Risk management involves every link in the transport chain

WHEN IT comes to minimising cargo risk, the proactive effort of every link in the transport chain is vital. Which is why P&O Nedlloyd has set up specialist Cargo Care units to deal with the protection of cargo from damage and deterioration. "With FCL shipments, these special units can advise their customers on which shipping conditions would best suit their commodity," says Marcel Riedijk, overseas technical manager for P&O Nedlloyd, who is currently based in Rotterdam "We transport pharmaceuticals to the value of US$3.5 million from South Africa to the UK and also on regular basis from the UK to the US. As this is a highly sensitive, chilled commodity which requires a very critical temperature and humidity regime, we reduce risk by shipping in reefers rather than in general purpose containers." Riedijk says that to make these kinds of shipments successful, one cannot underestimate the role of the entire organisation - operations, customer service, vessel operations/ crew, sales and trade.