Container demurrage charges push up unpacking/storage demand

HIGH CONTAINER detention
and demurrage charges levied
by shipping lines and billed in
US dollars have pushed up the
demand for unpacking and
storage of import containers, says
Shipping & General Transport
managing director Regan Moodley.
“We unpack, stage and store
the cargo in a safe and secure
environment until delivery is
requested,” says Moodley.
“Holding full containers
in storage for lengthy
periods is not costeffective,
which is
why the unpack
option has
become
increasingly
popular.”
On the
export leg
Shipping
& General
offers what
Moodley describes as an ‘infancy
to coming of age’ service.
“We collect the cargo and
ensure that it’s tallied, manifested
and checked before being packed
and line-hauled by our own fleet
to any of the South African ports
nominated by our client.
“By taking charge and
eliminating a multitude of service
providers, we are fully accountable
for the entire shipment.”
Specifically targeting the
clearing and forwarding industry,
the company’s total transport
and warehouse solution includes
unpacking/packing, palletising,
shrink-wrapping, crating, weighing,
craneage and country-wide
distribution.
Its fleet of seven forklifts
ranges from 1.5 to 15 tons with
a 13 and 14 tonner assigned to
its 7000 m2 container park where
full containers can be staged and
unpacked.
Custom-designed software has
contributed to a track record of
zero pilferage, he added.