The last few months have proved to be really invigorating, for all of us, as we have had opportunities to participate and interact during the Exhibitions and conferences in shipping & logistics around the globe. We have enjoyed sharing news and views about changing business patterns and concepts. At CSS we had a beneficial and enjoyable time as we were able to combine some serious business discussions, amongst top and middle management, with convivial leisure activities.
Such events prompt me to ask, “Isn’t it time for us to think about something new in our business strategies?” I believe the answer must be “yes”.
We are heading towards the CSS Group Sales strategy meet. This will be an ideal occasion to think about, discuss and develop new ideas and outcomes.
Recently, entrepreneurs and progressive businesses have started giving special spaces in their organizations for “idea-makers”. To some this may seem an unexpected designation but it is very interesting isn’t it? To be competitive, especially in the field of sales and marketing, there is a great demand for this type of professional input.
Idea-makers are people who originate and implement their ideas and passions in an entirely unique combination which invite greater results. To many their “off the wall” concepts usually challenge accepted norms. We have professionals in our company who have ideas, who thrive on challenges so as to take our business to higher levels. Their innovative thoughts are a catalyst for all of us to discover new and better ways to provide services for our customers. Idea makers know how to combine freedom of thought, the demands of business and the enjoyment of exploring. I am confident similar considerations will enable us to have a very fruitful and constructive strategy meeting.
Let new ideas emerge in our thought process so as to explore new heights of accomplishments for CSS.
T. S. Kaladharan
Month: November 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.
CSS Sales Strategy Meet
Each year, CSS Group gathers for its annual CSS Sales Strategy Meet whereby the management teams from all of its global offices get together for a few days of corporate meetings, presentations, case studies, team building activities and an overall review of the current and next years strategies.
Over the years, the management has been fortunate enough to attend the Strategy Meet’s in various countries, reaching there by sea, air and land!
From the sandy beaches of Goa, India, to the vast Arabian Sea and gulf countries on a cruise liner, to the serene and tranquil environment of Sri Lanka, and the architectural paradise of Dubai, this year our travel takes us to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Scheduled for December 2011, CSS Bahrain will be hosting the CSS Group Sales Strategy Meet while offering its first class Arab hospitality for all of the attendees.
Strategecially located, Bahrain is a small island west of the Arabian Peninsula which is in close proximity to Saudi Arabia to its west and Qatar, 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.
High & Heavy Movements From CSS
CSS is making significant progress in developing a specialist division, which handles High and Heavy RoRo/Break bulk cargo – regardless if it is single cargo or part of a project, cargo can be easily loaded on specialized vessels, stowed on high and heavy decks. Lorries, trucks, trailers, buses, excavators or over dimensional moveable machinery is the basis of the CSS global cargo movement’s door-to-door worldwide. Since this division’s inception this year we have moved hundreds of machines worldwide. Also some world renowned name brands have taken interest in the services, our partners and what we presently offer and have started working with us. Ken Dinnadge, VP Business Development CSS stated, “Obviously we are delighted with the progress we have made so far as CSS is rapidly becoming known as a specialist in this segment of the market. This is also part of the CSS Group business diversification initiative. Many shipping lines are now working with us so that we can compete on a global stage. We have also spent time putting in place the right resources as well as invested in developing and marketing an excellent product/service. Providing this type of service allows CSS to gain access into many markets and multinational companies.”
During a recent Dubai Auction, CSS were the preferred logistics partner for several main buyers, which is again a testament to how far CSS have come in such a short period of time within the heavy equipment logistics sector.
CSS Logistics
New Warehouse Facility
CSS Logistics established in 2006 has stretched itself with its wide global network. With the growing demand in the market for the storage facility, CSS Logistics has taken its first steps for opening a new warehouse facility in Jebel Ali Free Zone. The new facility is built with a state of the art office area and a temperature controlled warehouse facility which has a floor area over 600 sq.mt, with loading and offloading ramps with platforms and trench for heavy-duty over dimensional loads. Qais Abdulla, Branch Manager will be overseeing the warehouse activities assisted by Arun P, Team Leader along with the specially trained and skilled CSS employees will be handling the warehouse operations.
Overriding Recession
CSS Kolkata
Kolkata, like any other major cities of India is slowly being entangled in the grip of recession. One has to say that doing business is becoming an expensive affair, when you see the graphs from the Shipping Industry. This is not the case only with Kolkata or India. The entire world is suffering from recession in one form or other.
