carrier is working on the same idea and it can carry more than 450 passengers in some configurations.

    According to Boeing, the 2015 was one of the worst year as there wasn’t a single new order for 747 as the cargo operators are not buying anything at all. The air freight demand fall indicates the economic conditions are pretty bad.

    For Boeing 747, there is only one permanent customer left and that is none other than the White House. The new 747-8s check all the boxes to serve as presidential transport. This is only reason why the US military still likes quad-engine airliners. They can install anything in it to meet the requirements to keep the POTUS.

  • Ethiopian Airlines: A Real Success Story Of A State Owned Enterprise

    South African Airways (SAA) are in a very terrible situation said an internal memorandum on the 6th of November 2015,

    It was made public last month that the SAA is technically insolvent and thus mortified of careless and irresponsible trading.  It is also legally obliged under the Companies Act to file for the liquidation of the company. But after the investigation of the SAA failure, it is confirmed that the quality of management was responsible, not the state ownership.

    Ethiopian Airlines, largest African airline

    Ethiopian Airline is the fastest growing and largest profitable airline in Africa. The airline has grown at an average rate of around 20 to 25 percent every year.The profits for the fiscal year 2014/15 were amounted to $175 million, which was more than the profits of entire African airlines combined.

    Ethiopian Airlines network

    Ethiopian airlines is the most networked African airline because both in terms of schedule routes within the Africa as well as the international destinations. It serves almost 91 destinations internationally, where, 52 destinations in Africa, 15 destinations in Europe and America, however 24 destinations are in Asian countries from Gulf to Tokyo.

    It has a youngest and the largest cargo fleet in Africa. It has 68 passenger planes and makes more than 230 departures daily, it is an average of the previous five years.

    Cargo and freight within Africa

    The airline has around 1.2 million tonne annual capacity of cargo and freight and it has its major cargo terminal in Addis Ababa, airline hub. This hub is a massive setup and slightly smaller than London Heathrow Airport, which is the 4th largest in Europe.

    Ethiopian airline currently covers 48 cargo destinations where the largest  portion comes from Europe and Asia. The major part of cargo to Africa handled by the airline ad it has eight dedicated cargo carriers, however, by 2025, airline has a target to increase the fleet to 18 cargo carriers.

    The success factor

    The major success factor of the airline is strategically capturing of entire African market and the establishment of a multi hub system on the continent. The strategy and alliance president of the airline commented that Africa is a massive continent and it was not sufficient to control the continent with one hub.

    Thus, the airline bought the failing ASKy airline and Air Malawi and used them as a part of the multi system hub.