Singapore's APL to quit Westbound Transpacific Stabilisation Agreement

SINGAPORE's APL, the container shipping arm of shipping group Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), is quitting the Westbound Transpacific Stabilisation Agreement (WTSA), the discussion forum covering the westbound trade from the US to Asia, with effect from September 1.

APL is the third carrier to leave the WTSA over the past decade, following in the footsteps of MOL's departure in June 2005 and previously Maersk Line, which was known at the time as Maersk Sealand and left the group in July 2002.

This reduces WTSA members to nine shipping lines: Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), "K" Line, NYK Line, OOCL, Cosco, Evergreen, Hanjin and Yang Ming.

According to Alphaliner estimates, the remaining WTSA carriers, as of August, control 55 per cent of the total westbound Asia-North America capacity.

It said the 15 member ocean liners of the WTSA's eastbound counterpart, the Transpacific Stabilisation Agreement (TSA), control an estimated 92 per cent of total capacity on the Asia-North America route.

TSA members include: APL, Maersk, China Shipping, CMA CGM, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Zim.

The Westbound Transpacific Stabilisation Agreement  (WTSA) was established in 1990 to replace a more rigid rate conference system for the US-Asia market. It offers a discussion forum for its members to develop non-binding guidelines relating to freight rates, surcharges and other fees.

Singapore's APL named best ocean carrier, also tops in innovative IT

SINGAPORE-based carrier APL, the container shipping arm of Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), has been awarded the "Global Ocean Carrier of the Year" and the "Innovation IT of the Year" by London's Containerisation International, winning over other leading rivals, among them, Maersk, CMA CGM and Hyundai Merchant Marine.

Said APL president Kenneth Glenn: "We're delighted to once more be recognised by industry peers for shipping excellence. This is an affirmation of our focus on providing customers with schedule reliability and service integrity."

The Innovation IT of the Year award was won in recognition of the company's development and implementation of its proprietary SMARTemp service, which uses satellite tracking to continually monitor the temperature and humidity of refrigerated containers carrying sensitive cargo. This makes sea freight a feasible choice for shippers with cargo traditionally shipped by air, said APL.

It was the second time in three weeks that APL was honoured as the world's top carrier. In September, it won the Ship Operator Award at the Lloyd's List global awards.

Other awards conferred to APL this year include Liner Owner/Operator of the Year by Seatrade Asia magazine in June, and best shipping line in both the transpacific and Asia-Europe trades at the Asian Freight and Supply Chain Awards in April.

source: shippingazette.com / picture: google.com

APL Is Best Buy Top Carrier

APL has again been named Carrier of the Year by Best Buy, a leading multi-channel global retailer and developer of technology products and services. It's the second year in a row that the Singapore-based container shipping line has won the award.

APL, which transports Best Buy cargo from China to the US, was selected based on a nine-point scorecard. Criteria included transit time, pier service, shipping schedule integrity, systems, vessel space integrity, equipment availability, arrival notice issuance, loss and damage claims, and origin bill of lading issuance.

APL began transporting Best Buy cargo in 2008 from the Chinese ports of Shanghai, Xiamen, Fuzhou and Yantian. Most of it is discharged at the carrier's terminal at the Port of Los Angeles. Some is transported to the US East Coast via the Panama Canal.

Best Buy is an international retailer with operations in the US, Canada, China, Europe and Mexico .

source: logasiamag.com / picture:google.com

Singapore's APL Logistics wins Emerson Rosemount best supplier award again

FOR the second year in a row Singapore-based APL Logistics has received the best supplier award from US manufacturing technology giant Emerson's Rosemount business unit.

Tom Moser, president of Emerson Process Management, handed out the 2010 Supplier of the Year award to APL in Rosemount's annual strategic supplier summit held at Minneapolis, Minnesota.

"It's an honour for APL Logistics to be recognised by Emerson Rosemount two years in a row," said Tony Zasimovich, APL Logistics' vice president for international logistics services.

Last year, a programme designed by APL Logistics enabled Rosemount to cut its waiting time for access to imported materials for production in Singapore from between five and seven days to just 12 hours upon arrival.

This enables Rosemount to eliminate unnecessary urgent airfreight and production downtime. Rosemount also benefitted from full visibility of inventory movement and improved supply chain efficiencies with cost savings of 25 per cent.

Emerson is a diversified global manufacturing and technology company offering a wide range of products and services in the areas of network power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and tools and storage businesses.

source: Shippingazette.com / picture: google.com

APL operates KODAK Cold Room Facility In India

APL Logistics has started running Kodak's Central Distribution Center in Mumbai, India. This houses a newly installed cold room facility for temperature-sensitive products.

APL Logistics converted a bare room into the 38,000-square feet high-tech facility after winning the contract to design, build and operate Kodak's new distribution center supplying to the domestic Indian market. Products being stored and disseminated out of this facility include digital cameras, photographic papers, motion picture films, digital printing plates and plate setting equipment, as well as chemicals.

