Sizing up your needs

Shipping containers come in a wide range of different sizes and shapes, so if you are thinking of hiring one, or even buying one, you need to think very carefully about the type of container which will best suit your needs. It’s wise to consult the shipping container manufacturer or agent before making a final choice, as most reputable merchants will have their own reference sheets available to make your selection from.

Here are a few things that you will need to take into consideration before you make that decision.

Selecting a shipping container

Look for a container which is durable, made from a long-lasting material such as high tensile rust inhibiting corten steel, and has a CSC plate (MoT) which means that you can use it for shipping.

Containers are available in a wide variety of sizes and types â€" for example 40ft, 20ft, 10ft and 8ft x 8’6” standard height, or 9’6”, and with single or double ended doors.

The contents

What will you be using the shipping container for? It goes without saying that you need to think carefully about what you intend to put in the container, and consider whether it’s going to be large enough for your needs. Your first task is to calculate the volume of the items you intend to store or transport, and if this is proving a challenge, ask the shipping company for their advice.

The size of the container

Look at the list of container sizes available from your chosen agent, and if necessary compare lists of suppliers to see who has the most appropriate size for your needs. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; contact the supplier and find out prices and suggested uses before you make your choice.

Think about where you will keep the container when it’s delivered. Depending on what you need the shipping container for, you will have to consider any limitations on the size, and in some cases you need special permission to keep the containers on your property if they are over a certain size.

Future Considerations

Don’t buy too small â€" if you think you might need more storage in the future, you could regret not opting for a larger container. On the other hand, if you opt for a larger shipping container than is strictly necessary, it may turn out to be rather a waste of money.

If you are hiring your container, you can upgrade if necessary, but that’s not always an option if you’re buying your container outright. Consult a reference sheet for guidance if you aren’t sure.

T.Ward Shipping Website

The Importance of Logistics in a Shipment agency

The Importance of Logistics in a Shipment agency

Logistics play diverse prominent roles in the shipment industry, it facilitates the movement of goods from one point to another. With proper logistics in place, shipment, offloading, warehousing, delivering and other brokerage services are handled with more flexibility and convenience. Logistics in shipment industry can be said to be the complete process of the planning, management and control of the movement of goods and services. Logistics also involve the control of data, human resources and information of goods and services from their origination point to their point of destination.

Logistics procedures in the shipping industry integrate several components to facilitate smooth movement of goods and services from point A to point B. Material handling, warehousing , packaging, transportation, information management and Inventory are some of components used by Logistics personnels to handle shipments.

Importance of effective Logistics in facilitating movement of goods and services

• Logistics perform checks to ensure that all requirements are met before the movements of goods and services from one point to another.

• It helps coordinate third party involvements in the facilitation of the movements of goods and services

• Effective logistics ensure the timely delivery of goods

•logistics ensure the safe and timely dispatch of items

• Drafting of plans , policies and procedures for efficient movement of goods and services can only be provided by effective logistics.

• Logistics ensure the synchronization of the business strategies of a client into the services of a shipping agency to provide an excellent service

• Customer support services are part of logistics, these support services help handle any customer complaints and enquiries.

• Logistics help a shipping company coordinate better , their communication with vendors, transport companies and other service providers.

• logistics ensure check and balances, it helps in prevent fraud and supply of wrong information that can delay the movement of goods from one place to another.

Sustainability of the supply Chain

Sustainability of the supply Chain

One of the most important things a large business can do to sustain its growth today is to understand and enlarge its supply chain network. When your supply chain become more enlarged and complex, it becomes very difficult to manage the risks associated with disruptions in supplies, this is the stage when interruption in supplies becomes difficult to handle. The supply chain makes up about 60% cost of the components that generate revenues to a business, therefore its sustainability determines how successful a business can become.

Key factors in sustaining your supply chain

• Be creative and Innovative with your supply chain

Your contributions towards sustaining your supply chain matters. Let your innovative and strategic sourcing for supplies become focused on your customer satisfaction and not for your own personal gains. You must input coordinated and competitive initiatives in your supply chains and these initiatives must be difficult for your competitors to copy. Let your supply chains meet user expectations and it will become difficult for them to leave you.

• Always locate and use your opportunities

There are two basic ways you can make use of your opportunities to sustain your supply chain; strategic sourcing, and strategic logistics. Your strategic sourcing and logistics involves critical planning, purchase, design, warehousing, Inventory and deliverable materials . Don’t go for any supply chain company to source your items, always do your research and plan very well so that you wouldn’t get your supply disrupted by situations above your control.

• Always assess your risks and consult with those who matter

Assessing your risks can help you make critical decisions that can change things positively in sustaining your supply chain. You don’t have to source for your supplies for an individual forever, you need to weigh your options and make sure you consult knowledgeable people who understand how to handle different supply chain situations to help you out.

Supply Chain Reliability- The reasons for having a good partner

Supply Chain Reliability- The reasons for having a good partner

Poor supply chain can wreak havoc on any business because it is the main source of input for production and running of the business. Poor supply chain can result in loss of sales, as a result of slow or non-delivery of supplies. Ineffective supply chain can also result in defective final products as well as warranty costs of such defective supplies. Defective supply chain can cause an organization to lose clients confidence therefore it can lead to loss in market share value.

Reasons for having a good supply partner

• A good supply partner speeds up the entire business productivity.

