lighthouse - November/December-2011

Leading Network offices NVOCC

NVOCCs, or Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers, are third-party intermediaries within the international freight transportation sector primarily serving the less-than-container load market. Over the past few years the NVOCC industry has experienced a high percentage of growth. This growth can be attributed to several factors, but at the core, NVOCCs have grown because they facilitate the international transport of relatively small shipment lots that would otherwise be less likely to move across borders in the ocean freight system.

Consolidated Shipping Services Group is one of the fastest growing NVOCC in the region where it operates.  With the nature of the NVOCC business transforming itself over the past decade, the CSS NVOCC team have developed a new range of service options that have enabled them to become one of the most sought after NVOCC’s in the region. Through research and development of extremely sophisticated software that has changed the nature of the NVOCC offering, the team at CSS has also added more trade lanes to their schedules and entered into partnerships that have led to more services for global oriented customers.

This reputation has guaranteed competitive rates & space with major liners for consolidated shipments on a regular basis. CSS represents the leading NVO’s globally that have Sea Freight Import/Export consolidation to an impressive 1650 destinations on a weekly basis. CSS handles the movements of cargo through major trans-shipment hubs like Singapore, Hamburg, La Spezia, Rotterdam, Durban, Alexandria, Colombo, Felixstowe and New York. At present it features direct export consolidations to over 40 destinations, which include niche sectors like Beirut, Tunis, Port Louis etc.  We also manage direct import consolidations from various origins like Australia, Asia, Africa, North and South America, Europe, and the Middle East.

While NVOCC’s keep a strong focus on servicing a specific industry or commodity, CSS’s NVOCC have a niche operation in the Middle East region with their own network in the major trading hubs of the region; Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and therefore offering their clients a sharp focus, and extremely close working relationships with individual customers.

Mr. T.S. Kaladharan, Chairman, CSS Group stated, “With each market having specific requirements, we felt it was necessary to establish CSS NVOCC network offices in order to cater to the growing demands of our clientele. Our network offices have dedicated teams who are able to provide their customers with a focussed approach of years of expertise.”

Abu Dhabi

Strategically located at the heart of the Arabian Peninsula, CSS Abu Dhabi, since its inception, has experienced phenomenal growth due to its presence in one of the Middle East’s fastest growing markets. Talking about this growth Mr. Suku Sudhakaran, Asst. General Manager, CSS Abu Dhabi, “We are focusing on key export sectors such as Europe, Hamburg, Rotterdam, United Kingdom, North America and the Far East for mainly oilfield spare parts and machinery along with personal effects and relocations movements on a regular basis.  As for imports, we are targeting clients who have regular LCL imports of textiles, lighting equipment, spare parts, dry foodstuffs, healthcare, fitness equipment and electronics.”  CSS Abu Dhabi has opened its new Logistics facility in Mussaffah, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in a strategic move to cater for the volumes of exports and imports serving this region. Conveniently located at the Abu Dhabi Business Hub, the spacious warehouse is spread over an extensive area providing facilities for offices and workspace. With this added logistics facility taken up in Mussaffah, CSS Abu Dhabi aims to provide complete storage and logistical solutions to the Abu Dhabi marketplace.  ICAD 1 is located near to Mussaffah Sea Port and is 12 minutes from the Abu Dhabi International Airport.It covers an area of 14 sq. km and is 30 km away from the heart of the City of Abu Dhabi.

