All systems go for defence expo

South Africa may be suffering from a World Cup hangover, but at Sebenza Forwarding & Shipping it’s all systems go ahead of Africa’s biggest defence expo – Aerospace and Defence (AAD2010) – for which the company is the sole on site handling agent and official freight forwarder. It’s the fourth year in a row that Sebenza has been awarded the tender for the biennial show to be held this year at Air Force Base Ysterplaat in Cape Town. “We regard it as a huge vote of confidence from the organisers,” says group operations director, Francois van Wyk. “When it comes to a show of this nature, there’s no room for error – you have only one opportunity to get it right. Clearly we’ve delivered the goods in the past and that’s the best endorsement for the future.” The event is expected to attract more than 80 000 international and local delegates over five days from September 21-25. “We offer a full turnkey operation,” says Brent Olwage who with Lizel Kotze is part of Sebenza’s dedicated team for the event. “We source the cargo – ranging from big aircraft to small hand guns – from all over the world and provide whatever the customer needs. Sebenza also operates an on-site office at Ysterplaat. “Last year we moved in excess of 38 tons of airfreight as well as a number of seafreight containers in addition to arranging regional roadfreight for Johannesburg agents,” said Olwage. “Because we’re dealing with armaments all cargo has to comply with legislation including Part 108,” says Kotze. “We secure permits on behalf of all the exhibitors, arrange clearance through customs, as well as organise temporary import bonds where these are necessary.” In order to streamline the movement of goods from ports and warehouses to the venue, Sebenza has secured a customs bond so that customs examinations can be done on site. The two major challenges, says Van Wyk are timelines and the weather. A number of international shows are scheduled all over the world following AAD, and the exhibits need to arrive in good time. With a limited number of direct flights out of Cape Town, space is at a premium. And transhipping requires additional permits which shippers are always keen to avoid. But dealing with these challenges is part and parcel of what Sebenza’s experienced team is all about, says Van Wyk. The event marks the culmination of more than a year’s planning, orchestrated by the specialist exhibition department which is buzzing with activity. According to Kotze, the department will be handling eight more international exhibitions from now until the end of November.