Out of gauge cargo imports on the rise

United Maritime Logistics (UML) has reported a marked increase in out of gauge cargo from the USA. Exclusive agents for Direct Container Line in the USA, UML has been operating from North America to Southern Africa for ten years now, not only offering weekly consolidations for LCL and out of gauge or breakbulk cargo, but also a full container service. According to director Claude Nuttall, the increase in out of gauge cargo has been evident over the past two years. “Particularly from the mining industry whose machinery cannot always fit into general purpose containers,” he says. With the USA especially, negatively affected during the 2009 global economic downturn, the market has significantly improved in the past year, says Nuttall. “American goods continue to be in demand, particularly for specialised goods that are only produced in the United States.” Nuttall says that due to the increase in shipments from the South Eastern USA, UML has added Atlanta as a consolidation port in addition to New York, the traditional port for US consolidations. “The increase in shipments was particularly notable from Texas, Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas,” “Direct Container Line also launched a “Special Projects Division” in the USA, specifically aimed at moving out of gauge cargo such as breakbulk, flat rack and open top shipments, says Nuttall. It has also been expanding its warehouse operations in the USA with the addition of a brand new facility in Chicago capable of handling 80 containers at any one time, with a total of 440 000 square feet of warehouse space. They have gone green with energy-efficient lighting and heating systems. Nuttall says with DCL containers are closed at cargo source and the dedicated DCL staff handles all cargo. “Terminals are designed specifically to simplify the delivery of cargo – off-pier locations eliminate delay, confusion, and unloading charges, yet are close enough for rapid handling,” he said.