Belgium: Maersk Line Global Head of Refrigeration to Speak at Cool Logistics 2011

 

Thomas Eskesen, Global Head of Refrigerated Business for Maersk Line, will deliver a global carrier keynote speech at Cool Logistics 2011, the established global forum for perishable transport and logistics, taking place 26-28 September in Antwerp. The news follows the widely-publicised 7 June launch of Maersk’s manifesto for change by company CEO Eivind Kolding, calling for radical changes in the way that ocean carriers and shippers do business.

As head of the world’s largest refrigerated container shipping operation, Eskesen is responsible for Maersk Line’s worldwide temperature-controlled activities, covering commercial, operations, cargo care, innovation and business development. In his speech on 27 September, he will give the carrier’s thoughts on key trends in the global refrigerated container trades and discuss the specific implications of its change manifesto for shippers of chilled and frozen cargoes.

The Maersk manifesto urges the shipping industry to move away from a narrow transactional focus on freight rates and focus instead on improving service reliability, ease of doing business and environmental performance. According to the company, on average the shipping industry only delivers 50% of containers on time today, while booking a container can require up to 19 touch points between the shipper and carrier. It argues that the industry must do much better in both respects to take cost, waste and uncertainty out of international supply chains.

Subsequently, the world’s largest container carrier has announced that it will introduce load protection fees in a bid to reduce the number of customers failing to deliver cargo on time and to cut delayed shipments. Under the new system, shippers will pay a penalty for no-show containers, but will also be compensated for rolled boxes. For refrigerated cargoes, the load protection fee is understood to be in the region of $500 per container.

“The issues raised by Maersk Line are particularly pertinent to perishable shippers and in fact have been voiced by a number of prominent producers and cargo owners at previous Cool Logistics conferences,” said Rachael White, Joint Event Director for Cool Logistics. “For many temperature-controlled cargoes, including fresh fruit and vegetables, chilled meat and fish, sensitive flower bulbs and high-value pharmaceuticals, on-time delivery is utterly critical to product out-turn and final market value. With global rivalry now the reality for many perishable trades, reliable transport and logistics makes the difference between success and failure in world markets.”

“How to reduce waste, improve efficiencies and gain greater transparency along international perishable supply chains has been a major topic of discussion at Cool Logistics since 2009,” added White. “Our focus this year is on how to achieve more joined-up planning and action to improve end-to-end cold chain performance and we are very pleased to welcome Maersk Line to the debate.”

The conference agenda and speaker list for Cool Logistics 2011 are now live online. As the annual global forum for buyers and providers of perishable transport and logistics, the event brings together key players from production to retail to provide a 360o perspective on the development and operation of international cold supply chains.

Cool Logistics 2011 is hosted by the Port of Antwerp and has attracted sponsorship support from some of the industry’s leading transport, logistics, distribution and technology providers, including Hamburg Süd, Kuehne + Nagel, Nova Fresh Logistics, foodcareplus, DP World, Fresh Park Venlo, Port of Rotterdam, Thermo King, Carrier Transicold, Daikin, Identec Solutions, Johnson Controls, Maersk Container Industri, Mark-IT and purfresh. The conference has also gained the support of prominent shipper and transport industry bodies, including the Container Owners’ Association, Port of Hamburg Marketing, The Shippers’ Voice and Transfrigoroute International.

About Cool Logistics Resources Ltd

Cool Logistics Resources Ltd is a company managed by an experienced duo of transport and logistics professionals, supported by a dedicated marketing, sales and hospitality team. As well as organising the annual global Cool Logistics conference in Europe, the company provides a range of services including market intelligence, communications consultancy and other specialist media advice.

Rachael White is a partner in Cool Logistics Resources Ltd and is founder and Managing Director of Next Level Information Ltd, which provides event management, conference production and business communication services for the global maritime logistics and transport industry. Rachael has been involved in the logistics and transport field for over 20 years as a trade journalist, editor, industry association secretary and producer of major industry conferences.

Alex von Stempel is a partner in Cool Logistics Resources Ltd and is founder and Managing Director of Freshwater Logistics, which provides market intelligence to the global logistics and transport industries. Alex has over 23 years’ experience as an industry commentator, journalist, editor and producer of leading industry conferences, including a number of specialist events in the refrigerated logistics and transport sector.

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Source: Cool Logistics, June  30, 2011.