10


Issue 3 2020 - Freight Business Journal


employees were set up to work remotely but


with essential


warehouse staff on site, adding: “A bold, progressive welfare policy, developed over the last few years, has been extended to cover essential


costs


Freight services to and from Italy are continuing at relatively normal levels, despite the near- lockdown of the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, says Phil Denton, managing director of Manchester-based specialist, ITAL Logistics. He told FBJ: “We have round


trip trailers operating as normal, and we have yet to reduce the service. As long as the freight is being booked and they allow the drivers in and out, we will carry on as normal. We are still moving all types of freight in and out of Italy.” He said: “Indeed, in the week


aſt er the Easter break, we have maintained service levels of just over 50% which, considering the lockdown, is encouraging.” In the early stages of the Italian


lockdown some hauliers did not wish to enter the country. However: “With due diligence and taking all the correct action prescribed by our respective governments, most are working


as normal.” Denton added: “We are all


also following individual site rules in each country. The same procedures


and protocol are


also being applied on our road freight services to Spain, Portugal, Greece, France, Malta and all other services.” Some


ferry lines initially


refused to book self-drive vehicles, although again this situation seems to be easing. The most severe impact was on freight only services


carrying


dangerous goods. Some services, such as UK/


Malta, use Italy as a transit point. So far, says Denton: “We have not had any severe delays at the ports. However we are aware that some ferry operators will reduce the number of drivers allowed on board, which will no doubt cause delays. One particular shipping line has advised us it will not allow any drivers on board and will only permit unaccompanied vehicles.”


He concluded: “I really would


like to thank all of my team, and valued suppliers who have been working hard to maintain the best possible service to our clients in such unprecedented time. The aim of Ital Logistics is to provide a quality, reliable, and personalised service with openness, honesty and integrity, and to always perform to the very best of our abilities.. When all restrictions are liſt ed we will continue as normal to do what we do best.” Groupage operator Transmec


said the industrial shutdown in Italy and the UK had had a major impact on freight movements. While a few companies are beginning to reopen – a trend expected to continue - volumes remain low and automotive manufacturers are still shut. Transmec has however remained operational to meet customer needs, albeit at a much reduced level.


In the UK, Transmec has also been busy with domestic freight


Trains keep Italy rolling


Italian container terminal and intermodal


service provider


Contship says that there was already a severe shortage of truck drivers, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. But the situation aſt er the outbreak “massively deteriorated” due to restrictions on movement and tightened border measures. Contship is however providing


alternative intermodal solutions and minimising reliance on trucks. Rail transport can move large quantities of goods over long distances with fewer people. For example, a train crew


of two, plus around 60 staff at terminals (the latter handling 20 pairs of trains daily) can move the equivalent of 40 semi-


trailers. About 800 truck drivers would be needed to transport the same amount of cargo. Contship’s inland terminal,


Rail Hub Milan (in Melzo) runs daily train services to several ports and logistics hubs including La Spezia, Genoa, Ravenna, Padua, Bari, Basel, Zurich, Rotterdam, Vienna, Duisburg and Munich. Head of marketing and communication


at will begin shiſt ing a in the transition process to


minimize any impact.” Contship’s rail freight service is


already operating in ‘contactless’ mode with increased hygiene practices and social distancing. The company adds: “The


Contship


Italia Group, Daniele Testi, said: “More companies in the logistics sector


signifi cant amount of goods to rail in order to reduce drivers across Europe and reduce carbon footprint. Contship is actively supporting our clients


Global logistics SOLUTIONS


Local needs TAILORED TO YOUR


Strategic supply chain partners www.transmecgroup.com


current situation is in fact a wake- up call, for us to rethink how we can improve the modal shiſt . A better ratio between road and rail will make supply chains more resilient to risk and unforeseen circumstances. The market is experiencing the issues of modal shiſt only when it is becoming an urgent need, but it takes time and equipment to build a reliable intermodal solution. It can’t be built overnight. Our industry must think ahead.”


