Professional Documents
Culture Documents
NOIDA
I have taken efforts in this project. However, it would not have been possible without the kind
support and help of many individuals and organizations. I would like to extend my sincere
thanks to all of them.
I would like to express my gratitude towards my parents & members of MSC AGENCY
INDIA PVT LTD for their kind co-operation and encouragement which helped me in
completion of this project.
I would like to thank my DIRECTOR: Dr. SURESH CHANDRA PADHY to give me the
opportunity to represent myself in the corporate world.
I heartily thank my DEPUTY DIRECTOR: Dr. Rashmi Mahajan & INTERNAL PROJECT
GUIDE: Prof. PALLAVI for her guidance and suggestions during this project.
My thanks and appreciations also go to my colleagues in developing the project and people
who have willingly helped me out with their abilities.
TABLE OF CONTENT
1. Executive Summary 4
5. Objectives 13
8. Bibliography 40
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
MSC AGENCY INDIA PVT LTD is a private company incorporated on September 2001. It
is the World’s Second Largest Shipping Company after Maersk. It is a service provider
and a logistics company which delivers the cargo from its origin to the point of destination. It
helps in the growth of export and import of the country. It connects people and continents.
It is a family company sharing the family’s entrepreneurial spirit leads them to act
proactively, courageously and responsively in the best interest of customers as well as
company.
The tagline of the company “We are a family company with a family spirit and our
people are the key to our success.’’ (Capt. Gianluigi Aponte, Group Executive
Chairman)
MSC is a World leader in global container shipping and a company offering global service
with local knowledge. MSC also provides integrated network of road, rail and sea transport
resources which stretches across the globe. There are almost 12 services i.e. Technology
Solutions, Trade Services, Dry Cargo, Refer Cargo, Project Cargo, Intermodal Services,
Warehousing & Storage Solutions, Cross Trading, Customs Clearance, Ports Terminals
&Depots, Cargo Trailers and VGM. However, they excel in their services and maintain
esteemed relations with the clients. As this is a service provider company, its main aim is to
provide maximum satisfaction to the customers and maintains long term relationships.
In 2018 MSC introduced a new RO-RO (Roll in Roll out) service for rolling, project and
break bulk cargo. In addition to rolling or wheeled cargo, this new service offering has the
flexibility to cover a range of out-of-gauge and breakbulk cargo, which will be typically
large, heavy pieces, or critical equipment for specific projects.
The vessels mainly sail through via six services which has their specific routes and following
are the services: -
It excels in their services as well as in satisfying the clients from Booking till release of Bill
of Lading and ensures high profitability of the company as well as customers and maintains
cooperation and coordination.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
MSC Agency (India) Private Limited's Annual General Meeting (AGM) was last held on 21
September 2018 and as per records from Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), its balance
sheet was last filed on 31 March 2018.
Directors of MSC Agency (India) Private Limited are Dipak Kumar Manharlal Mehta,
Ibrahim S Mohd Hussain Sharaf Alhashmi, Deepak Krishan Tewari, Indrajit Sengupta
CIN: U63090MH2001PTC133288
ROC: ROC-Mumbai
Introduction
According to the Ministry of Shipping, around 95 per cent of India's trading by volume and
70 per cent by value is done through maritime transport.
India has 12 major and 205 notified minor and intermediate ports. Under the National
Perspective Plan for Sagarmala, six new mega ports will be developed in the country. The
Indian ports and shipping industry play a vital role in sustaining growth in the country’s trade
and commerce. India is the sixteenth largest maritime country in the world, with a coastline
of about 7,517 km. The Indian Government plays an important role in supporting the ports
sector.
It has allowed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of up to 100 per cent under the automatic
route for port and harbour construction and maintenance projects. It has also facilitated a 10-
year tax holiday to enterprises that develop, maintain and operate ports, inland waterways and
inland ports.
The industry acts as a primary means of international transport of any essential commodity.
The global shipping industry can be broadly classified into wet bulk (like crude and
petroleum products), dry bulk (like iron ore and coal) and liners (like containers and others).
Further, there are various benchmarks that determine freight rates for these segments. The
prominent amongst them are Baltic Freight Index, Baltic Dry Index (for dry bulk segment)
and Baltic Clean and Dirty Tanker Index (for tankers).
Freight rates and earnings of the shipping companies are primarily a function of demand and
supply in the markets. Demand drivers are a function of trade growth and geographical
balance of trade (which determines the length of haul required). On the other hand, the supply
drivers are a function of new ship building orders as well as scrapping of existing tonnage.
The industry is regulated by the rules and regulations of International Maritime Organization
(IMO), classification society, and the requirements of the flag state. Apart from these, there
are also the rules and regulations of various countries where the vessel operates.
