Earlier this summer, Manchester, UK-based IFLN Network member Key Cargo International was approached by an existing client with a request to help with the importation of a large amount of cargo into the south of England.

In fact, in the end, a total of 75 20ft TEU containers would need to be shipped from the port of Gemlik in Turkey into the port of Tilbury on the River Thames. Each would contain approximately 27 tonnes of porcelain goods – for a total weight of more than 2,000 tonnes. The freight was needed to support the customer’s work with the building trade.

Key Cargo director Colin Jeffries explains that, initially, Key Cargo was advised that ocean shipping giant CMA CGM would have container availability to move an initial requirement of 25 containers, only to then be told at the time of booking that the line wouldn’t have the necessary capacity.

Moreover, Jeffries remembers, adding to the prevailing global shortage of containers, the upcoming Turkish national holiday made things even more difficult from the Turkish side of the operation.

To support the work needed at the point of origin and having worked with Turkey-based fellow IFLN Network member and cargo agent Kita Logistics previously on a large oil and gas project, “We had no hesitation in contacting them again for their services,” Jeffries confirms.

And, due – says Jeffries – to the “hard work and commitment” of the team at Kita Logistics, equipment and ship space was obtained with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) for the initial consignment of goods that would fill 25 containers. This first shipment took place in early July this year.

“Our customer was satisfied that we managed to secure this booking for 25 TEUs and they then placed a further booking of 50 TEUs, with all 75 containers having to arrive at Tilbury by 9 September,” Jeffries notes.

Key Cargo arranged for Customs clearance into the UK, as well as overland transport of the containers upon arrival into the country to their final destination. Given the shortage that there was – and is now – of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers in the UK, this latter responsibility was “no easy task”, he says.

Cansu Batur, seafreight export pricing specialist at Kita Logistics, recalls that Jeffries contacted Kita in early July for their help with the shipment. She, too, recalls the shortage of TEUs available for the shipping of the FOB cargo. It was a huge capacity to find in a short time, but Kita Logistics also achieved a good rate with MSC for the customer, Batur notes.

Batur agrees that the collaboration between the two partners contributed to the success of the project. “We are here to support other IFLN partners,” she remarks. As well as Batur, Kita’s seafreight export manager Seckin Gurer and seafreight export operations supervisor Tansu Ogus also had important roles to play in this and similar recent shipments for the forwarder.

 

 

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