P.O. Box 32454, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Tel: +971 2 6431717, Fax: +971 2 6431919, Email: info@cssabudhabi.com

Bahrain

Bahrain is a small island west of the Arabian Peninsula which is located in close proximity to Saudi Arabia, which lies to its west, and Qatar, which is to its southwest. Meaning “two seas” in Arabic, Bahrain is unique because it is an archipelago of 33 islands with Bahrain Island being the largest. CSS Bahrain’s office which was setup in 2002 has experienced steady growth through the years mainly due first to its location and secondly by the expertise its staff offers. Mr. Narayan RT, General Manager explains, “We have regular LCL Services from all around the globe, especially from China, India, Europe & USA along with regular import consols from China, United Arab Emirates, India and the United Kingdom. We operate weekly export consols to Jebel Ali & Singapore and direct consols to Antwerp every fortnight. Europe & USA are other sectors in which we have regular on going trade with.  The main commodities handled by CSS Bahrain vary from industry to industry, both by way of import and export. The common imports we handle range anywhere from building materials, machinery, oil field equipment’s to project cargoes. The regular exports from Bahrain that we undertake on a consistent basis is machinery/heavy equipment’s, garments, aluminum products and petroleum products. Our dedicated and prudent workforce along with our customs bonded CFS facility within the Mina Salmaan Port has ensured successful handling of ocean freight containers coming in from various ports of the world.” CSS Bahrain has been maintaining an excellent relationship with leading carriers, thereby ensuring competitive rates and services to its valued clients.

P.O. Box 2209, Manama, Bahrain, Tel: +973 17540106, Fax: +973 17540107, Email: info@cslbahrain.com

Dubai

Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi. More than 200 factories operate at the Jebel Ali complex in Dubai, which includes a deep-water port and a free trade zone for manufacturing and distribution in which all goods for re-export or transshipment enjoy a 100% duty exemption.

Its geographical location has made it an important trading hub and by the beginning of the 20th century, it was an important port. Likewise, CSS Dubai was established in 1995 with a vision to cater the ever-growing demand of trade between countries, predominantly in the areas of ocean freight. Since Dubai is a major trading hub by connecting trade from all areas of the world, it was important for CSS Dubai to meet the needs and requirements for both its local and international clientele trading in the Emirates.  “Having our corporate head office based in Dubai and our state of the art CFS facilities in the Jebel Ali Freezone which has been rated among the best in the region we are able to cater for all goods being imported and exported not only from Dubai, but from the other Emirates, i.e.: Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah,” adds Mr. U.B. Prince, Vice President NVOCC Operations.  “Our Ocean Freight Management team of CSS handles movement of cargoes from any global origin/destination, be it LCL or FCL and as a leading NVOCC, CSS has secured excellent relationships with leading carriers, thereby ensuring outstanding rates and services,” he explains.

Corporate Office, P.O. Box 27802, Dubai, UAE, Tel: +971 4 3248884, Fax: +971 4 3249994, Email: info@cssdubai.com

Kuwait

Looking specifically at Kuwait, Mr. Dean Landers, General Manager, CSS Kuwait, commented, “For Kuwait, China is one of the strongest markets. Chinese products form the major imports into Kuwait and CSS Kuwait has weekly imports from Shanghai, Shenzhen, Ningbo, and Guangzhou. Since Kuwait is an import-dominated market, products as small as pins and buttons to enormous machinery, all get imported into Kuwait. Due to the ideal location of the major Middle East markets, the Far East and India is able to benefit from goods that are imported into Kuwait.  Our custom built state of the art warehouse at Shuwaikh which is an industrial area within the Al Asimah Governorate in the country of Kuwait is used for storage and export cargoes while our bonded warehouse facility in the Kuwait Free Trade Zone (KFTZ) is attached the Shuwaikh port and is mainly used for import cargoes. Shuwaikh port, due to its location and accessibility in the heart of the city is the most frequented port for all vessels carrying commercial cargoes.”

C/o ADC Forwarding Services Co.W., 1st floor,  Suhair Commercial Centre,  Al Hilali  Street, Opp. Sharq Fire Station
P.O.Box 12075,Shamiya 71651, Kuwait, Tel: +965 22493957,+965 22400176, Fax: +965 22458892, Email : css@csskuwait.com

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest Arab country. It is bordered by Jordan and Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south. With an approximate size of 2,149,690 square kilometres, it is only natural that a number of offices were setup in Saudi Arabia to cope with client needs, currently CSS Saudi Arabia has 3 offices situated in Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh. Giving his insight into the NVOCC market in Saudi Arabia, Mr. Faisal, Director CSS Saudi Arabia.

