Irish Freight & Logistics Monthly – Sept ’11

Major Air Cargo Hub Planned for Shannon

US cargo group Lynx has agreed a deal to start developing a global air freight hub at Ireland’s Shannon Airport. The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has signed a heads of agreement that could see Lynx constructing a new temperature-controlled freight logistics facility at Shannon with infrastructural support from the DAA. The deal is designed to bring in new freight opportunities to Shannon from transport and logistics companies both in Ireland and abroad.

The new state-of-the-art facility will be marketed to both freight and logistics companies already at Shannon and to potential new customers, domestic and international. It will include chilled, frozen and ambient areas for perishable cargo, which would enable Shannon to bid for more high-value high-volume freight business. If the development goes ahead, it could create hundreds of new jobs in the area.

The DAA said the new cargo hub would provide significantly improved facilities for Shannon’s air cargo businesses and would radically reposition the airport’s cargo capabilities.

Chairman of Shannon Airport Authority Brian O’Connell said the agreement would give Shannon an opportunity to exploit its central location between the major economies of the US, Europe and Asia, and to develop as a significant global cargo destination.

Nightline Plans Massive Expansion in Belfast

Ireland’s largest independent express operator, Nightline,has announced plans for a massive expansion of its operation in Northern Ireland. The multi-million pound move will treble the size of its Belfast depot and follows the news of a €5.5 million redevelopment of its Dublin headquarters. CEO John Tuohy, said the expansion of the Belfast depot was likely to lead to 20 new jobs in its first year.

He said: “The scale of the increased size we need in Belfast is an immediate indication of the rise in volumes of parcel traffic we are seeing pass through our existing Northern Ireland hub.” Tuohy said that Nightline’s initial investment to convert its existing 5,000sq metre warehouse and office unit was likely to cost €5 million.

Nightline, formed in 1992, opened a UK regional office at Altham, Lancashire last July to capitalise on the firm’s growing share of Irish Sea parcel traffic.

Aramex Ireland Achieves AEO Certification

Aramex Irelands’ application has been successful, and the company is proudly carrying its AEO Certification to remain a safe and reliable partner. Aramex’ certification is inclusive of three elements: Customs Simplification, Security and Safety.

“One hundred percent of our customers would like to speed up their shipping process, we are constantly looking to find opportunities to enable such requests”, says Frank Kilbride, Country Manager of Aramex Ireland. “It is for this specific reason that we make a huge effort to ensure that our operations are functioning as efficiently as possible, enabling us to work within the highest compliance standards throughout the EU”.

AEO certification requires a rigorous vetting by Revenue over an extended period and as a result clients of Authorised Economic Operators can be assured that those companies become safe market participants.
“We want to ensure augmented Customs activities do not add time to our customers’ shipment process. Stricter security measures that have been applied after the 9/11 attacks enforce Customs to shift their focus more and more to securing the international trade flow. We want to make sure we do everything we can to ensure smooth deliveries, within this regulatory framework”. – Kilbride

Lloyds List Award CMA CGM “Company of the Year”

CMA CGM Group has been recognised “Company of the Year” by Lloyd’s List during the ceremony held on 20 September in London. CMA CGM received the award based on its ability and willingness to innovate and adapt to the rapidly changing nature of the shipping markets over the past 12 months.

According to Richard Meade, editor of Lloyd’s List, said: “CMA CGM impressed the panel with its capability to overcome the odds and an impressive display of resilience. CMA CGM confounded expectations by swinging back into the black with such vigor that it has outpaced rivals in terms of operating margins during the first half of this year. It was one of only four container lines that could claim to in the black during the period. Amid challenging market conditions, poor economic prospects and rampant overcapacity, this company has become well known for its ability to innovative and challenge expectations”.

CMA CGM is honored by this award, which highlight the dedication and expertise of its 17,200 staff members worlwide. A mobilization that enables the Group to react quickly to meet every one of its customers’ needs and provide the best service possible in every aspect of our activity. The Group appreciates the massive support from our customers, who keep entrusting CMA CGM and chose not only a shipping supplier but a partner.

The internationally acclaimed Lloyd’s List Awards have been running since 1998 and give the industry the opportunity to recognise and reward excellence and achievement within its ranks and in an ever changing maritime industry.

ACP Worldwide Appoint New Ireland GM

Leading global GSSA company, ACP Worldwide, has appointed James Gidlow to the position of General Manager UK and Ireland. Gidlow, who has spent his entire career in the airline and GSA business, joined the company in 2004 as Sales Development Manager. He will report to Director, Rod Entwistle and continue to be based from the company’s international headquarters at London Heathrow.

“We are delighted to promote James to this vital role,” comments Rod Entwistle. “He has contributed a tremendous amount to the current success of our cargo division and his ability to manage and motivate the UK and Ireland team made him a natural choice for the position,” concludes Entwistle.

ACP Worldwide is one of the world’s leading international airline management companies. It was founded in 1995 to coordinate all the cargo interests of international airlines. Today it has offices in London (Heathrow), Manchester, Prestwick (Scotland), Dublin, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Sydney and Auckland and represents many major carriers around the world. It is an IATA accredited GSSA.

DHL Delivers Ireland RWC 2011 Team Kit

DHL, Official Logistics Partner of Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011), has delivered to New Zealand more than 1,200 kgs of team equipment and personal baggage needed by the Irish Rugby team in their quest for RWC 2011 glory.

The freight arrived in New Zealand ahead of the Ireland team’s first RWC 2011 match against USA on September 11th in New Plymouth.

During the Tournament, the Irish national team will initially play four pool matches at up to four different locations, with the top eight teams overall then moving forward to play in knock-out matches in Auckland and Wellington. DHL will be working behind the scenes to ensure all of the team’s equipment is delivered on time for each match.

Commenting, Maurice Meade, Managing Director, DHL Global Forwarding in Ireland said: “We are delivering equipment for all 19 teams heading to New Zealand, from places as far away as Tbilisi, Dublin, Buenos Aires and Tokyo. It’s a complex logistics challenge to ensure everything is where it needs to be, exactly when it is needed and we are delighted to do our bit to support the Irish team.”

During the Tournament, teams from five continents will play 48 matches at 12 venues. There will be at least 130 domestic team freight moves including those for the local New Zealand team, and at least 200 operational freight moves, with DHL’s dedicated vehicles travelling 30,000 kilometers throughout New Zealand during RWC 2011.

In addition to the team equipment, DHL will store and deliver uniforms and other official Tournament equipment from training grounds to playing venues around New Zealand.

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