SHORT SHOTS

Etihad’s 50% Pharma growth and IATA CEIV Pharma anniversary

Two years into its IATA CEIV Pharma certification and Etihad Cargo has recorded a 50% year-on-year increase in the number of pharma shipments transported across its extensive network. It counts 54 dedicated pharma stations across the globe and operates over 1,050 IATA CEIV Pharma/GDP certified pharma trade lanes, offering its specialized PharmaLife product, in three temperature segments. The increase was in part due to the late 2020 launch of the Abu Dhabi-based Hope Consortium, and the transport of millions of Covid-19 vaccines in DEC20 on board a chartered Etihad Cargo B777-300ER. More such shipments are scheduled, and the Hope Consortium will continue to support pharma growth in 2021.

“Etihad Cargo has substantial expertise in the global transportation of temperature controlled and time-sensitive pharmaceutical products, including vaccines, operating to stringent manufacturers' requirements,” Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Sales and Cargo, Etihad Aviation Group, underlined. “The IATA CEIV certification has reaffirmed the carrier’s strength in this sector and strengthened partner trust to deliver a quality product solution across 54 pharma stations with dedicated experts available for advice.” Advice that is also delivered by Etihad Cargo through its membership in IATA’s Time and Temperature Working Group, where it participates in an ongoing education program that has meanwhile informed a global audience of more than 600 professionals via 30 focused webinars.

“This program will continue throughout 2021 as Etihad Cargo simultaneously builds its network of certified pharmaceutical trade lanes that meet consistent standards and assure product integrity,” Drew confirmed. “Additional enhancements this year include the introduction of thermal blankets, cool dollies and digital e-booking for pharma products, as well as securing co-operation with Pharma.Aero, the powerful cross-industry collaboration for pharma shippers, CEIV certified cargo communities, airport operators and other air cargo industry stakeholders.”

dnata’s brand new cargo complex at Manchester Airport

Brand, spanking new dnata City North is a 50,000 m² facility comprising a 38,100 m² warehouse complex, a pharma and perishables center, and 7,620 m² flexible office accommodation “providing an innovative mixture of workspace and meeting facilities, as well as breakout spaces.” Located near the airfield at Manchester Airport (MAN), the state-of-the-art cargo complex which cost more than GBP 30 million, was inaugurated on 21JAN21, and is best-equipped to offer a “safe and reliable cold chain solution for the handling of temperature sensitive goods, including the COVID-19 vaccine,” using the latest technologies. These include modular storage areas offering flexible, dedicated climate control capability, and web-based, real-time monitoring and management systems. dnata City North is
capable of handling more than 150,000 tons of cargo annually, be they pharmaceuticals, perishables, dangerous goods, aircraft engines, or vehicles.

Alex Doisneau, Managing Director of dnata UK, said: “We are thrilled to announce the opening of another world-class cargo facility in a strategic location in the UK. Our new, purpose-built facility in Manchester complements our existing multiple UK operations including the dnata City complex at London Heathrow, enabling customers to enhance their operations in the region.” Gareth Jackson, MAG Group Property Director, added: “It’s great to see dnata open its superb new cargo complex here at Manchester Airport. The new facility will further enhance the role we play in ensuring freight is seamlessly transported into and out of the North region markets from all parts of the world. Not only will the center help the North’s trade credentials, but it will also boost employment opportunities for communities in Greater Manchester too. We look forward to working closely with dnata as it continues to grow from Manchester Airport.”

cargo-partner gifts container homes to Croatian earthquake victims

On 29DEC20, an earthquake of the magnitude 6.4 hit Croatia, some 30 miles southeast of its capital, Zagreb, killing 7 people, injuring many and leaving thousands homeless. In cooperation with the local authorities, the cargo-partner teams in Croatia, Austria, Serbia, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, donated a total of 12 new containers, each equipped with four beds, a small kitchen, a heater, and a chemical toilet, thus providing temporary shelter for at least 12 families until their houses have been rebuilt. The first 8 were delivered on 21JAN21 and the remaining 4 on 23JAN21.

Zoran Starcevic, Managing Director of the cargo-partner team in Croatia which donated 5 of the containers, recognized the need for a fast solution: “Despite the cold and the snow, many people are currently sleeping outside or in their cars. Since many of these families own livestock, they have to stay close to their homes. We are doing everything we can to provide help where it is needed as quickly as possible” underlining the logistics provider's corporate values: "Our corporate motto 'we take it personally' also includes a strong sense of social responsibility and solidarity. Beside the donation from our company, I would also like to thank our employees in Croatia, who immediately organized privately and collected money to donate to those most strongly affected by the earthquake."

The Croatian humanitarian organization Dobra Volja also turned to cargo-partner for help in arranging the distribution of several pallets of donated clothes and basic necessities from Germany. cargo-partner provided free warehousing and logistics services, and in turn, Dobra Volja gave part of the goods to the people moving into the new container homes. Zoran Starcevic concluded: “The families we have been able to help so far are very grateful for this effective temporary solution. Most importantly, the container homes give them a warm place to stay while they work on rebuilding their homes. The situation is still very critical, but luckily, many other organizations have launched similar initiatives to offer support for the victims. Help is on the way, and this gives people the strength to keep fighting for a better future.”