movements. The company has started to


carry out blood serum tests of its employees and is now evaluating the measures to be taken to


ranging from


medical costs to babysitting.” Road operators have also been


able to off set any shortage of truck drivers by making more use of rail and intermodal services. Transmec says that its intermodal service provides a reliable alternative for transporting freight between Italy and Romania, for instance, adding that it involves minimal human contact compared to other forms of transport. Group operations director Europa Worldwide


at Group,


reduce risk and plan the restart of activities. However, it added that it had


never really stopped its activities in the food and medical sectors, despite an 80% reduction of business during the last month. Transmec said 50% of its


Some train services have been


reduced in line with demand but to try and avoid congestion at maritime terminals, Contship is keeping train services from La Spezia, Genoa and Ravenna to Melzo, Padua and Reggio Emilia running as frequently as possible. Meanwhile,


Italian Industry


has rallied round to provide an integrated storage and logistics solutions Since March 27, the North Tyrrhenian port system has been faced with the challenge of managing thousands of containers coming into Northern Italy that cannot be delivered to companies for at least two weeks. At La Spezia Container Terminal, Contship has committed with the local port community to make available a number of storage and transport solutions including 100,000teu


Dan Cook (pictured), said the groupage operator was, in late March, continuing to operate three scheduled round trips per day between Como and its 1Hub in Dartford. He commented: “We have had no issues at all from a driver safety perspective.” Truckers have been issued


with sanitising gel, disinfectant wipes and face masks. They also spend very little time outside their vehicles, since they are operating only to and from our Europa’s partner depot in Como.


at its intermodal hubs in Milan, Dinazzano and Padova as well as within 15km from La Spezia Container Terminal. To ensure the delivery of perishable


goods, Contship


is also off ering solutions for cargo such as fruit, vegetables and medical supplies, in 45ſt high-cube reefer containers, with integrated sets between


Italy


generator and the


Netherlands in cooperation with its partner DistriRail, Rotterdam. It runs a daily train connection off ering capacity for all types of full loaded containers including 20ſt , 30ſt , 40ſt high cube, 45ſt , 30ſt tanks and reefers. When the crisis is fi nally over, as manufacturing returns to normal and catches up with the backlog, there will likely be a surge in containerised imports and exports, Contship adds.


///ITALY


That company has put strict processes in place to separate drivers from its staff , and ensuring measures are in place for drivers to be distanced from each other and other people. A few weeks previously,


Europa switched from driver accompanied operation on Eurotunnel to unaccompanied ferry services between Tilbury and Zeebrugge, shuttling trailers by road between Dartford and Tilbury and between Zeebrugge and Como. Cook added: “Volume has


actually been surprisingly buoyant really right up until this week.” However, he believes that volumes will soon drop sharply. Europa is seeing an increase in


e-commerce exports to Italy and is doing some extra line haul for clients in that sector. He concluded: “I hope once


the world comes out of this pandemic, that industry fi res back up, factories start producing, consumers start consuming, and movements ramp back up to previous levels. Of course, I think there is a real likelihood that we enter a period where the economic situation is much weaker than before, and this may infl uence how ‘back to normal’ services can become.”


To cope with sudden demand, Contship is ready to increase its own-asset intermodal and handling solutions to better service clients, adding: “We also hope that Italy, being the fi rst country aff ected by the outbreak, will be also the fi rst country to exit from the peak of the crisis.” Contship


Italia Group’s


Hannibal subsidiary has jointly organized a webinar with ((*)) DistriRail, Rotterdam’s


largest


privately owned rail and logistics services provider, to share their intermodal alternatives and cool solutions for intra-EU and short- sea trades moving between the Netherlands and northern Italy, amid the current disruption. See: https://resources.


contshipitalia.com/en/webinar- hannibal-distrirail-intermodal- opportunities


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