PRESS RELEASE
Monday 19th January 2009
SBS Worldwide redesigns container logistics to speed up deliveries and
collections
SBS Worldwide has found it necessary to reorganise the movement of containers
through its ocean freight forwarding network to speed up deliveries to its
clients and help make the supply chain greener by taking unnecessary lorry
journeys off UK roads. The full service freight forwarder and NVOCC, with a
track record in supplying full load and consolidation services on all major
shipping routes, has undertaken a three month business review of its previous
container logistics operation.
This operation involves containers transiting Felixstowe and Southampton being
trucked to and from the company’s hub at Dartford in Kent for consolidation
and de-consolidation. The reorganisation will see SBS utilising dedicated
warehousing space in Felixstowe and Southampton to allow consolidation and
de-consolidation at the port; speeding up collections and deliveries of clients’
cargoes.
Steve Walker, SBS Worldwide Chairman, said that the realignment will benefit both
clients and the environment: “Freight will be delivered quicker if it avoids the
journey to or from our Dartford hub before being delivered to the consignee. We
do not want to be restricted to shipping freight on vessels that arrive at
ports, which suit the location of our Dartford handling depot.
“We want to serve our customers based on the port of arrival – our customers’
needs are of the greatest importance to us. Our HQ and oceanfreight operations
office will still be in Dartford, but our warehousing and container logistics
activities will be scaled down here as a result of our decision to utilise
operators closer to the ports of entry and exit.
Steve adds: “Now, more than ever, the supply chain must examine itself to
root out unnecessary road journeys. We decided that, having operated a warehouse
in Dartford for 12 years, the time to re-evaluate our service offering had
arrived. With rising diesel prices, growing congestion on UK motorways and roads
and the need to drive carbon from the supply chain it made sense to look at
another way of serving our clients which maintained the high level of service
they expect yet delivers it in a more environmentally friendly manner. We are in
consultation with our warehouse staff whilst the proposed new ocean operational
strategy undergoes a trial period.”
“The reorganisation of our container logistics activities will be supported by
SBS Worldwide’s bespoke cargo-tracking service – SBS Webtrack – which gives
customers complete visibility over their container movements and will show them
how much faster our deliveries will become.
“This move comes on the back of a strong financial year to June 2008, while the
first six months trading of our 2008/2009 financial year has been in line with
aggressive forecasts. These actions will continue to set standards which, since
the company began trading 25 years ago, have placed SBS in a prominent position
in the provision of groupage container services.”
End of Press Statement
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