London Gateway Logistics Park – a step change in supply chain thinking


8


London Gateway’s new Logistics Park is set to revolutionise how supply chains are serviced in the UK, says Mike Thomas, client services director at park operator, Import Services Ltd (ISL). With the growth of online shopping, many industries are moving away from importing and storing bulk volumes and instead are taking a “little and oſten” approach” to managing their supply chain, he told journalists at a conference to mark the opening of the new Park on 20 July. ISL has already attracted a


number of retailer clients. The new centre was officially opened on the same day by minister for transport, Robert Goodwill and DP World chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Mike Thomas cited the


example of The Toy Store in London’s West End as an example of the new thinking. “We can hold


stock here at London Gateway and shuttle it


to Bond Street


up to four times a day. This is quintessentially the sort of work this building was made for,” he said. As well as toys, ISL has


already attracted other business including importers of nursery goods, fruit and wine and Thomas predicts


that the first phase,


180,000sq ſt seven rack high narrow aisle, building will be full by about the end of the year. “The game plan is for a Mark II replica of this building,” he told FBJ in an interview. “It’s just a question of building it.” He added: “Frankly, demand has taken our breath away – and I think we’ve got the advantage of being first adopters here.”


While some commentators


have noted the fact that the new London Gateway port has yet to attract a main far East to Europe trade, Thomas points out that ISL


is already handling substantial volumes of Far East-originating cargo, transhipped via Jebel Ali. In any case, said Mike Thomas, it was probably a question of “when, not if” London Gateway was able to attract a major Far East to Europe line. ISL has long operated an import


centre at the port of Southampton, but Mike Thomas did not think that the London Gateway park would seriously abstract cargo from there. In fact, one factor that prompted ISL to develop London Gateway was the fact that its Southampton facility is full and cannot be expanded further in the short term. As for whether the ISL concept


could be replicated in other locations, Mike Thomas pointed out that there are already similar operaters serving port users in the North-west of England, though he would not rule out a partnership with them. One other possibility


though might be a Continental European operation. Some North American clients have suggested it, but research would be needed to see if the demand was there. Another possibility might be to


feed traffic across to the Continent from London Gateway by rail through the Channel Tunnel. A further advantage of the


London Gateway site is its ability to use space on domestic and European vehicles that have delivered to retailers in London;


at present, many of these vehicles have no choice but to return home empty. And a final advantage stems


from its on-dock location. Canny freight operators have realised


that they can make use of


marginal space in containers and load them up to 80 tonnes; the boxes can be taken direct from the port to the logistics centre without using public roads for unloading.


Pentalver opens London Gateway site


Container service operator Pentalver has opened the first phase of its new five acre site at DP World London Gateway. The new yard, next to the port’s main gate, can be expanded to nine acres over the coming years. Pentalver, a subsidiary of the AP Moller Group, has been providing empty storage, dry repair and reefer services at its temporary premises at DP World London Gateway since April 2014. From its new site, Pentalver will offer a full range of services, including cargo handling, transport, loaded storage, empty storage, reefer services, maintenance and container refurbishment. Managing director, Chris Lawrenson, said: “With


phase one now officially open, the facility will play a key role in boosting our national service offering and fulfilling our obligation to respond to the needs of customers at UK locations of their choice. “Throughout the development of our new


premises we have enjoyed a fantastic working relationship with DP World London Gateway and look forward to working in partnership with them as our business grows and we enter the second phase of our development plans.”


All change for ABP Humber


ABP director Humber, John Fitzgerald, is to leave the company to pursue other interests on 30 September aſter 18 years’ service. His replacement is current Bristol Port Company chief executive, Simon Bird. Prior to taking up his role at the Bristol Port Company, Mr. Bird held a number of senior roles at the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, International Water and BAe. Mr. Bird said what while sorry


to be leaving Bristol, his new role on the Humber “offers an exciting new challenge. I am very much looking forward to building on John’s work to continue to deliver growth and success for ABP,


our customers and the Humber region as a whole.”


Yusen offers Russia customs clearance


Yusen Logistics Russia has become a Federal Customs license holder, and can now offer clearance services of all cargo types delivered by road and air within the country. The new services also include


preparation of documentation for import or export Customs declarations; preparation of AWB, CMR, TIR


Carnets,


including electronic copies; help with tariff regulations: fees,


duties, VAT, certificates, permits and notifications; advice on all aspects of Customs clearance; and customs inspection of goods. Clearance services are being


introduced at North West Customs (St Petersburg and city airports), South Customs (Novorossiysk), Customs


Far (Vladivostok


East and


Nakhodka) and Central Customs (Moscow and city airports).


Issue 6 2015 - Freight Business Journal


///NEWS


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