“CSS Saudi has conveniently located its bonded warehouse facility in the Damman and Jeddah Free Zone; both locations are ideal as a hub and gateway for Saudi Arabian imports and re-exports to neighbouring Gulf & Middle East countries. The Damman bonded and Re-export Zone is situated within the confines of King Abdul Aziz complex in Dammam and provides access to 22 millions consumers in the Saudi market and 1.2 billion consumers in the markets of neighbouring countries. The many advantages offered by CSS Saudi is the easy access made by land, sea or air to any regional destination. King Fahad International Airport is just 45kms away and the advanced highways network as well as the railway network; provide practical land-transit access to Saudi Arabia’s main cities and all neighbouring countries. The main imports into Saudi Arabia are machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles and textiles, while major exports from Saudi Arabia are petroleum and petroleum products. Consolidated Shipping Services – Saudi Arabia is one of the leading freight forwarders in the region and is backed by a young, energetic and professional team which provide cost effective logistical solutions for all of its customers.”

P.O.Box 9580, Dammam – 31423, Tel : + 966 3 8333636, Fax : +966 3 8320533, Email : docdmm@csssaudi.com
P.O.Box 14051, Riyadh – 11422, Tel  : +966 1 2063111, Tax  : +966 1 2921260,  Email : docryd@csssaudi.com
P.O.Box 52143, Jeddah – 21563, Tel  : +966 2 6427330, Fax : +966 2 6437220, Email : docjed@csssaudi.com

Network Agents Of CSS Group

Built with the philosophy of fostering business relations that result in mutual, beneficial growth, CSS has been able to create and maintain the most enviable list of global network partners in the industry. The success of the CSS Group is attributed to these individual and group of companies that have continued to work hand in hand with us to ensure an unmatched level of service to our customers.

Providing insight and understanding the future of the global freight forwarding industry has always been the cornerstone of the CSS Group’s success. By recognizing an opportunity in the market, CSS Group set about finding global industry leaders that shared the same passion for excellence in customer service, and incomparable industry experience in their region.  Today over 1650 destinations on a weekly sailing compliments CSS’ service, apart from supporting various projects and personal effects. With an unmatched list of partners, spanning the entire globe, CSS Group would like to thank each and everyone for their continued dedication, support and utmost professionalism since the inception of the partnerships.

CaroTrans – A global team that cares about its customers

CaroTrans is a leading global NVOCC and ocean freight consolidator dedicated to delivering the highest level of customer service and support.  They accomplish this with committed local teams of ocean transportation experts that are positioned to provide exceptional service in key trading markets throughout the world.  CaroTrans’ global offices, in combination with strategic partners, provide a strong global network of import and export operations dedicated to service excellence.  They believe that well established local teams with regional market knowledge provide the highest level of customer care and service. This is the hallmark of the CaroTrans brand.

“We are very pleased to be partnering with the CSS Group in the important Middle East, Africa, and North America trade region.  This alliance creates a comprehensive network of local teams dedicated to delivering superior LCL, FCL, breakbulk, out of gauge, and ro ro cargo handling services,” said Greg Howard, Global CEO, CaroTrans.  Greg continued, “Our cultures are completely compatible.  We are both 100% focused on the highest level of support and service for our customers.”

“CaroTrans is not new to Middle East trade.  The company has been involved with the region for over 16 years.  We currently offer weekly direct consolidation services to Dubai from our primary gateways of Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta, Charleston and New York,” added Howard.

