‘Focus on price at your peril’

Low transport costs can come at a price, warn Glenn Delve, national commercial director of MSC Durban and Marcel van Vlaanderen, MD of Global Logistics Zambia. “In many instances, the focus on price rather than an efficient service is to the client’s detriment. For the sake of a couple of hundred dollars, the client is experiencing delays of 3-4 weeks, poor communication, damages and possible pilferage. “The cost of recovering the situation far outweighs any possible cost benefit,” says Delve. Many clients are looking at alternative routes such as Beira, Dar es Salaam and Walvis Bay due to “increased charges through South Africa, along with the stringent requirements for transit cargoes imposed by the Sars Customs and Excise department. “More and more of our Zambian clientele are opting to unpack containerised cargoes in the port and carry the consignments on a break-bulk basis so as to avoid the costs of cross-haulage/cabotage of the empty containers back to the port of discharge,” says Van Vlaanderen. In order to assist clients opting for these ports, MSC offers a “liner through bill of lading” through Durban, Beira and Dar es Salaam. “We are also looking at the merits of routing Zambian cargo in transit through Walvis Bay as a way of reducing costs while maintaining efficiencies,” he says. Cargo owners and shippers should not discount Durban completely, he says. “The Durban service is far more efficient, with transit times of 10-14 days, inclusive of port clearance, from arrival of vessel to delivery by road in Zambia. “We have strengthened our alliances with the hauliers and focused on improved transit times/productivity in all sectors,” he says. Customs clearance through South Africa has become more onerous, but this can be managed. “Whilst Sars Customs requirements are pretty stringent for transit cargoes, with a little guidance it is possible to provide adequate documentation to be compliant. “This ensures that shipments sail unhindered through the Durban port,” he says. MSC, in partnership with Global Logistics, has seven offices in Zambia. It has over 100 staff offering a full range of services, including customs clearing, bonded warehousing and the export of commodities such as copper and tobacco, says Van Vlaanderen. Global Logistics has a dedicated project management team for project cargoes, which range from moving abnormal plant and equipment to the co-ordination of containerised shipments.