Intensified container delivery schedule avoids risk of shortage

While world trade is being hampered by a scarcity of dry and reefer containers, Marfret has been able to avoid the turbulence affecting the shipping industry. For a number of years, Marfret’s logistics department has continued to order containers in order to keep up with demand and provide recent equipment. In fact a new order of 240 40-foot high cube containers is currently under way, with delivery due this spring.

Containers in stock at Marfret and available to exporters and forwarders: such a rare thing in these times deserves to be trumpeted!

The disorganisation and scarcity of capacity worldwide began in December 2019. At the time, China was massively importing pork, which was upsetting the balance in refrigerated container traffics. When the pandemic broke out, thousands of empty reefer containers ended up being blocked at Shanghai’s terminals for many weeks. The problem rapidly spread to the dry fleet: by reducing workforce availability, the Covid-19 virus caused a slowdown along the entire supply chain, with containers being stranded in Europe and especially the United States, resulting in a shortage of containers for export cargo in Asia.

“Each year since 2017, we have been expanding our fleet. In 2020, we added another 550 new reefer containers and we are continuing to invest in the future. We have both standard and special containers. Marfret is not affected by the current situation since we are not in the Asian market and we operate in a closed circuit, which means the fleet does not become dispersed,” explains Marfret’s managing director Guillaume Vidil. 

It’s a difficult period from which the company has managed to profit by attracting new customers. “It was down to forward planning. Thanks to our good relations with the leasing companies, 40’ high cube containers in production were channelled to the Mediterranean. We increased our fleet of 40’ high cube dry containers by 10%,” says Gilles Gallinaro, head of the logistics department at Marfret.

A highly sought-after commodity at the moment, 40’ HCs provide an increased load capacity of between 10 and 15% over standard containers due to their extra 30cm in height. “Rotation frequency for boxes in Europe and the Mediterranean needs to be increased,” adds Gallinaro, who relies on around a hundred depots worldwide, both in ports and at inland terminals, for receiving returned containers and getting them back out to customers as quickly as possible.     

We’re on deck!

Le Douce France, the latest addition to our fleet, made its inaugural call in French Guiana on 18th March 2020 . In the context of Covid-19, we were not able to celebrate this call with petits-fours and Champagne as we had planned, but everyone was mobilised! Thank you to the crew of Douce France, to our agent Marfret Guyane, to our handling company GLMP who are mobilizing to supply French Guiana with food and medicines. Everywhere, our sailors, our agents and our cargo handlers remain 100% committed to accomplish their missions hich are crucial for our economy and our fellow citizens. More than ever, the exceptional situation we are going through highlights the vital importance of the shipping industry and all the players in the logistics chain. The Ministry in charge of Transport has also praised “the commitment of the port areas to meet the needs of the population and for the continuity of the country’s economic activity”. Bravo!

We wish you all the best to get through this crisis.

Illustrations: 1st call of M/V Douce France in French Guiana

 

COVID 19 – Activity Continuity Plan

Ladies and gentlemen, Dear Customers and Partners,

In view of the current health crisis situation, our company MARFRET undertakes to participate in the fight against the spread of the COVID 19 epidemic while maintaining our level of service in strict compliance with the protection measures decided by the Government authorities.

Thus, MARFRET sets up as of today Tuesday 17th March 2020, an Activity Continuity Plan in order to maintain the best possible functioning of your import/export activities.

Our agencies remain fully operational with a permanence reduced to the strict essentials and our teleworking teams are at your disposal to answer all your usual requests (pricing, release confirmation, booking or loading confirmation, container tracking, and all other questions you might have).

Call transfers to our mobile lines have been programmed and we invite you to contact your local agencies at the usual numbers. Do not hesitate to email us for all your requests, we all have access to our messaging system.

For the time being and according to information transmitted by the Maritime Affairs, the European port terminals and container depots remain open at the usual times. Port calls and activities are maintained as land and sea logistics remain essential to ensure a good supply worldwide.

Our teams are at your disposal for any further information you may require.