As regards India, the ports and shipping industry plays a major role in sustaining growth in
the country’s trade and commerce. As per the Ministry of Shipping, around 95% of India’s
trading by volume and 70% by value is moved through maritime transport.
Market Size
During FY18, cargo traffic at major ports in the country was reported at 679.36 million
tonnes (MT). In FY19P (up to February 2019) traffic increased by 2.79 per cent year-on-year
to reach 633.87 million tonnes. Cargo traffic at non-major ports was estimated at 491.95
million tonnes FY18 and grew at 9.2 per cent CAGR between FY07-18.
The major ports had a capacity of 1,452 million tonnes by FY18 end. The Maritime Agenda
2010-20 has a 2020 target of 3,130 MT of port capacity.
The government has taken several measures to improve operational efficiency through
mechanisation, deepening the draft and speedy evacuations.
FINANCIAL YEAR’18
Net profit at major ports has increased from Rs 1,150 crore (US$ 178.4 million) in FY13 to
Rs 3,413 crore (US$ 529.6 million) in FY18 while operating margin increased from 23% to
44%.
In May 2018, Ministry of Shipping allowed foreign flagged ships to carry containers for
transhipment.
In March 2018, a revised Model Concession Agreement (MCA) was approved to make port
projects more investor-friendly and make investment climate in the sector more attractive.
Project UNNATI has been started by Government of India to identify the opportunity areas
for improvement in the operations of major ports. Under the project, 116 initiatives were
identified out of which 89 initiatives have been implemented as of August 2018.
Investments/Developments
Essar Ports will invest US$ 70 million in Hazira port by 2020.
The Indian Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Mr Nitin Gadkari,
announced a massive investment in India’s ports and roads sector, which is likely to
help boost the country’s economy. The Indian government plans to develop 10 coastal
economic regions as part of plans to revive the country’s Sagarmala (string of ports)
project.
The zones would be converted into manufacturing hubs, supported by port
modernisation projects, and could span 300–500 km of the coastline. The government
is also looking to develop the inland waterway sector as an alternative to road and rail
routes to transport goods to the nation’s ports and hopes to attract private investment
in the sector.
Ports sector in India has received a cumulative FDI of US$ 1.64 billion between April
2000 and December 2018.
Indian ports and shipping sector witnessed three M&A deals worth US$ 29 million in
2017.
Achievements
Following are the achievements of the government in the past four years:
Five times more growth in major ports’ traffic between 2014-18, compared to 2010-
14.
Increased efficiency has led three times increase in net profits of major ports between
FY14-18.
Turnaround time at major ports reduced to 64 hours in FY18 from 94 hours in FY14.
Project UNNATI has been started by Government of India to identify the opportunity
areas for improvement in the operations of major ports. Under the project, 116
initiatives were identified out of which 91 initiatives have been implemented as of
November 2018.
PROSPECTS
• Government of India is targeting to make the country the first in the world to operate
all 12 major domestic government ports on renewable energy. The government plans to
install almost 200 MW wind and solar power generation capacity by 2019 at the ports. The
energy capacity could be ramped up to 500 MW in future years.
• With rising demand for port infrastructure due to growing imports (crude, coal) and
containerisation, public ports (major ports) will fall short of meeting demand.
• The government has initiated NMDP, an initiative to develop the maritime sector; the
planned outlay is US$ 11.8 billion. Plans to create port capacity of around 3,200 MMT to
handle the expected traffic of about 2,500 MMT by 2020.
In FY19 traffic has increased 2.90 per cent year-on-year to 699.05 million tonnes. Cargo
traffic at non-major ports was estimated at 281.0 million tonnes FY19P*.
Competitor’s Analysis
MAERSK:
Maersk is an integrated transport and logistics company and is a global leader in container
shipping and ports. The company employs roughly 70,000 employees across operations in
130 countries
At A.P. Moller - Maersk they have a distinctive set of Core Values which drive the way they
do business. These five corporate values were ingrained into their operations by their
founders, the Møller family, and have remained guiding principles, governing the
development of A.P. Moller - Maersk for over a century.
True industry-leading customer experience isn’t a vision. It’s a passion. A passion for their
customers whose business is dependent on moving the right products to the right market at
the right time.
CMA CGM:
French company, founded in 1978
TEU – 1398296
With CMA CGM e-Solutions, you will be able to easily organize, follow and manage your
shipments from anywhere in the world. Through a fast and fully customizable digital
dashboard on CMA CGM’s website, you will be able to access real-time cargo data, receive
automatic notification, emit, modify and share mandatory documents and access end-to-end
business solutions for a unique transport management experience.