CSS Kolkata is successfully riding the waves of this so called recession phenomena. The management confirms that a change in the recent political atmosphere of this mighty city has till date has not done any thing better of this situation. But CSS with its professional experience and the trust shown by their partners has managed the situation in a very good way. Over the last months, some remarkable growth was achieved in the LCL volumes. The company is planning for some major breakthroughs in the Projects sector as well.
CSS Kolkata management and staff takes pride for being considered one amongst the first three players, in terms of business by the shipping fraternity in their region. A result they achieved only because of hard work and commitment. Plans are underway for own warehousing facility to cater its business partners in a better way by the CSS management in Kolkata. Presently CSS India from its operational base in Kolkata caters to the need of the entire West Bengal region, Orissa, Tripura and Assam. They extend their servicing to the neighboring countries of Nepal and Bhutan as well. The only way to penetrate the interiors and some remote locations in the North Eastern region is to have a strong and efficient transportation network. Concur service is available in some parts but it only depends upon the load factor and it cannot guarantee timely service.
CSS Group MENA – Regional Meeting
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 marked the day for the CSS Group MENA (Middle East & North Africa) regional commercial meeting whereby the management teams from all regions, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat, and Saudi Arabia gathered for a full day of meetings and corporate team building activities.
The Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach, the preferred corporate hotel partner of CSS Group was the chosen venue and lies in the heart of one of Dubai’s newest dynamic and most lively urban locations, Jumeirah Beach Residence. This 5-star hotel is modern, chic and contemporary all in one, featuring lively dining and entertainment options, expansive recreational and modern meeting, conference and banqueting facilities and is only few steps away from the beach of the stunning Arabian Gulf.
Throughout the day, the management team’s reviewed strategies facilitated presentations and participated in corporate case studies that would enable CSS Group to better serve their clientele.
Projects At A Glance
Power Project
CSS Projects, Oil & Energy was assigned to handle clearance, transport & installation of 3 Transformers weighing 130 tons each to Fujairah Sudah Port Substation. These transformers reached Jebel Ali port on heavy lift vessel and were directly received by hydraulic multi axle trailers. The units were then transported to Fujairah for installation. The transformers were finally installed on to foundation rails by jacking & skidding. The project was completed in 6 days. CSS team supervised the entire operation resulting in utmost customer satisfaction.
Paper Arabia
UAE’s consumption of paper is among the highest in the world, according to international industry statistics released on the sidelines of Paper Arabia exhibition. According to the Indonesian Pulp and Paper Association, one of the biggest associations in the world specializing in paper, the per capita annual consumption of paper in the UAE is 200 kg, against the global average consumption of 60 kg.
This is a significant figure for the UAE with a small population, when compared with a country like India where the per capita consumption is mere 9 kg. UAE’s consumption is on par with Italy and Spain.
In 2010, the UAE consumed 3.5 million tons of paper, against 18 million tons in the entire Middle East region and 450 million tons globally in 2010, according to International Pulp and Paper Association.
These statistics were revealed at the inauguration of Paper Arabia 2011, the first-of-its-kind industry expo, which was inaugurated by HE Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on Sunday, 18 September 2011 at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Organizers of the show said that A4 paper led the demand for paper in the UAE, and the overall growth in paper consumption was between 5 and 6% where 12 paper mills operates in the country.
Talking about the importance of using latest technologies in saving production costs, Amith Horra, Marketing Manager CSS added, “ The Paper industry is developing all over the world, especially in the GCC countries. It is important to attend these exhibitions as Paper Arabia 2011 was dedicated to the development of the paper, printing and packaging industry in the GCC. We are able to identify key suppliers, vendors while networking with new and potential prospects which reflects our efforts to highlight key regional industry segments.”
KEY INFORMATION
Paper Arabia 2011 is bringing together players from the paper, tissue and converting industries. This show offers opportunities to the manufacturers and suppliers of finished products, equipment, machinery, paper chemicals, services, supplies of paper, tissue and converting sector to tap the Middle East and North African markets.
Paper Arabia, with more than 150 exhibitors from 25 countries from across the world, is a key platform for traders and industry players to interact. The show’s participants include leading global names from the UAE, Italy, Jordan, India, China, Netherlands USA and UK amongst others.
New Challenges, More Responsibilities
Don Raveendran
Asst. Manager – Ocean Freight & CFS Operations
Don started his career with CSS as an Operations Executive – Airfreight and has proven his ability in handling operations in CFS and leading a team that has been appreciated by management several times. After 3 years of his tenure with CSS in several modes of operations and in consolidation, Don was delegated as the Assistant Manager of CFS. Don has proved his ability to handle critical CFS operations and excellent time management in handling imports and exports at the custom bonded warehouse. His experiences in the operations have given confidence to the management to give him additional responsibilities of handling the Ocean Freight operations. “It has been wonderful 8 years with CSS which has profited me with enormous domain knowledge and I take this responsibility as a challenge and looking forward to give best of the efforts” Don says.
