FBJ 4 FREIGHT BUSINESS JOURNAL


CONTACTS 2012 SALES


JOHN SAUNDERS - PUBLISHER Tel: +44 (0)151 427 6800 Fax: +44 (0)151 427 1796 Mobile: +44 (0)7932 102026 john.saunders@fj-online.com


RAY GIRVAN Tel: +44 (0)1691 718 045


EDITORIAL


CHRIS LEWIS - EDITOR +44 (0)7778 106433


chris.lewis@fj-online.com MARTIN ROEBUCK PHIL HASTINGS JAMES GRAHAM


Issue 5 2012 FROM THE EDITOR


This is the recession that just won’t go away. The Olympic and Paralympic Games may have provided a welcome distraction over the summer months, but they take place against a backdrop of increasing economic angst, especially in southern Europe. No sooner is a solution found to one part of the Great European Debt Crisis, when another country appears to be in danger of slipping over the edge of the financial precipice. But how has the freight industry fared in all this? Not too badly, at least according to the authors of one major report on the industry (Transport Intelligence, Global Freight Forwarding 2012). As outlined on page 19 of this issue, freight forwarding is to some extent a counter-cyclical industry; profit depends on the differential between the price that forwarders charge their customers and the rates charged by the carriers, and if rates are falling but forwarders can delay passing on that reduction to their customers, profit margins can actually increase in a falling freight market. That said, in the age of the Internet, the forwarders’ customers are much better-informed


By Chris Lewis


about price trends (at least the more switched-on ones are) so perhaps this effect is diminishing. The empirical evidence of some of the larger forwarders’ half-year figures suggests that


revenues and profits have mostly fallen in the past six months compared with the same time last year, but not to any alarming extent, considering the state of the wider world economy.


If there is strength in diversity, then the UK forwarding industry must be very strong indeed. It never ceases to amaze how many different niches – and niches within niches – that our freighting entrepreneurs manage to find. We’ve long been used to companies that specialise in particular countries or regions, or


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those that deal with major industry sectors like automotive or pharmaceuticals but now we are in the age of commodity specialists. In the past couple of issues of FBJ we have covered, for instance, forwarders that move yachts, a specific model of mobile phone, defence equipment and custom motorbikes. And we are told that there is a division of the GAC group that handles the movement of tropical fish. This diversity might be partly the result of the growth of the major multinationals and


integrators, which – just as Tesco and Sainsbury have driven the corner grocery off our streets – have made it increasingly difficult for a small general forwarder to make a living. But it also a reflection of our increasingly diverse consumer society, and also of the increasingly stringent requirements for the movement and handling of many types of goods.


The sight of two 13,000teu containerships simultaneously docking in the port of Southampton may be mainly an inspired publicity stunt – ahead of the port’s hoped-for expansion plans - but it does help to bring home the revolution that is shortly about to break in shipping. The new generation of ships has been talked about and anticipated for so long that it is easy to forget that there are, as yet, relatively few of these of the seas actually in revenue service at the moment. But when they do enter the world’s shipping fleet in numbers, they will surely have a


profound effect on the economics of the industry. It is ironic that the new tonnage will be entering service at the height of the most protracted and persistent recessions since World War II, but retonnaging is a supremely difficult science; rarely, if ever have the world’s shipping lines managed to match the supply of vessels with the traffic on offer. The time-lag between ordering a new ship and it entering service is too long for any certain predictions to be made as to the state of the world economy by the time it is delivered.


We must, we suppose, congratulate Professor Michael Bloor on his reworking of the Rime of the Ancient Mariner to reflect modern-day realities in seafaring, though perhaps as far as poetry is concerned, he should stick to the day job. (See Freight Break, page 40.) But the Professor’s poetical attempts do have a serious purpose; can we as shippers and consumers totally ignore the human sacrifice involved in delivering our goods? Many people are questioning the labour practices involved in manufacturing of the goods that they buy; it is only a logical extension for them to ask about the conditions of employment of those that deliver them.


///NEWS


FBJ has already become established as the only UK and one of the few pan-European Multimodal newspapers. The comments we have received prove there is still room for a hard copy publication with the freighting industry. You don’t have to look at a screen all day!


FBJ boasts the most informative and authoritative source of information with unrivalled in-depth knowledge of the rapidly changing freight business environment.


As the definitive publication within the sea, air, road and rail freight sectors, each issue includes regular news and analysis, in-depth coverage discovering the business decisions behind the news stories, shipper and exporter reports, opinion, geographical features, political and environmental issues.


If you have any stories or letters which should be of interest or any feedback on FBJ, please contact our editor Chris Lewis - +44 (0)208 6450666 chris.lewis@fj-online.com


next issue >> circulation >>


To guarantee your personal copy of FBJ please register by emailing your details to circulation@fj-online.com or cover sheet included with this issue.


fax back the address Recruitment Regional Sales Manager – TransAtlantic UK Ltd – Hull, United Kingdom


An exciting opportunity to join a rapidly expanding and dynamic Shipping and Logistics provider, specialising in unit load, break bulk shipping and transport solutions throughout the Baltic/North Sea Arena. We are looking to recruit a Regional Sales Manager for North UK, who can identify, deliver and sustain growth of revenue streams from both existing and new customers as we expand our UK platform of services to and from the Baltic. The role will involve:- Driving business forward and delivering successful sales figures across unit load and break-bulk market sectors Working strategically in order to successfully sell within the annual sales budget


Desired Skills & Experience


Relevant experience in the unit load/break- bulk UK-Baltic market. Proven Sales track record Strongly self-motivated Good level of IT skills, particularly in Microsoſt compatible


spreadsheets


their application, Analytical approach to problem solving, Excellent interpersonal skills Ability to work to strict deadlines


Nick Green UK Managing Director C/o Faye Jones 01482 818702 faye.jones@rabt.co.uk


www.rabt.se and


Develop new sales strategies and marketing initiatives Maintaining a successful, working relationship with clients, making sure all needs are met Developing presentations to pitch the company’s services to new clients Liaising closely with the operational staff to get the best understanding of client’s needs Other duties as requested by the UK Managing Director In addition to a competitive salary we offer an excellent benefits package including a Company car, bonus scheme, private health care and a contributory pension scheme (subject to qualifying conditions).


Company Description


TransAtlantic UK Ltd is a subsidiary of the Industrial Division of Rederi AB TransAtlantic. We are a key provider of shipping, cargo handling, transport and distribution services to and from the Baltic region. As part of the TransAtlantic Group, the company provides tailored port-port or door-door solutions utilising TransAtlantic’s extensive Container, Ro Ro and Bulk Liner Services and fleet resources.


Please e-mail your CV to:-


Our next issue will include features on Temperature-controlled Cargo,


Scandinavia and Southampton. There will also be our regular IT Section and news pages. For further details contact: John Saunders - +44 (0) 151 427 6800 john.saunders@fj-online.com


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