COSCO:
Headquarter –Beijing
TEU – 715226
It is one of the largest DRY BULK CARRIERS in China and one of the largest in world also.
As of April 30, 2019, the total fleet of COSCO SHIPPING comprises of 1,287 vessels with a
capacity of 103.45 million DWT, ranking No.1 in the world. Its container fleet capacity is
2.98 million TEU, ranking the third in the world. Its dry bulk fleet (432 vessels/40.32 million
DWT), tanker fleet (196 vessels/25.04 million DWT) and general and specialized cargo fleet
(161 vessels/4.41 million DWT) are all topping the world’s list.
Thanks to its complete global service network, COSCO SHIPPING has become a top
international brand. The upstream and downstream links along the industry chain, such as
terminals, logistics, shipping finance, ship repair and shipbuilding, have formed a sound
industrial structure. The Corporation has invested in 56 terminals, including over 51 container
terminals, all over the world. The annual throughput of its container terminals amounts to
120.32 million TEU, taking the first place worldwide; the global sales volume of its bunker
fuel exceeds 29 million tons, which is the largest in the world; and the container leasing
business scale surpasses 2.7 million TEU, the third-largest in the world. Its offshore
engineering manufacturing competence and vessel agency business are also leading in the
world.
The vision of China COSCO Shipping is to undertake the mission of globalizing Chinese
economy, consolidate advantageous resources, take global shipping, integrated logistics, and
shipping related financial services as core business, and develop diversified industrial
clusters, so as to build a world-leading business entity that provides integrated logistics and
supply chain services.
Focusing on four strategic dimensions, which are “scale growth, profitability, anti-cyclical
capability and building a global company”, the Group highlights the “6+1” industrial clusters
layout. The “6” is shipping, logistics, finance, equipment manufacturing, shipping services,
and social services industrial clusters. The “1” means “Internet Plus” business based on
business model innovation. This layout will help facilitate the integration of shipping factors
and build a world-class logistics service provider.
Following the concept of “One Team, One Culture, One Goal and One Dream,” China
COSCO Shipping Group strives to be an outstanding enterprise that is larger, more
globalized, competitive and valuable, as well as a better practitioner of national initiatives, a
better service provider for its customers, a better partner for its suppliers and a better career
development platform for its employees.
Hapag – Lloyd:
TEU – 632348
Hapag-Lloyd is one of the leading carriers in this trade, offering an outstanding service in
market
6 weekly sailings between Asia and Latin America Pacific – Caribbean – the best frequency
in the market
Fast transit times between Asia and Latin America through our extensive feeder and
intermodal network
Excellent coverage and transit time to and from most important Mexican ports and locations
using our wide intermodal network
2 weekly sailings between Asia and South America East Coast, with extensive port coverage
and best frequency in the market
Hapag-Lloyd can offer a deep expertise on handling specialized business such as refrigerated
cargoes, minerals, retail, auto parts, and others through dedicated service desks and a modern
equipment fleet. Modern and efficient vessels in each of their services.
OBJECTIVES
LITERATURE REVIEW
www.tradeindia.com – Established in 1997, MSC agency India Pvt. Ltd. has gained
immense expertise in offering Transportation management tools, container, cargo
shipping services etc. to the clients.
RESEARCH BY AN INTERN:
CLIENT SERVICING
o Client Servicing Manager is responsible to support Corporate Sales
Team or Business Development teams in servicing accounts. Client
Servicing Manager is often the primary point of contact for clients and
ensures client satisfaction with the organization's product or service.
Essentially this is the process of creating and maintaining a
strong working rapport with each customer. Often referred to as
customer care, it is about understanding the needs and desires of
the customer, and moving to meet those needs in a proactive
manner.
Despite the size and diversity of their services, their simple, effective, people focused
approach never waivers.
At MSC they take the time to get to know their customers and understand their unique
requirements. This enables us to apply their industry expertise to deliver a tailor-made
service.
They offer so much more than just ocean carriage. They’ve also developed a comprehensive
infrastructure of road, rail and warehousing which allows us to offer fully bespoke solutions
designed to match your needs.
Of course, what ties all this together and sets MSC apart is their ongoing commitment to the
people they work with and the people they work for. Their strength has always been in
developing close teams that want to offer the best service in the industry. Despite the size and
complexity of their business, they’ve never lost sight of the need to put customers’ individual
needs at the heart of everything they do.
TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
Here at MSC they are always looking to make their services better for their customers. That
is the reason why they invite their customers to take advantage of the latest digital
developments.
MSC recognizes the importance of digitization across the shipping industry. For that reason,
they are continually focused on developing technology solutions adapted to their client's
needs.
