LOGISTICS
UPDATE
CARING FOR THE ULD
Hong Kong Air Cargo
Terminals (Hactl) has
become the latest air
cargo organisation to throw
its weight behind ULD
CARE’s new Unit Load Device
Code of Conduct.
The ten point Code of
Conduct is a voluntary
agreement promoting best
practice in the handling of
ULDs, and represents a gold
standard benchmark for their
safe and effi cient operation
on the ground and in fl ight.
The Code’s primary aim is to
reduce avoidable damage and
loss of ULDs throughout the
supply chain. A number of
airlines, handlers, forwarders
and ULD suppliers have
already signed up to the Code.
Hactl signed the Code
of Conduct Agreement at
IATA’s International Ground
Handling Conference in
Madrid and has become the
fi rst Hong Kong organisation
to do so. Explains Hactl Chief
Executive Wilson Kwong:
“The ULD is fundamental
to the modern air cargo
industry; but it’s an everyday
item that we all take for
granted, and which many do
not treat with the necessary
care and respect.”
Hactl is one of the largest
handlers of ULDs in the
world: in 2018 it processed a
staggering 1.14m units. The
handler operates within its
own strict set of ULD handling
procedures, and provides
thorough staff training. It
uses its COSAC-Plus system
to manage its customers’ ULD
inventory and provide realtime
status information that
includes photographic images
of all equipment.
Continues Kwong:
“Damaged ULDs represent a
colossal bill for the industry
every year. In extreme
cases, they can also reduce
protection for cargo, and
cause localised equipment
shortages that disrupt
schedules and impair fl ownas
booked performance.
“We congratulate ULD
CARE on recognising this
problem and launching a
simple but effective initiative
that should help to mitigate
the problem through
heightened awareness.”
There are some 900,000
ULDs in circulation worldwide
today, with a replacement
value of around US$1bn.
FREIGHTING
THE FUTURE?
Don’t write off airship technology
– at least, not just yet.
ADP Ingénierie, a division of
France’s Groupe ADP, recently
signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with Flying Whales
with a view to developing up to
150 airship bases worldwide.
These would host airships, not
for passenger use but rather for
freight movement.
The attraction is not difficult
to understand. Such transport
would be low in cost (compared to
conventional cargo aircraft) and
would allow the point-to-point
carriage of heavy or bulky loads.
The companies have disclosed
that they are looking to construct
bases in France, the Americas
and Asia to provide the necessary
network.
The modern airship has the
benefit of being far cleaner than
its predecessor. The advent of
photo-voltaic cell technology
means that an airship today will
not have to keep landing to refuel;
and the fuel employed would be
that of inert helium, rather than
its forerunner, hydrogen. Flying
Whales, also a French company,
has developed the LCA60T, a
dirigible specifically designed
for the transportation of heavy
loads and with a payload of up to
60 tonnes.
Some issues still remain, though.
Crew levels may need to be
quite high if previous airship
ventures are anything to go
by; and an airship is still a low
speed craft, which tends to fly
at a low altitude. They are also
cumbersome when compared with
a fixed wing aircraft. Because
of such factors, selecting the
location of these airfield bases
will be critical.
K + N IN ACQUISITION MODE
Kuehne + Nagel has successfully completed the acquisition of
Worldwide Perishable Canada Company. The company is one of
the largest freight forwarders in the country and a key fi gure for
perishables cargo, being the market leader in tuna exports. With a
strong footprint on the East Coast, WWP will strengthen the existing
Kuehne + Nagel perishables network in Canada. Being the number one
airfreight forwarder in the country, Kuehne + Nagel can now offer its
customers an extended service.
“Perishables logistics is one of our strongest growth drivers at Kuehne
+ Nagel,” admits Greg Martin, Regional Airfreight Manager Kuehne +
Nagel North America. “Thus, we have been continuously investing in
the expansion of our dedicated network, through selected acquisitions
and by connecting key production countries to major markets. Setting
up global certifi ed standards, which are refl ected in our KN FreshChain
solution, has further strengthened our perishables network worldwide,
making it the largest in the industry.”
6 August 2019 www.airlogisticsinternational.com
/www.airlogisticsinternational.com