Pioneering new horizons APL

PIONEERING

NEW HORIZONS

APL is a leading global ocean shipping carrier that was established in Sweden more than 160 years ago. Today it offers a broad range of modern vessels and dedicated shipping facilities and services. Philip Yorke reports on a company that continues to expand and develop new technology that not only improves customer services and efficiency, but is also committed to environmental protection.

APL is one of the world’s most respected and long-established ocean going carriers and provides more than 90 weekly services to call ports in over 50 countries worldwide. APL provides container transportation through its extensive international shipping network, which combines high quality intermodal operations with advanced technology, equipment and e-commerce. Since its first American steamer voyage from New York to the US West Coast during the Californian gold rush, APL has been at the forefront of the global shipping industry.

Today APL is part of the CMA COM Group, a leading global shipping Group founded in 1978 by Jacques R. Saade, which has an extensive global presence and a comprehensive ocean going fleet. With more than 160 years’ experience, APL has the knowledge and expertise to help its customers grow their businesses and are also able to negotiate on their behalf in an increasingly complex and everchanging marketplace.

Pioneering smarter satellite tracking

Efficiency and innovation have gone hand-in-hand with APL since its foundation. The company’s latest innovative contribution to shipping was announced earlier this month in Singapore. Taking live monitoring of reefer cargoes beyond temperature and humidity tracking, the company is introducing real-time oxygen and carbon dioxide monitoring capabilities to its pioneering satellite tracking systems. Smart Temp® is designed to offer customers a more well-rounded visibility for precise cargo management and protection throughout the voyage. These additional important features distinguish APL’s ground-breaking Smart Temp® technology from all others, and was first launched in 2010.

Ng Kar Loke, APL’s head of Special Cargo, said, “As a leading and trusted reefer expert that shippers have counted on for decades to carry their exports across the globe, APL deploys only the best reefer solutions that protect cargo integrity during every APL voyage. We

will continuously innovate through our broad range of Smart reefer technologies in order to deliver increased customer value. The current enhancements of APL’s ‘Smart Temp’ technology clearly demonstrate our commitment to go the extra mile by empowering our customers with real-time cargo data, which they can rely on for optimal supply chain management efficiency.”

The live monitoring of oxygen and carbon dioxide levels comes in most useful for cargoes filled with delicate items. A popular application for several premium food shipments, this atmospheric control solution manipulates oxygen and carbon dioxide levels within the reefer containers to preserve the qualities and prolong the postharvest life of these high-value cargoes.

Expanding Trans-Atlantic coverage

On 16 September this year, APL announced its launch of the Atlantic Gulf Express service (AGX). This is a new direct Trans-Atlantic service which connects the key markets of Northern Europe, with the US South Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.

“Directly connecting the port of Le Havre and Miami, the new AGX service will serve as a unique and market-leading Trans-Atlantic service that enables shipments across the US East Coast, Northern Europe and Mexican markets. It promises industry-leading transit times between Europe and major South Atlantic ports, and offers fast connections between the US South Atlantic ports, as well as fast connections between the South Atlantic, US Gulf and Mexican markets that serve the needs of customers,” said Eric Eng, APL’s head of Transatlantic Trade. The all-new AGX service will call at the ports of Le Havre, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, Charleston, Savaanah, Miami, Veracruz, Altamira, Houston and New Orleans. The first sailing commences on 2 October 2016.

Boosting communication accuracy

APL’s Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is a unique computer-tocomputer information exchange system that offers time savings and significantly increases communication accuracy and efficiency. EDI is an electronic means for companies to exchange business documents such as bookings, Shipment Instructions (SI) and invoices, which eliminates the need to send paper documents by traditional means.

The company’s EDI programme can easily be integrated into any personal system in order to provide a highly efficient interface with

APL’s existing systems, thus removing the need to rekey data and at the same time improving its customer’s overall communications and data accuracy. The company’s EDI solutions are designed to support APL’s advanced shipping terminals and container yards, all of which have access to the company’s global shipping systems.

Advanced terminal and container yards

APL offers its customers an extensive network of dependable connections for their global transportation programme. With its modern dedicated shipping terminals and sophisticated management systems, APL enables full supply-chain control to speed up the delivery of a client’s shipments and to maximise customer visibility and service efficiency.

In addition, APL has the equipment technology and expertise to protect and preserve cargo value all along the supply chain. The company has made substantial investments to build one of the world’s most flexible, eco-friendly and technologically advanced container fleets. These range from standard dry cargo containers, to refrigerated and highly specialised containers. n For further details of APL’s innovative products and services visit: www.apl.com