"We're pleased to have delivered well against Kodak's stringent requirements," said Siddharth Adya, APL Logistics managing director for South Asia. "This demonstrates our capability in engineering as well as excellence in implementation."

Designed by APL Logistics solution engineering experts, the facility is unique because it has three different cold rooms of varying temperatures: ambient, 13 degrees and 21 degrees Celsius. To ensure that the facility runs at an optimal operational efficiency, the team has worked advanced cooling technologies and thermodynamics principles into its design. Kodak also required APL Logistics to migrate the operations from a former premise to the new one without disrupting its supply chain activities.

For a seamless data interface, APL Logistics has integrated its proprietary Warehouse Management System with Kodak's SAP system. This gives Kodak greater visibility over its inventory and greatly improved its accuracy in decisions.

Kodak India was established in 1913. Today, it is a leader in imaging, offering digital products and services for commercial and consumer use.

source: logasiamag.com

APL Wins Nissan Motors Award

APL Logistics has received the Best Support and Coordination 2010 award from Nissan Motors in Thailand. This is the first time the Thailand unit of the global automotive manufacturer is handing out awards recognizing service excellence in its supply chain.

"We're pleased to be recognized by one of the largest global manufacturers in the automotive industry, one demanding nothing less than precision in its supply chain," said Dhanes Mekintharanggur, APL Logistics' director responsible for Thailand operations. "Our commitment to service quality, versatility and operational excellence is being recognized."

Since 2009, APL Logistics has been Nissan Motors' logistics partner in Thailand handling the supply of locally-produced automotive parts required by the car manufacturer's Samutprakarn plant.

APL Logistics manages 50 trucks making 80 trips in scheduled milk-runs, picking up components from multiple part supplier locations, before consolidating and delivering them just-in-time to the plant for the car assembly process.

source: logasiamag.com

NOL Signs Letters Of Intent To Build New Ships

NOL signed letters of intent to build 12 new container vessels. The ships, all to be built in South Korea, would include:

* Ten 14,000-TEU vessels to be constructed by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries and

* Two 9,200-TEU vessels to be constructed by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.

NOL also said it is upgrading a 2010 order placed with Daewoo for ten 8,400-TEU ships. These vessels will now be upgraded to 9,200-TEUs of capacity each and will employ new, more efficient design and technology.

The total consideration for the new vessels and upgrades would be about US$1.54 billion. The ships are scheduled for delivery in 2013 and 2014.

The 14,000-TEU ships would be NOL's largest and most fuel efficient. NOL said they will be deployed in its Asia-Europe Trade. The 9,200-TEU vessels will likely be employed in the Trans-Pacific Trade.

NOL said it is investing in new, larger vessels to reduce unit capital and operating costs, meet future growth needs and replace older and smaller chartered vessels that will be returned to their owners in the charter market.

When delivered, the new vessels will enable NOL's shipping line, APL, to provide more efficient, reliable service to customers. The ships will include features designed to conserve fuel and reduce environmental impacts.

NOL said the letters of intent are subject to contract signing with the shipbuilders.

source: logasiamag.com

APL Veteran - Bob Sappio -Steps Down

APL said that 29-year veteran Bob Sappio, head of the shipping line's PanAmerican Trades, will leave the company August 1 to remain in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Sappio has been the head of APL's Trans-Pacific Trade since 2003. He played a key role in establishing APL as the leader in the Trans-Pacific and in building its brand reputation for high-quality service in the industry, said Ron Widdows, CEO of parent company NOL Group.

"I've devoted my entire career to APL a company I have tremendous affection and respect for," said Sappio, who joined the container carrier in 1982. "But family priorities are most important, and I've made the decision to stay closer to home and remain in California where my family has established deep roots."

Sappio guided APL to a top market share position in the route between Asia and the US West Coast. He worked closely with key multinational customers and was APL's representative to carrier groups such as the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement. In 2010, Sappio represented the industry at congressional hearings in Washington, DC, on container shipping.

"Bob's contributions working closely with me on issues not only of importance to our company, but the industry and our customers, were invaluable," said Widdows. "He has helped us grow our business, improve our service and strengthen our relationships with many of the world's most important shippers. He leaves a lasting imprint on this company and parts with our thanks for a job well done."

NOL executive director Ng Yat Chung, who will become CEO when Widdows retires from his position at the end of 2011, said: "While we will miss Bob's passion and drive, we have built the best team in the business. Our focus on taking care of our customers' service needs at a level they have come to expect will continue to set APL apart in this important trade."

Sappio will be replaced in the Trans-Pacific by 22-year APL veteran Steve Schollaert, APL's executive vice president of intermodal strategy and former head of its Asia-Europe trade. Schollaert, who has a background in operations and was also responsible for APL's terminals, will be based in Phoenix. He will report to Liner Trade Management senior vice president Dave Appleton.

"We're pleased to select an executive with the broad experience that Steve has to head our Trans-Pacific trade," said APL president Eng Aik Meng. "I'm confident he will build on the legacy Bob Sappio leaves behind in this company and in the industry."

source: logasiamag.com / picture: google.com