Their main goal is to offer their customers the best end-to-end experience, and they know that
digital solutions are crucial elements to achieve it.
e-business
smart containers
E-BUSINESS
MSC offer digital solutions for your shipping requirements, from digital dashboards and
automatic notifications, to real-time cargo data and online document sharing.
Digitalization is not simply a buzzword in the shipping industry - digital technologies are
helping clients move cargo around the world more efficiently. MSC is actively involved
in moving the shipping and logistics sector into the digital world. Their Chief Information
Officer, Andre Simha, is the Chairman of a new industry association, proposed by MSC
and four other major shipping lines to help set up new digital standards.
My MSC
Manage your freight 24/7 with their secure online portal. This is your personal shipping
hub. Get the information you need and stay in complete control of all your shipments and
cargo.
EDI Solutions
MSC also offers additional EDI solutions to customers. Each of their online products has
been built to save you time and money, but it’s still important to check which one best suits
your individual situation.
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) solutions reduce the need for manual labour by syncing
your shipment data with other applications. It gives you greater control of all your shipping
transactions and keeps your documents all in one place.
An easy to use shipment system that uses cloud-based software applications to manage
shipments and improve performance and communication throughout the supply chain.
INTTRA currently serves over 30,000 active shippers across more than 200 countries.
Manage shipments with multiple carriers using a range of products that automate and
improve shipment management processes.
Connect your business with your entire supply chain, from suppliers to manufacturers, to
enhance collaboration and visibility. Fusing digital and business technologies, this application
allows you to respond efficiently to the many changes that can occur throughout the day-to-
day running of a cargo shipment.
Highlights include:
Online tools
MSC also offer a range of on-site tools and calculators to help you plan and track your
shipments:
Track a Shipment
Search Schedules
Carbon Calculator
SMART CONTAINERS
"MSC believes that the real-time tracking of containers is the future of the shipping
industry." Diego Aponte, President and CEO of MSC Group
Passion is what keeps MSC moving ahead. Innovation drives the way they develop
technology to transport goods faster, more efficiently and in a more sustainable manner.
Their growing fleet, modern equipment and dedicated teams, demonstrate the commitment of
MSC towards their customers. This commitment is reflected in their use of smart containers.
Shipping with MSC means to have real-time information about your freight at any time, from
door-to-door on sea, rail or road. You can track your cargo, know the condition of
temperature and being informed of shocks and doors status.
A Smart Container is a standard container permanently fitted with sensors that show you the
following information in real-time as the cargo travels across the planet:
Data from smart containers is used to optimize a large range of operations within your
Supply Chain. It’s much more than just knowing the position of your containers on a
map. It works to support everything from supply chain efficiency and progress
compliance through to cargo security and custom clearance.
MSC partners with Traxens, a French technology company, to enhance supply chain
management for shippers through unprecedented visibility of dry cargo flow from door to
door. The Traxens smart container system brings efficiency, safety and predictability to
shipping and is the only one designed to deliver the benefits of IoT and Big Data to the
whole shipping ecosystem.
TRADE SERVICES
MSC brings its customers outstanding global coverage, connecting all of the world’s trade
centres.
What makes their service stand out from the crowd, however, is their ability to provide in-
depth, expert knowledge of individual geographic trades and markets.
Global and local expertise
MSC’s Trade Managers each have an in-depth understanding of individual overseas markets
and the dynamics of specific trades. This expertise enables them to provide you with market-
specific, local advice on factors affecting the transit of your cargo. This might include:
Terminal conditions.
Local or overseas transport infrastructure.
Berthing delays or congestion.
Local or overseas regulatory and political changes.
Any relevant customs procedures.
So whether you’re importing or exporting, working with MSC will plug you into a network
of experts across more than 480 offices, planning 200 global routes to 500 ports in over 155
countries, and they’re committed to offering competitive rates and transit times.
With all of this expertise and capability comes an unrivalled commitment to customer
service. They will work hard to understand your needs in order to develop a productive, long-
term partnership.
At MSC they don’t have a ‘one size fits all’ approach. They believe that by staying close to
your business as it evolves, they are able to develop their services to match your changing
needs. That way they can continue to offer a truly tailor-made range of services – whatever
you want to ship, wherever you want to ship it.
They know that reliability and continuity of service are of paramount importance to you and
your business. Their new-look network will transform their services to ensure that they
provide the scale, speed and reliability that you deserve. The network offers more ports,
more weekly departures, faster transit times and improved reliability.
Also, by increasing the average vessel size on the trades whilst reducing the overall number
of ships in operation they will significantly reduce CO2 emissions. To find out more about
their sustainability ambitions please visit their Environment page.
They hope that these significant service improvements together with their continual drive to
provide the highest level of customer service in the marketplace will help your business to
thrive.