Chandrakala (CK)
Asst. Manager – NVOCC Operations
Chandrakala, equipped with Bachelors in Business administration is pursuing a Masters in Logistics. On April 2010 she has decided to impart her knowledge in the logistics business. She joined as a Management Trainee and has vested her time in various departments in Sales and Operations. Her interest towards the Shipping and Logistics has brought her into the business and now she has taken the responsibility of Asst. Manager NVOCC operations. “In fact the NVOCC business is quite challenging and looking forward to finding new techniques to optimize the operation time and cost to bring in more efficiency in the operations,” added CK.
Jayandan P I
Team Leader – CFS Operations
An Outstanding performer- Jayandan is known for his commitment, dedication and professionalism at work. From humble beginnings as a Tally Clerk in CFS he had strived to secure the position as Team Leader- CFS. He was awarded the top scorer in the Dangerous Goods certification training, which proved his expertise in the domain. His flexibility, adaptability and leadership skills will help him to turn out into an effective leader.
Vishnu Nazir
Team Leader – NVOCC Operations
Vishnu joined as the Jr. Operations Executive 4 years back. He was a quick learner and patient listener from his early days of the career. The interest towards knowing the export and import operations profited him with the business knowledge. He was Team Leader export before he was re assigned as the Team Leader for the entire NVOCC operations. “Vishnu has been a promising employee since his beginning of the career and he has taken responsibilities and took decisions at the right time and also lead the team from the front and we believe he will excel in his new responsibility” added U B Prince, VP NVOCC Operations.
CSS Welcomes
Over 2 decades of expertise in Logistics and Shipping business, Rajeev have joined CSS as the Business Development Manager, Projects, Oil & Energy department. After completing MBA in Marketing Management he had been working with various shipping companies in India as well as in Dubai before joining CSS. His domain expertise and knowledge will add value to the organization to bring in prospective business to the organization and moreover impart the knowledge to fellow employees.
“CSS headquartered in Dubai is one of the reputed organizations in the regions it operates and it is indeed a prestigious moment for me to be part of the CSS family and I take this opportunity extended to me to deliver the best,” he added.
CaroTrans’ Local Approach
Group CEO Howard outlines strategy for neutral NVO’s expansion
CaroTrans International may be among the larger non-vessel-operating common carriers when it comes to geographic coverage and information technology, but it operates in a manner more consistent with a niche or regional player.
“Although we’re a big business, we think and act small,” said Group Chief Executive Officer Greg Howard, in an interview. “Our strategy has always been to maintain a decentralized and localized stance in whatever country we operate.”
This means CaroTrans prefers to empower its managers at the branch level to cultivate and service customers, instead of centralizing functions, such as booking cargo and documentation, in far-flung service centers.
“All the work in the U.S. offices remains in the U.S. The only thing we export is freight, not jobs,” Howard said. “The same goes in other markets that we operate. All the work is handled by local teams.”
Running the business from the branch level out gives forwarders local access to CaroTrans’ decision makers, he added.
Similarly, CaroTrans prefers to cultivate future managers from within its ranks instead of poaching employees from other NVOs. Howard started as an entry-level clerk when he joined the company in 1984 and soon was tasked to open the NVO’s European and Asian network.
“We believe in succession planning as we build our future leaders,” Howard said. “We have a very good mix of experience and youth. We promote from within and break down bureaucracy at every opportunity. Our DNA is clearly defined and known amongst the team.”
What’s not decentralized is CaroTrans’ IT strategy. The NVO is among 50 companies of different sizes and industries working with Microsoft to implement its Windows.net business platform.
“There has been significant investment in user applications which provide additional avenues into the company and ways for clients to interact with our operations,” Howard said. “Internal processes have been redesigned using new software development tools. This in turn has led to further innovation.”
CaroTrans was started in 1979 by Jim Justiss of Carolina Freight Corp., and initially prospered in the U.S./Puerto Rico trade before expanding in the late 1980s to other world markets. In the mid-1990s, Carolina Freight was acquired by Fort Worth, Ark.-based Arkansas Best Corp., and CaroTrans became Clipper International, a division of the trucking company’s domestic intermodal provider Clipper Group.
