MILES AHEADMSC Logistics (Pty) Ltd.www.mscsouthafrica.com+27 31 360 7317Written by Jack Slater

MSC Logistics (Pty) Ltd.

Established in 1985 MSC Logistics is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mediterranean Shipping Company and rates second in the world for container fleet capacity. Benefitting from longstanding contractural relationships with service providers of rail corridors in South Africa, MSC Logistics have been known for many years as a rail freight company although there has also been a determined attention to the use of road.

“The majority of our traffic moves by rail as we have contracts with the rail operating companies in South Africa and our neighbouring countries ). Our South African contract handles some 80 000 teu movements per annum,” Lawrie Bateman explains, “We recently started a Longhaul road division, in order to counteract any rail delays, between Port Elizabeth and East London and between Durban and Johannesburg ” Lawrie Bateman MD MSC Logistics

Head office is situated in Durban with South African branch offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Rosslyn and Cape Town. Outside South Africa there are offices in Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho to ensure a thorough and reliable network.

“Our objective is to provide our principal, MSC., together with upwards of 140 clients, a professional, efficient and cost effective inland transport service through southern Africa. To this end we utilize the full spectrum of the MSC Group facilities including MSC Depots which provide storage and handling facilities if required.” Lawrie Bateman MD MSC Logistics

In the logistics industry relationships between customers and service providers have to be carefully nurtured as well established partnerships translate into major benefits. For example, thanks to their long history and strong approach

In order to capitalize fully on the latest requirements in the industry, strategic decisions to diversify into new areas are crucial for success. In defining this approach MSC Logistics (Pty) Ltd are ahead of the competition. I had the opportunity to speak with MD Lawrie Bateman regarding MSC Logistics growing network across Africa.

MSC Logistics (Pty) Ltd.

with their suppliers, MSC Logistics are able to offer a standard of delivery simply unmatched in the industry. Competitive rates, very good transit times, between ports and inland destinations and up to date tracking through their electronic connections to the computer systems of the South African rail operating company, Transnet Freight Rail.

The staff complement is important to MSC Logistics. Not only in maintaining the company’s high standards of professionalism but also the development of individual staff members.

Unpacks via Durban, Full and Part Loads,Warehousing and Consolidation of Cargoes, Project and Abnormal Cargoes

For all your transport requirements ex RSAContact us for best rates and service:Tel: +27 11 3921000Fax: +27 11 3923454/56Email: opszam@matvin.co.za jeremy@matvin.co.zaWeb: www.matvin.co.za

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MSC Logistics (Pty) Ltd.

“We provide employees with the opportunity to study through to university level and, as long as the course material relates to their career within the industry, we are happy to fully or partially subsidise the fees ” Lawrie Bateman MD MSC Logistics

Training and internal promotion through the ranks are continuous to keep everyone up to date with latest procedures and technologies in order to stay ahead of the fierce competition from other sectors of the logistics industry.

“Our staff have the expertise to handle all situations including landing and overland transport of abnormal breakbulk.” Lawrie Bateman MD MSC Logistics.

Situated in Durban, MSC Logistics is perfectly located to take full advantage of the city’s busy harbour and from there they can ship cargo out with the efficiency their clients have come to expect.

“Durban is where the control takes place of the majority of the 3000 containers delivered per month by rail, road and transhipment into African states. Furthermore, the 800 containers per month arriving overland at Durban for export shipment are also controlled here.” Lawrie Bateman MD MSC Logistics

Other activities include Merchant & Carrier Haulage controlled from a satellite office established at the Durban Container Terminal to accommodate the degrouping of LCL containers and the consolidation of cargo to destinations over the border.

“A Harbour Carriers Division with a mixture of owner drivers and subcontractors handle the local delivery of import and export cargo.” Lawrie Bateman MD MSC Logistics

MSC Logistics has a customs bond capacity of R25,000,000 (ZAR) allowing the carriage of Removal in Transit cargo with no delays.

“All in transit cargo delivered by road requires bonding,” Lawrie Bateman says, “In order to bond cargo we are required to submit a copy bill of lading and copy commercial invoice and packing list to SA Customs. These

commercial documents must be in English and provide the full requirements for customs, i.e. exact description of each item, harmonised commodity code, quantity and net weight” Lawrie Bateman MD MSC Logistics

Compliance with the Customs act is important and MSC Logistics is reputed for attention to detail, timing and accuracy.

“In Johannesburg we have 2 divisions. The rail division controls the Merchant & Carrier Haulage of export SA cargo together with export containers arriving by road, mainly from Zambia and Zimbabwe. We also receive breakbulk cargo which is packed into containers in Johannesburg and railed on our contract to Durban,” Lawrie Bateman MD MSC Logistics

Historically, companies that make a point of providing opportunities for others to be successful stay around the longest as no relationship can be stronger than a mutually beneficial one. In this case, by sub-contracting to individual truck owners (i.e. owner drivers) and small trucking companies MSC is able to make use of committed drivers.

“The Johannesburg Cartage division provides a local delivery service from the railhead at City Deep within a 130 km radius using 148 vehicles, all based on the owner driver concept. This is in line with creating opportunities for Black African owners under guidelines laid down by the SA Government” Lawrie Bateman MD MSC Logistics

Pretoria, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and East London branches all have Cartage Divisions similar to Johannesburg together with facilities to handle Merchant and Carrier Haulage activities.

For a company that is setting the bar for its industry MSC Logistics has set it very high indeed. In conclusion, preparation and experience are elements from which a company can only benefit and this is what has kept MSC Logistics at the forefront of their industry for the past 27 years. It will continue driving them onwards for many decades to come.

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