Shippers are
increasingly buying
into the concept
of outsourced
bulk handling, according
to Tyron Hubbart, general
manager of Outsourced
Project Solutions. The
company provides a solution
for the outsourcing of
labour-intensive activities
on a project basis, charging
at fixed per ton rates.
“For a number of years
bulk cargo has been
loaded into containers for
export and we have been
involved in the handling of
a variety of bulk shipments
– including minerals like
chrome which are often
loaded with skid-steer
equipment, such as Bobcats
and JCBs, into containers,”
said Hubbart.
The benefit for customers
is that they don’t need to
retain permanent or casual
staff. “They pay a fixed rate,
which also
eliminates
the variable
costs usually
associated
with fuel,
labour and
the like. OPS
will arrive on
site, load the
cargo into
containers
(often with
our own
equipment),
and then
clean the site
and leave.”
The company is also
involved in the handling
of bulk in rail wagons.
“Customers request that
the wagons be off loaded at
their site and the wagons
and conveyors cleared and
cleaned.
When the
train arrives
OPS comes
in and
off loads the
bulk, cleans
the area and
then leaves
site. This
is usually
invoiced on
a fixed per
wagon basis
and does
away with
having staff
on site in between vessels
or wagons.”
OPS is a project
management company, and
is therefore no different
from any other contractor,
said Hubbart. “When you
call an electrician to fix
a light you don’t want
to worry about whether
the employees have their
timesheets signed, and
if they are actually doing
their work. You get a fixed
rate and the light gets
fixed, no hassles! Similarly,
OPS is able to do away with
all the admin problems
usually associated with
Temporary Employment
Services (TES) labour.
“Clients no longer need
to manage staff and
sign timesheets and deal
with the screed of LRA
amendments. With OPS
the client phones, we come
and do the project and we
invoice on a per item basis.”
INSERT & CAPTION
They pay a fixed rate,
which also eliminates
the variable costs
usually associated
with fuel, labour and
the like.
– Tyron Hubbant