Realizing an opportunity to resurrect the CaroTrans brand, Howard helped negotiate a deal with Arkansas Best to buy Clipper International in 1999.
Although CaroTrans is now a subsidiary of New Zealand-based logistics firm Mainfreight Ltd., the NVO continues to operate as an independent neutral consolidator, meaning it provides less-than-containerload and full-containerload services to forwarders and their affiliated NVOs.
Since then, CaroTrans has watched its business expand, even during the worst of the economic downturn in late 2008 and 2009.
“We experienced steady and consistent export LCL volume throughout 2009 and 2010,” Howard said. “Essentially our core business remained healthy while the export FCL volume was more dramatically impacted in 2009. We saw the FCL volume rebound in 2010 to record levels as clients shifted more volume to the OTIs (ocean transportation intermediaries) instead of committing all volume to the VOCCs due to the flexibility and versatility offered by the OTIs.”
During the downturn, CaroTrans expanded its export LCL by adding 18 new service offerings. “The weak dollar helped create a noticeable increase in LCL import volume, as clients shifted purchasing patterns to smaller and more regular LCL shipments in place of FCL,” Howard said.
The NVO experienced a marked increase in FCL export in support from shippers who had previously relied solely on liner carriers for their transportation.
CaroTrans’ 2010 global volume, which included non-controlled import shipments for overseas agents, was about 240,000 TEUs.
In addition to its Union, N.J., headquarters, CaroTrans has offices in 12 U.S. cities, including new branches opened in San Francisco, Boston and Dallas. The NVO plans to enter more U.S. markets this year.
Unlike some large NVOs, CaroTrans refrains from operating its own container freight stations. “We don’t own the assets and avoid situations where we are trapped into fixed-cost scenarios when the market is contracting or expanding,” Howard said. “We look to be the ‘anchor partner’ with our CFS operators and connect our system via EDI. These independent CFS partners can also provide our clients with an independent CFS operator with whom they can directly contract for specific service requirements outside of CaroTrans’ capabilities.”
In overseas markets, the NVO often works with local consolidators. “CaroTrans has partnered with premier neutral NVOs in key world markets that have developed leadership positions and strong brand recognition in their respective regions,” Howard said. “We see this network of long-term partnerships consisting of strong regional neutral NVOs to be one of our unique competitive advantages. It’s hard to justify breaking that up just to have your logo appear on a door in a foreign port.”
That’s not to say CaroTrans doesn’t operate any owned offices overseas. The company has four offices in Australia, two in New Zealand, and five in Hong Kong and China, and most recently opened its doors in Santiago, Chile.
“Our expansion into Chile was not through acquisition,” Howard explained. “While there were ample opportunities for acquisitions, we elected to disengage from an agent relationship of more than 17 years and establish our own company to lead expansion in South America.
“We are attracted to Chile due to the market stability and the need to solidify our position in Chile for CaroTrans’ operations in the United States, Asia and Oceania,” he added.
“Our philosophy regarding acquisitions is simple — if it fits the jigsaw puzzle we are interested,” he said. “There are numerous opportunities available to us but we simply are not in the game to acquire for the sake of acquiring. We have made it abundantly clear, however, that we have plans to expand our office network to Europe, India and South America.
“As for prime markets, we have good balance among our top 10 markets due to the fact that these are two-way trade lanes with relatively equal quantum of import and export volumes,” Howard said. “The only real soft spot for CaroTrans is the Caribbean Basin. We have been precluded from returning to this market after the divestment of our Puerto Rico operations (in 1999 to USF Worldwide, now YRC). However, strong customer demand has us evaluating our return to this region in 2011.”
CaroTrans also plans to expand its consolidation business beyond the sea. The company operates CaroTrans Air in Hong Kong and Shanghai, in addition to the trans-Tasman, as a wholesale air freight consolidator to Australia and New Zealand. “We are conducting market research to evaluate other niche trades where we may consider possible expansion of the CaroTrans Air product,” Howard said.
And it’s not all about making money. CaroTrans provides funding, administrative and operational support to Duffy Books in Homes, a 20-year-old not-for-profit organization, which supplies books to children in Australia, New Zealand and the United States in effort to improve literacy. It’s estimated that more than 6 million books have been distributed since the program’s inception.
Asked how the NVO market is shaping up for 2011, Howard said it’s anyone’s guess right now.
“FCL shipments were once considered the domain of the carriers, but an increasing market share is being served by OTIs,” he said. “Some consider this to be a cyclical trend, but it appears to be a more permanent market shift due to the added flexibility and varied services offered by the OTIs.