MSC in Africa
In addition to a global port coverage and regional feeder services, MSC offers solid
intermodal services. Their integrated network of road and rail transport solutions connect
landlocked countries and remote areas to ports, as well as the main inland commercial
centres.
They are committed to ensuring a positive social impact wherever they operate:
For over four decades they have built up the experience and expertise needed to deliver an
efficient, economical shipping service, tailored to the requirements of their individual
agricultural customers.
Where appropriate for specific commodities, MSC offers dedicated warehouse solutions such
as:
In Abidjan and San Pedro, Ivory Coast: dedicated warehouses to cacao, cotton and
cashew nut storage (over 45,000 sqm).
In Dakar, Senegal, on a 21 ha port platform, composed of 65,000 sqm of yard where
containers are stacked, 34,500 sqm allocated to warehouses for commodities’ storage.
In Tema, Ghana, an area of 35,000 sqm is operational 24/7 and offers stuffing and
pre-stacking solutions, especially for cocoa.
Naturally, they are only too happy to discuss your specific requirements to find the best
solution for your cargo.
DRY CARGO
Their dry cargo service provides the support and equipment to move some of the world’s
most commonly traded commodities.
OVERVIEW:
Their dry cargo service is the simplest and most common one they offer. It has been
developed to ensure the safe and efficient shipment of any containerised cargo.
For most of their customers, this service provides the support and equipment to move some of
the world’s most commonly traded commodities such as paper, white-goods and scrap
metals; however they understand that not all cargoes are quite this straightforward.
During their 40 years of experience, they’ve learned how to safely handle, stow and transport
more complex cargoes, in turn allowing us to extend their dry cargo services to customers
looking to ship food-grade, hazardous and rare/precious cargoes.
Hazardous cargo
When they transport your hazardous cargo, they take the whole supply chain into
consideration. From offering specialist training to their drivers, to the careful planning of
container stowage on their vessels, they’ve established their operations to limit the risks
associated with this type of cargo.
Food-grade cargo
They have an extensive inventory of reefer containers for food products that require
refrigeration or freezing during transit. They also prepare their standard containers for other
food-grade products to ensure they maintain theoptimum condition of your cargo. Each
container is dehumidified, offering you peace-of-mind that they can deliver your cargo in the
same condition as it was received.
They understand that transporting rare or precious cargo can be stressful. When you work
with MSC you can be assured that your cargo is travelling in safe hands, supported by a
company with over 40 years of experience.
Please note that due to its bespoke nature, this service is subject to application. For further
information please contact your local MSC agent.
Supported by their established global fleet of over 2.5 million containers, they offer the
equipment, know-how and experience to safely handle your cargo. But what really makes
their dry cargo service stand out is their team of over 24,000 dedicated employees. They
provide their staff with specialist training to enable them to confidently handle all enquiries
regarding their dry cargo services, so you can be assured that their local teams are on-hand
when you need them.
EQUIPMENT:
20' STANDARD STEEL CONTAINER - 22 G1
OVERVIEW:
Owing to the current trend of globalization and the growing reefer market, they have
developed a strong service offering and built one of the largest reefer container fleets in the
world.
They have improved their reefer container fleet but more importantly, they have ensured they
train and develop teams of reefer experts in their agencies around the world. At MSC, they
understand the importance of preserving the condition of their customers’ cargo from the
moment it is loaded until the moment it reaches its delivery point. Over the years, they have
built strong experience and expertise in transporting chilled and frozen goods – commodities
including fresh produce such as fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, dairy products and
pharmaceuticals.
Their 1,000 reefer experts will support you through each step of the preparation of your
refrigerated shipment.
In 2018, MSC transported over 1.6 million TEU of reefer cargo. MSC’s services go far
beyond the port. They offer inland transport by road, rail and barge. By using their complete
intermodal network, their customers can rely on a real door-to-door service.
EQUIPMENT:
20' REEFER STEEL CONTAINER - 22 R1
When stuffing a reefer container, it is important to consider the commodity type and
packaging being used.
This will help you to decide the best stuffing pattern for your cargo based on its requirement
of free flowing air around or between products.
As a general rule, pre-cooled frozen cargoes only require free flowing air to circulate around
the product, whereas chilled commodities such as fresh fruit and vegetables require air to
flow through the cargo. This is because chilled products produce respiratory heat which needs
to be removed to avoid damage to cargo due to temperature change.
There are two recommended patterns to follow when loading your reefer cargo:
Block stowage
Block stowage is usually used for loose cargo which is not palletised. Depending on the
commodity being loaded and the cartons being used, either a weave block or a chimney
pattern are commonly used for block stowage.