FPS Global Logistics Pte Ltd (Singapore), started out in 1988 and partnered with CSS Group Dubai in 2003. Shortly thereafter, this mutually beneficial partnership was extended to CSS India, which has allowed for both companies to grow from strength to strength. Today, FPS is one of Singapore’s leading consolidators, providing ocean and air forwarding services to more than 50 countries with diversified businesses in warehousing, trucking and project management which have led to the enhancement of FPS’ total logistics.  “We have been associated with CSS for close to a decade now and the basis of our service standards together offers our clients a personalized unparalleled shipping knowledge and competent handling of their shipments. Attributed with strong foundations and coupled with skilled and dedicated management and staff teams with a further support of IT capabilities, we are well positioned to meet the continual changes and demands in the global market place,” added Mr. Alvin Tan, CEO & Managing Director FPS Singapore.

FPS Hong Kong was founded in 1990 with a business concentration in China that specifically covers the Pearl River Delta whereby since 2005 offices have been established in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhongshan, Shunde and Foshan.  As one of the founding members and the driving power in the global agency network of Famous Pacific Shipping Group since 1994; FPS Hong Kong has been providing a professional service to the global marketplace.  The Gulf and Middle East is one of the major business targets of the company between FPS and CSS Group since their partnership was established in 2002. “With over 10 years of coordination and a very strong business relationship with CSS Group we have been able to build upon our partnerships and further extend our reach to other CSS Network offices worldwide,” added Mr. Edmond Tong, Director, FPS Hong Kong.

FPS Logistics (Thailand) was established in 2001 as an international sea and airfreight forwarder that provides a full range of worldwide consolidation services, logistics management including air/sea freight forwarding, project cargo handling and customs formalities services.  “Having partnered for over a decade with CSS Group we have witnessed both companies growing substantially whilst promising mutual growth collectively,” says Mr. Kettivit Sittisoontornwong, FPS Chairman.

FPS Rotterdam, Famous Pacific Shipping Rotterdam is one of the leading consolidators of Rotterdam. Started in 2001 with their first export consolidation container to Singapore, Famous Pacific Shipping Rotterdam has rapidly grown in the past 10 years into one of Rotterdam’s leading consolidators. Having partnered with CSS Group over 9 years ago, the friendship has rapidly led to a successful reciprocal business relationship. The commitment and dedication of the combined forces of CSS and FPS resulted to the fact that within a short period of time FPS could add the Middle East, India and East Africa to their reputation as preferred consolidator in the forwarding industry. Commenting on the excellent services provided by CSS as a destination partner, Mr. Jean-Paul van Munster, FPS Managing Director-Rotterdam, stated, “One can offer the best possible service at origin, but it is wasted if the partner at the destination does not live up to the same standard, but this is not the case with CSS which has proven to be the preferred partner at destination”.

Get Shipping Co., Ltd. is a comprehensive freight forwarder corporation that covers business from export & import sea freight / air freight / FCL & LCL shipment and corresponding logistical services especially in the area of consolidation.

The company started with clients-oriented objectives for long-term development in the freight forwarding market and appreciates the high reputation received from the industry due to excellent service quality, reliable overseas agents and competitive selling rates.

Get Shipping Co., Ltd. developed its business relationship with CSS Group in 2005 and during the past 7 years, the cooperation with CSS Group has developed exponentially. CSS Group handles the consolidation/ FCL & LCL / air freight to Jebel Ali, while providing the best service of transshipment to seaports & airports nearby in the Middle East. “Our partnership with CSS Group each year gets stronger and with the dedicated employee’s and excellent customer service offered by both companies, we look forward to continually building on our business relationship with CSS” added Ms. Elaine Yang, Director Get Shipping Co., Ltd.

Oriental Logistics Group Ltd. (OLC) was established and headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan in March of 2000. After sometime it established branches in Taichung, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Wuxi, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Putian, Fuzhou, Ningbo, Qingdao, Zibo, Weihai, Jinan, Huangdao, Zhongshan, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Dalian, Zhuhai, Ho Chi Minh and Haiphong. The staff strength has grown from 30 employees in early 2000 to over 900 by 2011. With a professional and experienced team offering excellent service quality, OLC has the honor to pass the severe competition in its marketplace and be listed on the TOP 500 Service Industries in Taiwan for consecutive years in a row.

