The Dof of the Year competition progresses; as I said before, there hasn't been a deluge of entries which is surprising in one way but not in another. Whilst this industry has more than its fair share of cock-ups, it's difficult to get the worm out of the wood, so to speak. One gem that crossed my desk recently does however deserve mention. A certain broker was experiencing major problems with his computers and was working on Saturday, attempting to get them up and running. Frustration reached boiling point when the computer refused to accept commands from the keyboard; he immediately phoned his IT provider (weekend notwithstanding) and proceeded to scream and shout, eventually demanding that the luckless soul report immediately on site. Upon arrival, the problem was solved somewhat, er, quickly; the broker had been typing on the keyboard belonging to the adjacent computer. Step up to the plate, Carl......
Maybe it's my imagination, or maybe it's because business is a bit tight at the moment, but I've been picking up vibes that lines are not as keen as they used to be in quoting through brokers, and are making a conscious effort to deal directly with the shipper. As regular readers of this column will know, I have never seen much point in a professional shipping manager attempting to put a broker between himself and a carrier for normal bulk/breakbulk business (and vice versa) for two main reasons. Firstly, it's going to cost you whichever way you cut the cake (in that commission has to be paid) and secondly, if you don't know the lines or options working your trade routes then you shouldn't be in the industry. That said, containers are one area where a broker comes into his own, and I for one am not going to spend all day phoning around 6 or so lines to get a rate for a few boxes which I know a broker can beat with his purchasing power. It's a moot point, and one that traders face in a similar way, and the lines must weigh it up; do you go for the stockist with high volumes and low prices or to the end-user for the reverse? Either way, you do your homework first....
It's 3pm on Tuesday 12th as I write this, and my attention is distracted by the wireless in my office which is broadcasting the 'Hansie' press conference; part of me is listening, part is typing, whilst another part is watching the top left hand corner of the PC for incoming mail. I have set my stop-watch...sure enough, at 3.10 comes the first e-mail, predictably from Shaggers. Hansie joined the Rhema bible manufacturing class because he heard that bookmakers made a lot of money. Hansie's wife - Do you want anything from the shops, darling? Hansie - Yes, $15,000 from the new deli. Shame; no doubt it'll all blow over in due course, but he certainly shows promise for a 2nd career as a shipping manager....
I am honoured; I receive a phone call from Richard Proctor-Sims, the organiser of the Maritime Africa 2000 conference in Durbs. He asks me if I will present a paper on 'the trend towards mergers and acquisitions in the shipping industry.'
This is a subject on which, amongst virtually all others, I happen to be an expert; was it my international reputation that drew him to me, I ask? Maybe it was my prowess as a public speaker? My total knowledge of all aspects of the business? My witty banter, my gay repartee? Er, not really. The planned speaker had pulled out, he was turned down by Nigel Pusey, John Turner and Rod Eaton; could I fill the gap at the last minute? Alas not, but I am disappointed; the subjects to be covered range from the interesting to the bizarre. Dullah Omar on 'Ports & shipping in SA's overall transport policy framework' is a must-see, but I can't see the doors being broken down to listen to 'Computer wind and wave forecasts for the ports and waters around southern Africa' by a gentleman from the British Met Office. Maybe next year, Richard....
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