Palletised stowage
When loading palletised cargo, it is important to ensure your cartons are securely supported.
Corners of boxes must be aligned with the corners of the pallet to ensure weight is supported
from the bottom structure upwards.
As the containers they provide are bottom airflow reefers, it is essential that air holes are
aligned to ensure the air can move freely through the cargo. This is essential for chilled,
perishable products.
It is essential when stuffing a reefer container that cargo is loaded up to the edge of the T-
floor. This will ensure an even flow of air around the container.
When there is not enough cargo to fill the entire T-floor, they recommend using a filler or
dunnage to cover the vacant area. This can also be used to cover the centre panel between
pallets where there is empty space.
By following this guidance, you can ensure the air within the reefer container doesn’t
circulate past the cargo rather than your desired route around or through the goods.
Please note that as an exception, appropriately pre-cooled frozen cargo can be loaded as per
the third image, however appropriate bracing would be required.
When using palletised stowage, it is recommended that the last cargo loaded into the
container should be covered to encourage air flow through the cargo and prevent air escaping
through the open space around the cartons.
At all times remember not to load cargo beyond the red load line of the container or beyond
the end of the T-floor.
2. TRANSPORTING REFRIGERATED GOODS –
All products requiring strict temperature control can be vulnerable during transportation,
which is why using MSC’s experienced reefer experts is such a good idea.
Everything from collection from the field, movement to warehouse and pre-treatment
handling/packaging through to distribution requires the highest level of care to preserve the
condition of the product to ensure quality and value are maintained.
Providing refrigerated products are handled carefully, using the right equipment, their size,
freshness, firmness, texture, colour, flavour, aroma and chemical balance are not
compromised in transit.
There are three key heat factors that impact on the temperature of products during
transportation:
Outside temperatures entering the container during load and unload periods
As a result, it’s important that goods are pre-cooled ahead of transportation to achieve
optimal temperature levels before they are loaded into a container. This will reduce the
impact of outside temperatures on your valuable products during the transportation period.
It is important to note that there is currently no technology available to prevent or reverse the
ageing of perishable goods; reefer transportation adopts technology which aims to slow down
this process, maximising the shelf life of your cargo.
Packing refrigerated cargo
It is important that the corners of boxes must be securely supported by the pallet. Stacks of
boxes must be accurately aligned to ensure weight is supported in all four corners of each
box. Air vents in boxes must be aligned to allow for the easy flow of air without restrictions.
To make sure your frozen cargo arrives at its destination in its required condition and quality
is an exacting process.
MSC has years of experience transporting frozen cargoes all over the world. Their worldwide
network of agency offices provides expertise on cargoes requiring refrigeration, commodity
loading and conditions, and local port facilities. They’re here to help and to make the process
of shipping your frozen goods as simple and efficient as possible.
When transporting frozen products, it is crucial that cargo inside the container forms a solid
block without spaces between boxes and the walls of the unit. This allows air to freely
circulate evenly around the load maintaining a steady temperature for your goods.
Maximum load height should never exceed the red load line of the container.
Ventilation of the container must always remain closed and humidity off.
Packaging must be able to resist moisture and allow for a vertical flow through boxes
to maintain the desired temperature.
4. RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS –
To ensure the optimum transportation conditions are achieved for your cargoes, they
recommend considering the temperature and humidity within the container and the
availability for free-flowing fresh air.
Temperature
Each product has an optimum storage temperature which is the ideal condition for
transportation. Generally, this is the coolest temperature a product can withstand before
chilling injury or freeze damage occurs.
Chilling injury
Chilling injury is the physiological damage to tropical and subtropical products which have
been exposed to low but non-freezing temperatures. The most common example of this is the
browning of banana skins. Chilling injury can be undetected whilst the product remains in
cold temperatures but once the product is returned to natural or ‘room’ temperature, the
damage becomes rapidly more apparent.
Freeze injury
Products that can withstand cold temperature without suffering from chilling injury can still
become damaged when they reach freezing point. This occurs when the cellular structure of
the product is ruptured by the expansion of water during the freezing process. The most
common example of this is found in products appearing to be water-soaked with damaged
structures.
Humidity
Humidity levels play a crucial role in achieving the optimum condition for cargo during
transit. It is therefore important to ensure the correct humidity levels are maintained to avoid
commodities shrivelling or excessive water loss.
Please note: the services they provide can only reduce humidity, they cannot increase
humidity levels within the container.
Carbon dioxide
Ethylene
Fresh air
To overcome the potential risks to the condition of cargo during transportation, an open flow
of fresh air can be introduced. This can work to minimise carbon dioxide and ethylene levels
within the container and increase humidity levels. However, it is important to ensure that
vents are not opened too widely to avoid the entrance of excessive water.