OLC handles Sea and Air Freight, and also operates a state-of-the-art logistics business. It creates a perfectly designed global service network, and supply chain with professional agents all over the world. “It’s an honor to work with CSS for over 10 years since year 2002, and due to this excellent business relationship we are able to achieve a good business performance in the Persian Gulf area owing to CSS’ well-organized system and complete service of CFS. CSS is definitely our best partner in the Persian Gulf area and we will continue the successful, fruitful and long-term cooperation with CSS for years to come,” added Mr. Allen Tsai, President of Oriental Logistics Group Ltd.

Established in April 2000 and with its head office in Taiwan, Panda Logistics Qingdao has been a partner with CSS for over 3 years. Based on the similar culture and higher quality standards, this partnership has enabled Panda Logistics to sup¬port their customers with weekly direct consolidation services to Dubai and bring a first class service, resources and expertise to the marketplace. “Our relationship with CSS Group, has given us a strong advantage over our competitors’ as it allows us to expand our service capabilities through a seamless network of offices like Kuwait, Jeddah, Bahrain etc. in the Middle East,” commented Mr. Richard Wu, Managing Director of Panda Logistics Co, LTD Qingdao Branch.

Portever Shipping Ltd. Situated at Ningbo–a beautiful port city on the China East Coastline in Zhejiang Province, Portever Shipping Ltd. was established in 1995 and is one of the oldest NVOCC in Ningbo. With over 300 professional staff that are specialized in consolidation business, FCL and customs clearance, Portever Shipping Ltd was approved by the China Ministry of Communications in August 2002 and became an NVOCC. Afterwards it was designated to be an international freight forwarder, which allowed engaging business as customs declaration and an inspection declaration broker. Mr. Luo Zhongli, Managing Director Portever Shipping Ltd added, “We began our partnership with CSS Group in 2001 and since then we have worked well together ensuring excellent customer service for all of our worldwide clients. We look forward to continuing to grow this partnership for years to come.”

CaroTrans – CSS

CSS Group and CaroTrans have teamed up to create a new alliance to strengthen their service offerings from North America to the Middle East and African markets.  The new cooperation will offer the most comprehensive LCL and FCL service capabilities available in the market.  CaroTrans and CSS are well-established service providers and collectively will offer an extensive network of offices and dedicated NVOCC experts providing excellent representation, professional user-friendly services, while catering to the North American, Middle East and African trade lanes. Through this alliance, neutral warehousing & logistics in the industry with state of the art facilities throughout North America and the Middle East will be enhanced and improved throughout the Middle Eastern and African trade routes. Today, CaroTrans and CSS are unique in their operations with their own warehouse facilities in the USA and the Middle East for the cargo receiving and forwarding as well as adding many other features such as, bar coding and specialized handling of freight within the NVOCC market space.

CaroTrans Opens Dallas Office To Serve Growing Gulf Volumes

With its opening of a Dallas area office, neutral non-vessel-operating common carrier and ocean freight consolidator CaroTrans International is positioned to handle growth in cargo volumes through Gulf of Mexico ports.

“We do anticipate growth via the Gulf ports,” Greg Howard, global chief executive officer of Union, N.J.-based CaroTrans, told the American Journal of Transportation. “Being locally positioned in Dallas better serves the needs of the customer.”

Factors contributing to escalation of Gulf port activity, according to Howard, include the attractiveness of Houston as a South American market gateway, with lower costs and less congestion than U.S. West Coast ports; growing demand for bringing Asian cargo into a region that extends from Texas to Arkansas, Oklahoma and beyond; and increases in steamship lines’ tonnage serving the Gulf region. Such trends are seen as accelerating in conjunction with the 2014 completion of Panama Canal expansion.

