LOGISTICS
UPDATE
Hong Kong and
cargo screening
The new year has seen change within the
cargo community.
With the phased implementation of
100% air cargo security screening having
now started, the U-Freight Group says
that it is well placed to assist shippers,
having become one of the fi rst freight
forwarders to have one of its logistics
hubs in Hong Kong certifi ed by the Hong
Kong Civil Aviation Department as a
Regulated Air Cargo Screening Facility. The
enhancement of international standards
on air cargo security announced by ICAO
commenced on January 1 and is due to be
implemented in phases to achieve 100%
screening by June 30, 2021.
To complement the anticipated
gradual increase in screening demand,
Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department
has developed the RACSF (Regulated
Air Cargo Screening Facility) scheme to
enable and regulate air cargo screening
at off-airport locations. In Hong Kong,
a transitional arrangement has been
set up which will mean that all RACSFs
are required to gradually increase the
percentage of air cargo being screened.
Between January and April 2020,
25% of cargoes (by weight) have
been required to be screened; this will
increase to 40% in the second phase
(from May to August 2020); phase
three will see 70% come into line from
September 2020 to February 2021, with
100% in the fi nal phase, in the months
leading up to June 2021.
Over two years ago, the U-Freight
Group installed an X-ray machine at its
Golden Bear Industrial Centre in Hong
Kong, giving staff adequate time to gain
experience in the scanning process, as
well as helping to identify prohibited/
suspect products inside the everincreasing
number of e-commerce parcels
it handles.
A second enhanced X-ray machine
was installed in July 2019, which can
scan consignments up to pallet size. The
company modifi ed its export operations
warehouse to accommodate the existing
X-ray machine, as well as the newly
purchased unit.
Simon Wong, UFL’s Chief Executive
Offi cer, said: “The U-Freight Group fully
supports the ICAO aviation security
requirements and has worked closely with
CAD, Hong Kong Airport Authority, Cargo
Terminal Operator and HAFFA in making
the necessary preparations to make sure
that we enhance our air cargo security
regime to meet the new international
aviation security requirements. The
establishment of off-airport screening
facilities in Hong Kong will enable air
cargoes to be screened at the existing
warehouses or similar premises of the air
cargo industry before such cargoes are
transported to the airport for loading on
to aircraft.
“We were very keen to capitalise on
this opportunity, and were very pleased
to have become one of the fi rst freight
forwarders and logistics companies to
have been accredited by CAD, and are
now fully prepared to play our part in the
new ICAO regime.”
KEEPING AN EYE ON FREIGHT
Kale Logistics Solutions has developed an Uncleared/
Unclaimed Cargo (UCC) System to assist both
container freight station customers as well as Customs
offi cials when handling unclaimed cargo. Using Kale’s
mobile application, CFS patrons can access a No Objection
Certifi cate online, ensuring that Customs authorities also
have access to accurate information.
The CODEX – UCC System was inaugurated by Sailaja
Ray Baruah, Chief Commissioner of Customs – Kolkata
and Umesh Sharad Wagh, Commissioner of Customs
(Port) at Kolkata on February 18, 2020. In addition, a
mobile application was launched to facilitate an on-the-go
information exchange and easy usage among stakeholders.
The case of unclaimed cargo has been a major issue
for container freight stations and Customs offi cials in
a port ecosystem. When the importer fails to claim
the cargo, it goes for auction or disposal with a No
Objection Certifi cate from Customs authorities. However,
manual documentation has led to data inaccuracies and
inconsistencies. This in turn can lead to cargo in container
freight stations or port premises going unnoticed for
months and, in some cases, even years.
With this sort of UCC System in place, container freight
stations and Customs benefi t from reduced paperwork
and can more effi ciently handle enquiries and shipment
approvals, whilst bringing all operations on to a single
platform.
New GSSA appointed
Network Airline Services,
the GSSA division of
the Network Aviation
Group, has been appointed by
Trans Caribbean Cargo as its
Cargo General Sales Agent in
Europe. This partnership with
the cargo airline started back
in February and includes total
coverage in Belgium, France
and Germany, as well as The
Netherlands. Further countries
are expected to be added in the
foreseeable future.
Trans Caribbean Cargo
is a Miami-based airline
which operates to key
destinations such as Lima,
Bogota, Medellin, Guarani
and Caracas, although it
also includes various other
important South American
destinations within its
portfolio.
Trans Caribbean Cargo
runs a fl eet of B747F aircraft as
well as MD11F aircraft, which
can carry almost any cargo
ranging from perishables and
live animals to dangerous
goods and valuable cargo.
The specialist can also offer
full or part charters as well as
entertain one-off projects.
6 April 2020 www.airlogisticsinternational.com
/www.airlogisticsinternational.com