Grapes, Grappa or Grandpa headache powders - the commodity dictates the method, according to Dalena Smit, cargo care specialist at P&O Nedlloyd.
With the start of grape season, for example, exporters and shipping lines are tentatively waiting for the cargo to be moved in new equipment, and on its way to new markets.
And - as was evident from last season - anything can go wrong. A lack of information regarding a market's requirements; temperatures fluctuating in-and-out of a specified range; or the absence of continuous monitoring data for cargo shipped under cold treatment have resulted in grapes being rejected at the destination port.
This has led many shipping lines to realise that a dedicated cargo care team is required to meet the technical and logistical challenges and to ensure that cargo arrives intact.
It is essential to take into consideration specific commodity requirements such as those laid down by the Japanese and Taiwanese agricultural authorities.
By developing the best shipping methods with exporters and recognised organisations, shipping lines can successfully improve and maintain the quality of the cargo, reduce risk and improve cost efficiency.
The result of this is that the cargo care specialists can develop these methods and regulations into standard operating procedures which can then be incorporated into the overall logistics package.
General purpose cargo
And the cargo care concept can be taken beyond the obvious sphere of reefer (refrigerated) container transport. This, for example, by exploring the best way of shipping general purpose cargo - such as pharmaceuticals - in reefer containers.
In this case, the nature of the commodity may dictate special treatment. It might mean placing the container in specific stowage positions aboard the ship, or require the use of special packing material - such as inner liners or non-chemical desiccants - in order to protect the cargo.
Effective shipment also includes adherence to specific protocols which are developed according to different countries' legislation.
Cargo Care
This new
column -
prepared for FTW by
shipping line, P&O Nedlloyd - is designed to highlight the new science of Òcargo careÓ.
Dalena Smit, cargo care
specialist at P&O Nedlloyd, is the author. She has a B.Sc degree in agriculture from the University of Stellenbosch, and is currently studying an MBA through the University of the Free State. Smit worked for several fruit export companies before joining P&O Nedlloyd
last year.
Dalena Smit