The May opening of CaroTrans’ Dallas area office in Grapevine, Texas, is consistent with the NVOCC’s commitment to provide a local presence, said Howard, who noted that CaroTrans also opened its own office in Santiago, Chile, in May and plans additional U.S. office openings later this year in the Pacific Northwest and an as-yet-unannounced Midwest-Central state location.  “As an NVO, we need to go where our customers are,” Howard said. “The Dallas area office is a major feeder into Houston for less-than-container load shipments that are consolidated into containers headed for Europe, the Middle East, South America, Asia and Oceania,” he said. CaroTrans’ 13 U.S. offices also include a Houston location.

Whereas LCL still represents about 60 percent of CaroTrans’ business, full container loads have been on a rapid upswing for the firm, with FCL increasing at a pace of more than 30 percent over the past seven years, according to Howard, who termed the FCL boom “a permanent trend as opposed to a fad.”

Howard said more companies are bringing their full loads to NVOCCs, as opposed to directly to steamship lines, because of increased flexibility in service offerings without quantity commitments, higher levels of customer service and, often, better credit terms.  While CaroTrans anticipates continued heavy involvement, especially via Houston, in moves of oil well and exploratory machinery and equipment, the Dallas office will be engaged with shipments of more higher-value consumer products and equipment, according to Howard. Commodities for which documentation is being issued through the Dallas office include automotive and aircraft parts, oil well equipment, foodstuffs, restaurant equipment, lubricants, petrochemicals, footwear, finished products and raw materials, Howard said. The office also has been facilitating shipments to the Middle East of road construction equipment. (The American Journal of Transportation, June 27, 2011)

The new FPS – CSS Partnership

FAMOUS PACIFIC SHIPPING, SINGAPORE AND CONSOLE SHIPPING SERVICES INDIA PVT. LTD; JOIN HANDS –


Famous Pacific Shipping, Singapore (Famous Pacific Shipping) and Console Shipping Services India Pvt. Ltd. join hands.  This opens up a new horizon of trade exchanges for both the FPS Group and Console Shipping services India Pvt. Ltd. CSS Group is one of the biggest NVOCC and logistics providers in the Middle East and the Indian Sub-continent with full fledged operations from all major cities. CSS Group takes pride in having an excellent global network partnership as well. The landmark association with FPS Singapore gives the opportunity for Console Shipping Services India Pvt. Ltd. to participate on a larger scale of business of both Export & Import with South East Asia and Oceania. Jairam K R, who is the Director of the company, heads Console Shipping Services India Pvt. Ltd.

Famous Pacific Shipping Singapore have an established worldwide network of strategic alliances with consolidators covering the whole of South East Asia, Europe, North and South America, Middle East, Australia, Oceania and Africa. FPS is currently one of Singapore’s leading consolidators providing ocean and air forwarding services to more than 50 countries globally. The strategic alliance will double the volume of consolidation business with regards to exports and imports. CSS India would now be providing services to the entire Far East and Oceania region with Singapore being the shipping hub for both exports and imports.

Over the years, Consolidated Shipping Group has emerged as one of the leading integrated freight forwarding & logistics solutions provider, in the regions they operate. With substantial man-years of experience across multimodal transportation & logistics solutions, Console Shipping Services India Pvt. Ltd has become a trusted partner for the industry.

Console Shipping Services India, with its strategic positioning at all the gateway ports of the country, is capable of handling all types of logistical movements both imports and exports from any remotest part of the country. Closely monitored system of operations and the highly sophisticated management by the software engineering called FINS (Functionally Integrated Solutions) provides the company and its clients, a fully transparent and quick solution for all the operations.

Today, Console Shipping Services operates from all of the metros in India and have networked in reaching out to the farthest and remotest region of the country. The association with FPS Singapore will definitely see greater results in the near future.