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Masterminding logistics for student housing


Atlantic Pacific Global Logistics Group won the 2020 BIFA Ocean Services Award in recognition not just of its logistical expertise, but also of its strong commitment to environmental, community


and charitable causes Maintaining a focus


Atlantic Pacific Global Logistics Group (APGL) offers a range of ocean freight-led solutions in verticals such as foodstuffs, perishables, health and pharmaceuticals, energy, automotive, aerospace and e-commerce. The company also actively pursues ways of


supporting ethical and environmental industries or projects. Operations director Kevan Childs said: “While


progress is now being made, logistics is not a vertical that sits at the right end of the environmental scale and this makes us more determined to seek out ways of improving our position. “After attending a charitable event in 2019, we


became aware of a London-based building project creating housing for students using shipping containers. Being in ocean freight, and therefore the container business, we felt we were ideally placed to assist.” The customer was part of a larger group


specialising in housing and building projects based on contemporary design solutions and reusable products. APGL’s role in this particular project was to plan and coordinate the entire logistics element. Over 300 containers were sourced and


converted in China; they would be lifted into place and connected upon arrival at the build site.


Stacking sequence The containers arrived over six to seven weeks, on different vessels and different days. The delivery window was two weeks and there was no space to store them on site. Childs explained: “The ‘build’ was stacking 336


containers in the right order; they were effectively building blocks. However, every container unit was uniquely pre-fitted and therefore had a pre-


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The containers had to be unloaded and craned directly to the build in a pre-arranged order


Kevan Childs (pictured) notes APGL’s support for charitable causes such as the art exhibition This is Gratitude


on charitable giving Noting the “massive” impact that COVID-19 has had on logistics since March 2020, with almost every international movement taking twice as long, Childs said: “Our focus has had to change during this period. For this year, we have concentrated on supporting two charitable causes close to our hearts, as fundraising has been incredibly difficult for charities. “We are sponsors and logistics partners


for Hares About Town and This is Gratitude – community-led public art exhibitions raising funds for a local hospice and NHS charities respectively. We are providing social media support, funds, rewards and the logistics free of charge. “Once logistics starts to return to normal


and COVID-19 hopefully has less impact, we will be actively seeking more environmental projects to support.”


nominated position in the build. “This meant that the deliveries had to be made


in a live sequence, as they were unloaded and craned directly to the build in a pre-arranged order. “If vehicles or container units had arrived out


of sequence, this would have led to the build being held up and not being completed in that narrow window.”


Success in verticals APGL has also had “great success” in building established verticals such as foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals that have seen higher demand during the pandemic. In addition, the company has been


“overwhelmed with the commitment from our client base to our one-stop-shop approach to Europe” following the UK’s departure from the EU, Childs said.


August 2021


www.bifa.org


OCEAN SERVICES AWARD


Established in 2004, Port Express provides a comprehensive range of container transport services to the supply chain industry. Specialising in UK container haulage, Port Express works in partnership with its clients to provide innovative cost- effective supply chain solutions. With ongoing investment and development in new equipment and technology, Port Express operates from strategic locations throughout the UK ensuring the level of service delivered remains among the very best in the industry.


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