• A good supply chain helps a business meet up with targets, especially in the delivery of goods and services on timely manner

• An effective supply chain reduce redundancies within a business organization

• An effective supply chain helps you retain the confidence of your clients and your share of the market.

• A good supply chain reduce costs of production among other things.

How to get the best Supply Chain partner

• Diversify your Partnership

You need to be realistic with yourself, people are bound to make mistakes and fail in meeting up with your demands, therefore, the best possible way if avoiding disruptions in supplies is to have multiple partners. You need to be proactive and get your supplies from different people so that when one fails, another will meet up with your needs. T. Ward is renowned for their reliabilety.

• Get your supplies before they are needed

If you have unreliable supply partners, the best way you can ensure steady supplies from them is to book for such supplies ahead of time. Depending on the frequencies of usage, you can book for supplies weeks or months ahead of the time they are needed.

• Give incentives to your suppliers

You can give some incentives to your suppliers just to motivate them for doing business with you.

Sailing times and Changing Tides – How it affects shipping agents

Sailing times and Changing Tides â€" How it affects shipping agents

Changing ocean tides can actually affect sailing times as well as the time frames for the delivery of shipments at ports. The condition of a sailing ship especially when wind directions bears against their surface can lead to slow delivery. Changing tides occur as a result of changes in Air pressures on the tidal heights and it can be very embarrassing most times. There are many distractions caused on shipments because the time duration of changing Tides vary from a day to the other.

Many shipping companies now make use of advanced GPS systems as part of their Coastal Navigation system that helps them predict the likely effects which changing tides will have on sailing times. Changing tides affect shipments more , especially when such shipments are heading windward.

Effects of changing tides on sailing times and shipment services

A shipping agent often scan the Tide table and send it to a shipping company , so as to inform such company about the time frame under which any shipment will arrive. A shipping agent will inform a shipping company about possible shifting of anchorage as a result of the changing tides. Changing tides does not only affect sailing times, it can also lead to extra charges on shipment, transportation, storage and handling.

• Changing tides will increase Pilotage and Towage costs,

• Changing tides can result in extra expenses on hiring labour,

• It can lead to an increase in fees payable on additional storages such as Bunkering.

• Making booking for berthing becomes difficult because a shipping agent may not be able to formalize all documents with customs and some other local authorities.

Changing tides do not only affect sailing times, it results in extra charges payable by shipment owners and for this reason, some shipping agents often charge more than usual to cover for any extra time spent in shipping, transporting and handling shipments.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles- How you can manage consignments on any medium

Planes, Trains and Automobiles- How you can manage consignments on any medium

Regardless of the kind of medium you are using to get your consignments from one place to another, you need to keep in mind that all the mediums have their own benefits and challenges. Getting your consignments through the air is the fastest no doubt but the costs are normally higher than other mediums. Shipping your consignments through the water ways can be the cheapest form of transporting your items but it takes a longer time for such consignments to reach their destinations

Managing your consignments on any medium

• The best possible way to manage your consignments on any medium is to make use of an effective logistic service. A perfect logistic operations can help you reduce your risks, thereby reducing costs of shipping your consignments. A good logistic control can also reduce the time of delivering your consignments to their final destination because it makes careful planning for other services such as ware housing, handling , and final delivery.

• An all-inclusive service is always better than any other type of shipment services

Rather than choosing different companies to ship, package, transport, and deliver your shipments, why not use a single company to handle each steps and give yourself a peace of mind. It even costs less to use an all-inclusive service since you are dealing with a single company. t is easier to track your shipments via single company than using multiple companies.

• It pays to hire an agent

Many individuals believe that hiring an agent can cost them extra , whereas it will save them more money at the long run. An agent is familiar with the business of moving goods from one place to another on any medium, therefore he can negotiate on your behalf just to ensure the safety and timely transfer of such items.

LCL {Less than container load} services

LCL (Less than container load) services

Less than Container load - LCL services can be described as a transportation services rendered to transport smaller ocean freight shipments that do not have complete full contain weight . In other words LCL can be described as a service rendered for smaller cargo shipments which are insufficient in weight, or quantity- these freights do not qualify for the standard freight weight charges applicable to full containers. Less than container load service is a service that is normally provided for shipping loads that are less than 20 cubic meters and a shipping agent can consolidate this service by combining different LCL shipments.

Shipping agents normally use the Less than container load services as an economical alternative to more expensive air freight shipments. Less than container load â€" LCL services are best used for “Less time sensitive” shipments.

Features and Benefits of LCL {Less than Container load} services

• The most important benefit and feature of LCL is that it provides the opportunity of a shared container space , which means you can save more money by sharing a full container space with others.

• Other secondary costs such as delivery pickup, car insurance, Brokerages, and warehousing are competitively priced.

• The superior services rendered for LCL shipments will reduce time of shipment and overall costs of handling.

• Less than Container Load services are more convenient to handle due to the smaller sizes of items involved, therefore you will get flexible schedules on appointments .

• Consolidation and de-consolidation becomes much easier with LCL

• Less than Container load comes with fast transit times

• Online tracking of LCL services are much easier.

• Trucking charges are reduced

• Multiple container freights station shipments are eliminated, rather the LCL makes use of container yard boxes for faster access and single clearance.

• Documentation is very easy , and this service attracts a single terminal handling fee.