HAMBURG SÜD
FEATuRE
Logistics MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND
2
www.southafricamag.com
Hamburg Süd FocuS SUPPLY CHAIN
South Africa Magazine profiles global logistics firm Hamburg Süd and talks to Area Manager (Commercial) Marc Linderboom. By Ian Armitage
T
he world we live in revolves around trade and deliveries. You could say that logistics makes the world go round. Well, that is the belief of Hamburg Süd Area Manager (Commercial), Marc Linderboom at least – and we’d be inclined to agree. “Liner shipping, which is our core business, connects countries, markets, businesses and people, allowing them to buy and sell goods on a scale not previously possible,” he says. The liner shipping industry transports goods representing approximately one-third of the total value of global trade. As a major global enterprise in itself, the international shipping industry is responsible for millions of existing jobs and plays a crucial role in stimulating new jobs. It contributes billions to the global economy. “Shipping is very important to the South African economy and many other economies globally,” says Mr Linderboom. “We are a leading provider on the North-South trade lanes.” Hamburg Süd, however, is much more than a shipping line. It combines an array of one-source services such as carrier haulage to create what Linderboom calls the “perfect” logistics chain. “Our area office is in Durban and we have offices in Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. We have a total of 70 staff and we are a vital link to trade,” he says. “Many of our services are virtually invisible but add considerable value. I am thinking of intermodal services, which beyond pure port-to-port-transportation, www.southafricamag.com
3
Hamburg Süd Focus SUPPLY CHAIN
We’ve grown over the last few years and we’ve actually hired staff, whereas other carriers have been laying off. So it’s been quite positive over the last few years, I would say
ensure seamless connectivity via road, rail or inland waterway. Our portfolio also embraces value-added services which include, for example, storage and warehousing.” 2011 was a really tough year in shipping. It was a year marked by the debt crisis in Europe, the weakness of the US economy, various natural disasters in the Pacific region, and political upheavals in several parts of the world. Nonetheless, global economic output grew by some four percent. The waning freight market, shrinking demand for ocean transportation of commodities, over-supply of new vessels, volatile forex markets and a squeeze on earnings — these were the challenges faced by shipping companies. And that is what it may be doing in 2012 too. “I think the shipping industry as a whole is quite tough at the moment but we’ve had a good few years. Globally, I would say not as good, but from a South African growth perspective it’s been quite good,” Linderboom says. “We’ve grown over the last few years 4
www.southafricamag.com
Bridge Port, a division of The Bridge Shipping Group, ensures cool reefer customer service experience The Bridge Shipping Group has over 30 years’ experience as a logistics company, with a well-established sub-Saharan footprint of blue chip clients in areas including the agriculture, mining and minerals, project cargo, bulk containerised commodities and raw material fields. Bridge Port Durban, a division of the Bridge Group, has empty container storage capacity of 7 000 teu and rail links between the Port of Durban and its City Deep facilities. With regards to refrigerated containers, it has a highly experienced reefer department at the Bridge Port facility. “Storage capacity of Full and Empty Reefers, the empty container park, its proximity to the port and fast turnaround time, are all benefits that improve our customer service experience,” says Managing Director for Bridge Port, Roger Hogg. High levels of OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) product technical expertise characterise the service provided by the team. Bridge Port is a licensed carrier of spares with a fully equipped workshop that can repair dry and reefer containers to IICL (Institute of International Container Lessors) standards,” says Hogg. The facilities that are equipped to handle full and empty reefers offer special shipment reefer preparation, or cold treatment, for customers. “Through contracts with a number of leasing companies we offer seamless off-hire facilities as an added advantage.” adds Hogg. Bridge Port has adopted a philosophy of treating each customer’s cargo as if it were our own. Our reefer department’s capabilities and capacities, together with a wealth of knowledge gained by serving the industry for many years, provide our customers with the professional service that is required for the integrity of companies utilising reefer containers,” Hogg concludes.
Logistics – by road, rail, air and sea Bridge Shipping, established in 1980 and with its Head Office in Johannesburg, South Africa, offers the following services for bulk and containerised commodities into and out of Southern and Eastern Africa (being South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Tanzania).