Qatar Airways Cargo rolling out on WebCargo

Two industry giants are coming together: “the world’s largest cargo airline” Qatar Airways Cargo will be rolling out its capacity on “the world’s leading live air cargo rate distribution and booking platform” WebCargo, part of the Freightos Group. From 07FEB21, Qatar Airways Cargo’s capacities will be eBookable on WebCargo as the roll-out starts in France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, South Africa and Spain. For forwarders in those countries choosing to book via Webcargo, Qatar Airways Cargo will be offering a discount scheme (subject to eligibility criteria) resulting in an average saving of USD0.06/kg for the first 20,000 shipments booked via the platform. It has also indicated that further special promotions can be expected over the course of the year, as the carrier focuses on building its presence on WebCargo.

Qatar Airways Chief Officer Cargo, Mr. Guillaume Halleux, commented: “We are pleased to partner with WebCargo to provide true agility and digital connectivity for our customers. As a leading global carrier, we rely on constant innovation and digitalization across all our operations in order to provide our best-in-class customer service. During the past months, we have introduced several digitalization initiatives such as online rate distribution, ad hoc rate automation, track and trace and availability via API. The future of air cargo is indeed digital, and this change will definitely bring in efficiency across the supply chain.”

Freightos Group CEO Mr. Zvi Schrieber, said: “Digitalization is a crucial step in powering agile supply chains in a rapidly changing world. We're incredibly proud that Qatar Airways Cargo, the largest cargo airline in the world - has selected WebCargo to launch third-party eBookings for forwarders around the world.”

Bolloré Logistics is Pharma.Aero’s latest Full Member
 
“Pharma.Aero continues to expand its global network and we welcome Bolloré Logistics into the membership. It allows us to further improve the air transportation and handling of pharmaceutical and vaccine shipments by creating awareness and focusing on global collaboration within the air cargo industry,” Nathan De Valck, Chairman, Pharma.Aero, said, announcing Bolloré as its latest new Full Member – number 44 since the NPO began back in 2016.
Pharma.Aero’s mission to ensure “reliable end-to-end air transportation of pharmaceutical cargo by involving all industry stakeholders across the pharma air supply chain to jointly develop new standards and guidelines; forge quality pharmaceutical trade lanes; and share market knowledge and expertise,” has never been so acute as now, with the Covid-19 vaccine distribution challenge. Brice Bellin, Head Healthcare & Life Science Europe and Netka Hohlfeld, Healthcare Director Germany & Central Europe, Bollore Logistics, speaking on the membership, added “Bolloré Logistics is aware about the importance of supply chain collaboration and required efficiencies to ensure the global distribution of the Healthcare Industry. We see it as our duty to be tier-one supply chain partner as one of the world’s top 10 transport and logistics groups, with the largest integrated logistics network in Africa. It’s an honor to be a part of a common approach which will improve compliance, quality, recognize and mitigate risks, and increase stakeholders’ visibility in this complex pharma industry, more particularly for the supply of vaccines in the health context that we are currently experiencing.”

Kerry Logistics opens flagship Chemical Logistics Center

Kerry Logistics Network Limited inaugurated its state-of-the-art, flagship Kerry IMS Chemical Cangzhou logistics center in the Cangzhou Lingang Economic and Technological Development Zone in China’s Hebei province on 08JAN21. The 97,540 m² center comprises offices facilities, and Class A and B warehouses capable of annually handling 400,000 tons of chemicals and equipped with smart monitoring and management systems. It currently handles mostly industrial raw materials packaged in Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC), drums and pails, and is planned to hold 38 different types of dangerous goods, including flammable liquids and solids, oxidizers, and corrosive substances. It will serve the many chemical companies in the nearby Tianjin Nangang Industrial Zone, as well as customers in the Hebei, Tianjin, Shanxi and Shandong regions, providing chemical warehousing, long-haul trucking, network and distribution services.

William Ma, Group Managing Director of Kerry Logistics Network, said, “The Kerry IMS Chemical Cangzhou logistics center is the flagship development in Kerry Logistics Network's expansion of its chemical logistics business, unleashing its strength as a 3PL in the chemical and dangerous goods market. With this logistics center, Kerry Logistics Network is confident that it will greatly enhance its service capabilities in chemical and dangerous goods logistics, enriching user experience and service quality to offer growth initiatives to the industry.”

Edwardo Erni, Managing Director - China and North Asia of Kerry Logistics Network, said, “There is enormous potential and development prospects in the chemical logistics market. The completion and opening of the Cangzhou logistics center will allow us to provide professional chemical supply chain consolidation services to our customers in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region. It will give support to our customers' national and regional framework and consistently optimize supply chain networks to raise the autonomy of the chemical industry supply chain.”

Brigitte Gledhill

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