32


Issue 4 2019 - Freight Business Journal >> 31 larger trailer Some of the


operators have their own Burvnar licence, or have in-house Burvnar operators, but other companies are forced to subcontract to them and it can make it harder for newcomers to break into the market. There have been a couple of


legal challenges to the system, but action in the European Court is


expensive and time-consuming. Abela points out, moreover, that


forcing traffi c to move via Halfar, which is well away from the main areas of consumption on the island also increases the amount of traffi c on the roads on an island that is in danger soon of breaching EU pollution limits. Perhaps now the government should play its part by helping


the island develop a logistics infrastructure fi t for the 21st Century, Abela suggests. As in many other parts of


Europe, truck drivers are becoming scarce and expensive, as indeed are employees of all kinds. Even job-starters now routinely demand salaries of over €1,700 a month aſt er deductions – hardly surprising when off shore gaming companies


Good start for Ital’s new island route


At Eurobridge’s UK agent, Ital Logistics, managing director Phil Denton says: “We’ve known David Abela of EuroBridge for many years moving on occasion a few shipments from the UK to their Italian hub for onward shipment to Malta. Having met at Multimodal in 2016 I had a good feeling about David’s company, his professionalism and his aspiration to bring road transport in Malta into the 21st century. So midway through last year, we agreed to work closely together and have seen steady growth, offi cially adding Malta to our portfolio of


services.” In the last 10 months,


total


volumes have exceeded 300 tons and 2,000m³. All UK cargo is loaded with Ital Logistics’ Italian cargo and offl oaded in EuroBridge’s Milan hub which is just a few kilometres from Ital Logistics’ own Italian partner’s new facility in Origgio, just north of Milan. Route manager Dean Emsley


also mentions: “As numbers are increasing we have been able to complete full trailers of groupage consisting solely of cargo bound for Malta, in a short time of offi cially starting the service. Our aim is to be


able to consistently complete full loads of groupage without the need to tranship in Milan, which will save handling and provide a more effi cient service to our clients.” Presently the service is twice


weekly with the main departure from the UK being Tuesday. This enables trailers to arrive on Friday in Milan where EuroBridge consolidates cargoes from all over Europe. Once transhipped, Malta-bound trailers are moved to Genova or Livorno for the Saturday sailing to arrive in Malta on Monday morning. Most cargo is delivered same day, and at worst


the day aſt er. Friday departures from the UK arrive in Malta on the following Thursday. There is quite a cross-section


of cargo shipped to Malta from the UK. A recent project consisted of several full loads of conveyor belt systems for installation at


are reportedly off ering salaries of €60,000. Some of the need for labour can though be mitigated by investment in IT systems. Abela has also noticed a


tendency for Malta’s banks to be much more bureaucratic and demanding in terms of the documentation needed to open accounts or set up guarantees, a result of the increased scrutiny


of potential money-laundering activities on the island. However, with the economy booming these could be said to be nice problems to have and Eurobridge has been growing rapidly says Abela who has secured some major accounts in the past few months. It operates regular groupage services from all parts of Europe, and is also moving into more specialised areas. As well


///MALTA


as ITAL, it has agency agreements with the likes of DSV and DHL in continental Europe. Possible future markets include


reefer and project cargo, says Abela. Eurobridge has already handled a certain amount of project business through subcontracting including work for the island’s new waste separation scheme and new conveyor belts for the airport.


Malta International Airport. Ital is a specialist in dangerous goods, although Emsley says this is not yet a major business to Malta, although the service is capable of carrying ADR and IMDG goods. Denton adds: “Being associated


with EuroBridge, who were awarded Road Transport Company of the year and Best International Customer Service in the Maritime & Shipping awards, is a privilege, and we look forward to continued growth in this market.”


World gets a peek at Malta treasures


Many centuries ago, when Malta was affl icted by one of the frequent plagues that swept across Europe, the panic- stricken population petitioned a


saintly lady, Santa Rosalia.


They promised that, if the plague were to be ended, they would produce a vast portrait of her to be preserved for prosperity. The people kept their promise,


and so did Santa Rosalia, for the plague never returned and the huge painting, 265 x 170cm, has hung in Malta’s Immaculate Conception of Saria church ever since. However, the portrait has been


on a very rare excursion recently, visiting Sicily as part of an exhibition, with the delicate task of moving it entrusted to local art mover, Transpak. Malta is stuff ed full of art


treasures and Transpak has been busy moving some of them to and from exhibitions all over the world. Last year, the company handled over 15 tonnes of artwork, furnishings, carpets, scrolls from the Koran, pottery and other items from the Qatari Maglis collection for a show at the Valletta Palace in two trailers, plus airfreight, before moving them on to Paris. And a dozen highly delicate


encaustic-on-canvas portraits by local artist Jose Maria Cano were recently moved via Alitalia’s Rome hub to San Diego in the US. Moving art treasures can be


stressful enough at the best of times, says Transpak owner William Vella. However, airfreight


security rules have added an extra twist. Everything, even centuries old paintings and sculptures must be security scanned before being allowed on an aircraſt and if the item is too large to pass through the airport X-ray machine, the case, which will have been very carefully secured by Transpak staff , must be opened up so that hand scanning can be carried out. But not all Transpak’s


commissions involve long- haul transport. It recently


helped move antique musical instruments including bells, a medieval ‘clapper’ used instead of bells during Lent, organs and an early sound recording machine from locations all over Malta to an exhibition in Mdina. However, the item that caused Transpak’s hard-working staff the most grief was a one-tonne tombstone of a long-dead musician that had to be fi rst liſt ed by crane over a balcony and then placed on a skid so that it could be positioned on a stand in the exhibition hall.


/2 Page Adverts.indd 1


23/05/2017 16:24


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40