PROJECT CARGO
OVERVIEW:
They provide global out-of-gauge and breakbulk services, bringing you first class project
cargo management, no matter whether you have a requirement for heavy lift cargo, or for
oversized cargo which cannot fit inside a standard container.
Out-of-gauge service
Out-of-gauge cargo height, width or length extends beyond the capacity of a standard
container. This type of cargo is loaded and secured onto platform, single flat rack or open top
unit.
Their experts assure you of a tailor-made solution for a safe and secure delivery.
With global experience and local knowledge in shipping oversized freight, they help you with
planning and execution of special loadings. Their experts deliver tailor-made solutions
ensuring a safe and secure handling of your cargo.
Their team is focused on loss and claim prevention, enabling a safe and smooth
delivery from the moment of receipt to the final destination.
When shipping oversized cargo with MSC, their customers benefit from a wide range of
service features, including:
Load, lash and secure the cargo at your origin port or nearby depot.
Competitive rates.
Specialist equipment
Their trade service teams are extensively trained and offer destination-specific knowledge
and support for oversized cargoes requiring specialist equipment such as platforms, open top
containers or flat racks. Their extensive inventory of specialist equipment gives us the
capability to transport large, heavy and irregular sized cargo.
EQUIPMENT:
20' COLLAPSIBLE FLAT RACK - 22 P3
INTERMODAL SERVICES
Global door-to-door transport solutions
Building on decades of experience, MSC aims to deliver a seamless journey for your cargo,
serving all industries worldwide.
Intermodal services are different solutions that combine transport by road, rail or barge and
enable the transit of your cargo inland.
They have the scale, experience, knowledge and equipment to provide for a fast and reliable
transit of your goods, while leveraging the latest technologies and keeping a sustainable
approach. Using their landside transport services not only saves you time and money; it also
reduces your business’s carbon footprint.
At MSC they offer a seamless, unparalleled level of service for their landside operations.
They understand that the ability to store cargo and containers is crucial for their customer’s
supply chain.
This is why they consistently focus on warehousing and distribution. Through establishing a
global network of warehouse and storage facilities, they are proud to offer a door-to-door
logistics service to their customers, enabling them to move cargo anywhere in the world.
MSC’s warehousing allows us to offer their customers greater speed, efficiency and
flexibility for their supply chains. Their network of warehouses, adding up to millions of
square metres around the globe, means that they can offer a broad range of services with
door-to-door cargo integrity.
Many of their warehouses are able to provide comprehensive pick / pack, de-stuff / palletise,
bulk stack and storage services and facilities. As a result, MSC will not only transport your
goods quickly and safely, but they can also help play a key coordinating role in your
distribution network. You get to release your goods when and how you desire.
Their available facilities also allow us to ensure the smooth transition of your cargo through
every phase of the transport cycle. This is combined with their outstanding levels of customer
service and their tailor-made, flexible solutions.
Even in countries where MSC doesn’t have its own warehousing facilities, they are still able
to offer unrivalled expert guidance on finding / arranging cargo storage solutions.
In addition to their many operational benefits, using MSC’s warehousing services will also
save you money in terms of:
Reduced inventory.
At MSC they understand that sometimes their customers need to move cargo to and from
countries in which they themselves aren’t based.
That’s why they’ve established their local cross trades team, who can help with queries and
bookings outside of the country from where your business operates.
When cargo is moved between an origin and destination without it entering the country where
the shipper is registered it is commonly referred to as cross trades.
At MSC, they have dedicated teams of specialists, experienced in all aspects of cross trades
to enable you to ship cargo direct from any origin to any destination, whilst maintaining a
local contact.
With operations covering 200 trade lanes and an extensive global network of over 480 MSC
agents, they have the resources and in-depth local knowledge necessary to support businesses
with their international growth aspirations and logistics requirements.
Their cross trades teams support their full range of containerised freight services, in particular
dry cargo, refrigerated cargo (reefers), out-of-gauge, precious and hazardous cargo. Their
teams provide a comprehensive service that includes competitive pricing, securing bookings,
documentation handling, tracking facilities and pre/on carriage arrangements. This means that
wherever your cargo is traveling to or from, you’ll have a dedicated team supporting you,
locally.
CUSTOMS CLEARANCE
MSC’s extensive knowledge and experience of global Customs clearance procedures can
save you time and money.
Each item of cargo you are importing or exporting must satisfy official Customs formalities
and regulations in order to proceed across international borders.
Having worked closely with international Customs authorities for a number of decades, their
customers benefit from fast, efficient processing of their cargo through border formalities.