• Freight Services • Warehousing • Ocean Freight • Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) – ocean and air, project cargo
+27 (11) 625 3000 | info2@bridgeshipping.co.za | www.bridgeshipping.co.za
and we’ve actually hired staff, whereas other carriers have been laying off. So it’s been quite positive over the last few years I would say.” He says that South Africa has a lot going for it - it is a middle-income, emerging market with an abundant supply of natural resources; it has welldeveloped financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors; and it has modern infrastructure supporting an efficient distribution of goods to major urban centres throughout the region. “We forecast growth this year. Obviously not aggressively! We are very happy with the service we offer. Hamburg Süd is all about offering
Hamburg Süd is all about offering a reliable service and our customers like it
a reliable service and our customers like it. So, yes, that’s one of the ways we are trying to drive the business.” So things are looking good and, with the announcement in May that port operator Transnet Port Terminals will spend R33 billion over the next seven years on upgrading and expanding South Africa’s ports as part of a massive state-led infrastructure drive aimed at boosting the country’s economic growth, they are about to get better. Transnet Port Terminals CEO Karl Socikwa said 71 percent of the R33 billion spend will be on port expansion projects, while the remaining 29 percent will go towards “capital sustaining www.southafricamag.com
5
Sam Moffitt (Hamburg Süd South Africa), Captain Arie Sluijter, Dieter W. Haller (German Ambassador to South Africa), Sikhumbuzo Ndaba (Durban City Council), sponsor Margot Blume-Gast, Dr. Ottmar Gast (Chairman of the Executive Board, Hamburg Süd) and Michael Britton (Hamburg Süd Hong Kong) (f.l.t.r.)
They are the largest ships ever built for Hamburg Süd and rank among the vessels with the greatest reefer capacity currently available worldwide
6
www.southafricamag.com
projects”, including the replacement and refurbishment of equipment. The expansion projects will see major increases in the container handling capacity of the ports in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal and Ngqura outside Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. “That is very welcome,” Linderboom says. “There are several challenges within the local market in terms of the ports and while they make every effort to provide the best service
Hamburg Süd Focus SUPPLY CHAIN
Hamburg Süd sees itself as a service provider which implements its customers’ requirements as swiftly and smoothly as possible. Its more than 4,000 competent and committed staff pursue a common goal: to find the right transport solution, so that the cargo reaches the desired destination safely and on schedule
The Bahia shown here coming into the harbour at Santos, was christened together with the Bahia Blanca and phased into Hamburg Süd’s liner service between AsiaSouth Africa – South America East Coast. The two ships were the first of a total series of six new identical 3,750 TEU container ships for the shipping group, which are all scheduled for delivery this year
there are challenges that we’re all aware of in terms of getting the cargo into stack and transporters being stuck outside in traffic, delays on vessels, and the strikes that happen in the country, and all that affects customers’ production and packing and transport.” But things are still looking good. In February 2011 Hamburg Süd christened the Santa Clara in Durban. “She was the first of ten identical container vessels each with a slot capacity of 7,100 TEU,” Linderboom says. “They are the largest ships ever built for Hamburg Süd and rank among the vessels with the greatest reefer capacity currently available worldwide.” The Santa Clara is named after a Hamburg Süd cargo steamer deployed between Europe and South America in the 1920s. Since her delivery she has been operating in the Hamburg Süd service between Asia and South Africa/South America East Coast. “It is an exciting time,” Linderboom says. The Hamburg Süd Group has a global presence – afloat and ashore. To learn more visit www.hamburgsud-line.com and www.hamburgsud.com END
www.southafricamag.com
7
South Africa Magazine, Suite 9 and 10, The Royal, Bank Plain, Norwich, Norfolk, UK. NR2 4SF TNT Multimedia Limited, Unit 209, 16 Brune Place, London E1 7NJ ENQuIRIES Telephone: +44 (0) 1603 343367 Fax: +44 (0)1603 343502 andy.williams@tntmultimedia.com SuBScRIPTIoNS Call: +44 (0)1603 343502 andy.williams@tntmultimedia.com
www.southafricamag.com
19th Floor Durban Bay House 333 Smith Street 4001 Durban South Africa Tel: +27 31 3344777 Fax: +27 31 3344700 Email: dur(at)dur.hamburgsud.com
www.hamburgsud.com