“The success of OTIs that focus on their core competence and innovative services which address the changing needs of the shipper versus those that simply chase volume at breakeven pricing will remain in a leading position,” he said.
(This feature is reproduced from American Shipper by Chris Gillis with their consent)
Longest Railway Bridge In India
Connects International Container Transshipment Terminal – Vallarpadam With The Main Land
Rail Vikas Nigam Constructed a railway line to the Vallarpadam terminal with a total length of 8.86 km, in which 4.62 km runs above the Vembanad Lake. This bridge has become the longest railway bridge in India. A railway station and electric substation was also constructed at Edappally. The Vallarpadam Port Railway station has been constructed by the Dubai Ports World.
The soil conditions were a challenge that RVNL engineers overcame with great élan. The bridges have been built on 1.2-diametre piles driven to an average depth of 55 metres. The total pile length is 65,000 metres.
Besides, 11,700 tonnes of reinforced steel; 58,000 tonnes of cement; 99,000 cubic metres of metal aggregates; 73,500 cubic metres of sand; 1,27,000 cubic metres of concrete work and 1,54,308 cubic metres of earth work went into building the new railway link.
The Kochi International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), locally known as the Vallarpadam Terminal, is a container trans-shipment facility which is part of the Kochi Port. It is the only trans-shipment port in India, and is situated in Kochi, in the state of Kerala. Being constructed in three stages, the first phase of the terminal was commissioned on 11 Feb 2011.
This can handle cargo up to one million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) per annum. On completion of the third phase, the terminal will be able to handle 4 million TEUs of cargo per annum. The terminal is presently being operated by the Dubai Ports World (DPW), which will operate it for 30-years after which the control will come back to the Cochin Port Trust.
Vallarpadam Container Terminal is the only Transshipment port in India situated in Kochi. It is billed as the largest single-operator container terminal in the country. Now onwards mother vessels which can carry up to 140000 containers can reach Indian cost, previously it has been done through Colombo or Singapore port. As the first phase is opened now it is expected to handle around 700,000 containers this year itself. The length of the berth is 600 m which will be extended to 1800 m in the 2nd phase, which then will become the largest terminal operated by a single operator.
FEKCA Onam
FEKCA (Federations of Kerala Colleges Alumni) celebrated Onam 2011 at the Sheikh Rashid Auditorium in Dubai on 16th September 2011 and was started with the traditional floral decoration (Athapookkalam) at the venue, followed by a grand Onasadya on plantain leaves. The cultural procession started soon after that and it presented various art forms of Kerala. Traditional Panchavadyam led by Sri Gopalakrishna Marar enthralled the audience by their thrilling Vadyamelam.
CSS has always been proactive in promoting the public interest by actively participating in various community growth and development for the Kerala Society in UAE and we are proud to be part of this event as co-sponsor. The public meeting was inaugurated By the Chief Guest Sri. Perumbadavam Sreedharan, renowned novelist and President of Kerala Sahithia Academy, where Sri. Sebastian Antony, Chairman of Basel Group of Companies in Dubai was bestowed with “The Businessman of the Year Award” instituted by FEKCA in 2010. The scintillating and much awaited performance of the evening was “Krishna” a dance drama performed by renowned classical dancer and film star Padmashree Shobana and her 16-member troupe.
CSS Group Sets Sail At The Dubai Pre-Owned Boat Show
Following on from the success of the 2010 Inaugural Dubai Pre-owned Boat Show, the 2011 event will be held at the Dubai Creek Marina from the 17th to 19th November 2011.
CSS Group, the appointed agent for Peters and May in the Middle East, one of the leading service providers for Yacht and Marine Logistics will mark its first appearance in the upcoming Dubai Pre-Owned Boat Show 2011. Please visit us at booth S1.
For more details log on to www.cssgroupsite.com
Sports @ CSS
Duke University, the most successful college basketball team of the past 25 years was in Dubai for friendly match with the UAE national team. The clash was at Al Wasl Stadium, on the way back from their respective tours of China and Taipei. They won every quarter of the match against the UAE taking it 15-13, 43-31, 67-48 before ending 86-66. Meanwhile Rashid Al Zaabi top-scored for the UAE with 14 in which was a gutsy display from the UAE team ahead of their international matches. Hassan Haji, Public Relations Office (PRO) CSS Dubai, was amongst the referees for the match moreover he was elected as basketball referee for the FIBA Asia Championship. CSS Group has been active in promoting sports and cultural activities amongst employees and Hassan’s delegation as referee was indeed a proud moment for CSS.