Flexible solutions meet diverse industry needs

ALAN PEAT IN THE highly competitive logistics industry a company has to be able to provide its customers with a comprehensive value-added service, according to Corinne French, MD of United Maritime Logistics. “This whether you import less than container load (LCL) or full container load (FCL) consignments,” she said. “It is an essence in United Maritime Logistics that we provide our client base with this sort of service level and that they can rely on our strengths.” Part of this quality guarantee is contained in the UML relationship with the US-based non-vessel owning common carrier (NVOCC) Direct Container Line (DCL). “All our cargo is loaded by dedicated DCL staff at the company’s own warehouses,” said French, “and it has negotiated extremely competitive inland/pick-up rates in the USA. Another part of the guarantee lies in United’s global electronic data interchange (EDI) solutions – which, French added, have to be innovative and customised programmes designed for global efficiency. The company has a weekly direct service from New York to Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg – with Cape Town being the first port of call from the USA.