38% dissatisfied skill level of employees in the Middle East 3PL industry

RSI and eyefortransport have teamed up again to assess the staff training and development needs of the logistics providers in the Middle East region.

According to a new report based on a recent industry survey, “organisational and people development continues to be a primary challenge facing the development of the logistics and transportation industry in the Middle East”. The Middle East 3PL Industry Training & Development Report 2007 is available as a free download. Access this report (as well as other related reports) online at www.eyefortransport.com/me/know.shtmlThe report strongly advises that 3PLs in the region invest in staff development, since “organisations are routinely valued not on physical but intellectual capital, the possession of knowledge, applied experience, organisational technology, customer relationships and professional skills that provide an organization with a competitive edge in the market”.Further analysis of this report will take place next week in Dubai, at the 2nd eyefortransport Middle East 3PL Summit, where the director of RSI will conduct a workshop to evaluate the findings of the report, as well as offer advice for companies looking to improve their staff development plans.

Under-declaring container weights compromises safety

According to Shipping Australia CEO Llew Russell, some exporters are not meeting legislative requirements in New South Wales to accurately declare container weights prior to shipment.

He says that Shipping Australia members have their suspicions that exporters are misdeclaring the actual cargo and packing weight in containers, but this is only being discovered in isolated cases in overseas markets. “Carriers have to rely on the documented weight as most containers are not actually weighed during the through transport process. To weigh all containers would seriously threaten our efforts to reduce congestion at the sea/land interface in our ports,” he says.In line with other States, the NSW government recently passed the Chain-of-Responsibility legislation, an Act that provides serious penalties for non-compliance, especially for repeat offenders.

Russell pointed out that whilst not bothering to accurately declare the weight of everything in a container by a few tonnes may not seem such a big deal for the individual shipper, it can mean an unsafe sized truck is sent to collect it, and it can result in instability on a large container vessel if loading a thousand containers that actually weigh 3,000 tonnes more than the weight indicated on the documents – and some could be located high above the deck.

“Shipping Australia will be bringing this matter to the attention of the Roads & Traffic Authority in NSW to see what action can be taken, perhaps on a random audit basis to check actual container weights,” said Russell.

“Interestingly, right at the beginning of the debate on the model for the NSW legislation, Shipping Australia had been advising the then National Road Transport Commission that the new legislation should focus on consignees and consignors, as they were primarily or ultimately responsible for the overloading or misdeclaration of container weights,” he concluded.

 eyefortransport.com

Global Contract Logistics market sees 10% growth

The global contract logistics market grew by just under 10% last year, according to the latest report from Transport Intelligence, ‘Global Contract Logistics 2007’.

The market was driven by growth in the Asia Pacific region, which overtook North America for the first time to become the world’s second largest market. Europe, the most mature market, experienced solid if unspectacular growth. In Asia Pacific, China, India and South Korea experienced the highest levels of growth, in contrast with Japan, where economic stagnation held back the industry.

The Middle Eastern market is also proving to be buoyant due to the region’s development as a major transport hub, investment in oil and construction projects, and the growth of consumer markets. The report also analyses which logistics companies are best exploiting these positive market conditions. In total the top ten companies account for just over 25% of the global market despite a decade of consolidation. The fragmentation hints at the likelihood of further mergers and acquisitions and market consolidation.

Freightnet partners with SupplyChainJobz

United Kingdom based Freightnet recently joined up as a new partner of www.supplychainjobz.com  

As a result of the partnership Freightnet can now offer their 24,000 members access to international jobs within the Freight and Logistics industry on a regular basis via their newly developed Freight|careers portal on www.freightnet.com 

According to Paul Smith of Freightnet, the launch of Freight|careers enables the 1.2 million yearly visitors to have access to and search for, Freight and Logistics jobs globally on a daily basis.  

“Freightnet welcome this new product which will enhance our suite of products and services for our members and users. This opportunity has come along at just the right time – it can satisfy the demand for jobs which come into us every day.” Mr Smith said. 

According to Phil Parsons, Director, SupplyChainJobz, having Freightnet as a partner is a significant opportunity for the global Freight and Logistics network to have one portal for international jobs. 

“Freightnet is one of the largest and leading Freight and Logistics resources in the world and we are pleased that it now has the opportunity to become a main point of call for anyone looking for international jobs in that sector.” Mr Parsons said.  To find out more log on to www.freightnet.com today. 

HPH to build new container terminal in Karachi

Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) has signed an agreement with Karachi Port Trust to build a new container terminal in Keamari Groyne.

The new terminal will be the first phase of the latest Pakistan Deep Water Container Port in Karachi. HPH was chosen as the winning bidder for the project last month. Karachi New Port Container Terminals, the newly established joint-venture company, will build and manage the new container-handling facility over a concession period of 25 years, extendible for another 25 years.On completion, Karachi New Port Container Terminals will have four berths with a total quay length of 1,500 metres, a yard area of 85 hectares and depths alongside up to 18 metres.

The new terminal is expected to be operational in 2011.

NZ plan to put 30% of freight on ships by 2040

THE New Zealand Government has announced plans to double the volume of inter-regional freight carried by coastal shipping from 15% to at least 30% by 2040.

Announcing details of the plan, called Sea Change, Transport Minister Annette King said coastal shipping had been the “poor cousin” of the transport sector for too long, instead of being interconnected with rail and road.

“At present about 15 percent of freight is carried by coastal services, including the Cook Strait ferries,” King said.

“In the next 10 years, the amount of freight that must be moved around New Zealand is expected to double, putting pressure on the existing transportation system and network.