LOGISTICS
We put some questions to Brian Godsafe , Managing Director for Maersk Line UK and Ireland to get an insight into the inner workings of the world ’ s premier container shippers
SCD : Hello Brian . Firstly , as an organisation with a long , illustrious history as an overseas cargo carrier , how do you remain at the forefront of the industry ?
BG : Innovation plays a major role in keeping us at the forefront of the industry . Whether that ’ s introducing the Triple Es , the largest container ships in the world , or optimising our network to ensure that we derive maximum efficiency from all our vessels and their routes , innovation means that we stay ahead of the competition .
SCD : Can you explain why sea freight seems to remain the favourable choice over air freight ? Is it because the airlines bill customers by a chargeable weight , whereas sea carriers charge per container ?
BG : It ’ s really all about volume – container ships can carry more than planes , and as such the cost for transporting goods via sea is lower per item than it is via air . Obviously there are instances where the speed of air outweighs the associated costs .
That said , the container technology we employ , particularly our refrigerated Reefer containers , means that supposedly short-life items , such as fresh food , can now be kept in a ‘ fresh ’ state for much longer , making sea freight an attractive proposition for industries and sectors which might have traditionally only used air freight .
SCD : What would you say are the main reasons behind Maersk Line ’ s profits in Q1 of 2014 … lower unit costs ?
BG : The main drivers in our Q1 results were high utilisation of vessels and continued cost reductions . Volumes increased by 7.3 percent to 2.2 million forty foot equivalent units ( FFE ). Lower bunker ( fuel ) prices also helped .
We have spent a lot of time making
10 September 2014