Many of their global agencies can actually offer an in-house Customs clearance service. This
provides an easy, efficient and legally compliant transit of international cargo without
involving any other organisation or regulatory body. These agencies can:
Provide expert advice and guidance on all necessary procedures and relevant cargo
codification.
Talk you through all the Customs documentation you will need to complete for
different cargo types and countries of origin/destination.
Provide guidance on likely Customs duty for different cargoes (based on classification
code and country of origin with which you provide us).
Their Customs clearance services ensure a smooth and transparent transportation process,
minimising any unnecessary delays or expense. What’s more, since many of their global
network of agencies are AEO (Authorised Economic Operator) accredited businesses, their
customers benefit from:
Prioritisation over non-AEO businesses where Customs have selected cargo for
examination.
With their commitment to delivering customer service excellence, at MSC they work hard to
make international shipping fast, straightforward and stress-free for you at every stage of the
transit.
MSC has outstanding global port coverage – they go where their customers need us to go.
Their fleet of more than 510 vessels sail 200 different routes between 500 ports in 155
countries.
This enormous variety of destinations and vessels ensures great choice and flexibility for
their clients. But beyond this extensive port range, MSC has invested heavily in its own
strategically positioned container terminals around the world. This puts us in a far stronger
position to ensure customers receive their cargo on time and on demand. Having these
‘home’ terminals means they are able to prioritise vessels whenever necessary, and gives us
greater control of the supply chain. It also provides their clients with added reassurance on
the secure transit of their cargo.
Right now MSC has its own container terminals in Africa, Australia, Brazil, China, Europe,
India, the Middle East and the United States of America.
Dry ports
MSC has also invested in a number of ‘dry ports’. These ports are designed to accelerate
cargo delivery in cities that experience high levels of congestion. In these instances, MSC
customers’ cargo is transported to the dry ports for collection, thus avoiding hours of
unnecessary waiting. It’s another example of MSC investing time, money and expertise in
order to provide a faster, more flexible service.
Depots
In order to accommodate all of their customers’ needs MSC operates a global network of
container depots designed to provide a range of storage, maintenance, packing and unpacking
services. This gives their customers a greater degree of flexibility and control over their
distribution networks.
CARGO TRAILERS
Whatever your cargo or destination, MSC has the trailer to suit your needs.
MSC is committed to providing transport solutions that meet the diverse needs of our
customers.
That’s why they have a large inventory of well-maintained specialist equipment designed to
accommodate practically any cargo type and any loading or discharging environment.
Flatbed: A trailer with no sides, allowing for cargo that will not fit or cannot be easily loaded
into a standard container. This is typically used for project or out-of-gauge cargo.
Tipper: A specialised chassis to lift the container up at one end to unload loose cargo.
Low loader: A trailer with an adjustable deck height allowing for the transportation of
particularly tall or heavy cargo.
Container-lift trailer: A vehicle with equipment capable of lifting containers on and off the
trailer.
Genset trailer: A purpose-built trailer with its own generating equipment designed to
provide power for refrigerated containers.
Naturally, MSC also provides their customers with the necessary guidance to determine the
appropriate equipment for the safe and secure transport of their cargo. Their intermodal and
transport teams around the world will happy to help recommend the appropriate trailer for
individual cargoes, taking into account any physical or environmental considerations at the
point of loading or discharge.
Similarly, their out-of-gauge / breakbulk teams will provide the necessary expertise to
arrange the transport of any oversized cargoes.
Container equipment
In addition to the cargo trailers MSC customers are able to select the perfect container
equipment to suit the optimal transport of their cargo. They have more than 10 million
containers in circulation at any one time including:
With this equipment strategically positioned around the globe, MSC will have the ideal
equipment to suit your cargo – whatever it is, wherever it is.
VGM
A new regulation for a safer supply chain
1. The Situation
Today, weight declarations of loaded containers are not always accurate. This leads to an
increased risk of accidents throughout the supply chain.
2. The Challenge
From July 1st 2016, Shippers will be required to provide the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) of
each shipment to their ocean carrier and the terminal operator. It remains the shippers’
responsibility to obtain and provide the VGM in accordance with local government
guidelines and before the carrier’s cut off.
3. The Implication
SOLAS rules state that if a Shipper fails to provide a VGM to the ocean carrier and the
terminal operator, the container cannot be loaded on-board the vessel. In this case, the
Shipper is accountable for any additional charges. Shippers may authorise a third party to
provide the VGM, however, shippers remain responsible for the process.
4. Weight Definition
Method 2: by calculating the weight of the cargo (including packaging), dunnage and the
container tare.
MSC recommend that shippers keep a record of VGM’s for requests by authorities.
a) The tare weight is physically printed on the outside of the container doors
6. Worldwide Procedures
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