The
Australian Freight Councils Network (AFCN) represents a network of Air
& Sea Freight Export Councils now operating in each state of Australia.
These Councils are a joint initiative of the Commonwealth and State Governments.
Trial Shipment Success:
The shipment of perishable exports from Australia to UK/Europe and the
Middle East using a combination of Air and Sea Freight has been successfully
trialled through the auspices of the Air Freight Council of Queensland
Ltd. and the Air Freight Export Council of New South Wales Inc. The trials
were supported by Agri-Chain Solutions Ltd and the Sea Freight Council
of New South Wales.
This first trial shipment of Australian stone fruit using this new service
was air freighted to Singapore and loaded into a reefer container and
transported by sea to UK. The product quality at time of arrival was “excellent”.
This new system takes
advantage of the competitive air freight rates and availability of capacity
from Australia to Singapore combined with the frequent, efficient and
fast transit times by sea from Singapore to both Europe and the Middle
East.
The new service cuts current shipping transit times from Australia in
half (or more) ie to UK/Europe 20-21 days, Middle East 10-11 days with
significant corresponding reductions in freight rates compared to air
freight.
To obtain full details and costs of these new services, contact your Australian
specialist perishable air freight forwarder or either one of the two air
freight councils who have developed these air/sea services.
This new air sea service provides the opportunity for Australian producers/exporters
to access European & Middle Eastern markets with products which previously
were unable to withstand the long sea freight transit times or where air
freight was either too expensive or space (beyond Asia) difficult to access.
Key to success – Handling in Singapore
It was well recognised that for this service to be successful, efficient,
reliable handling in Singapore was fundamental. A neutral ground service
provider was identified out of a total of 12 possible candidates. This
ground service provider specialises in handling of perishable cargo, and
provide a total service including reefer booking, all documentation, reefer
loading and local transport.
The ground service provider is Singapore Air Sea Trans-Shipment Services
Ltd (SASTS), who will undertake reefer loading at Singapore Airport.
Typical Shipment Handling – Singapore
At Airport - SASTS
• Shipments are stored in the airport cold room within 1-2 hours of aircraft arrival.
• SASTS staff personally check the cold room temperature (in accordance with shippers specifications) and probe product temperature prior to stowage and report to Australian freight forwarder the consignment arrival time, cold room stowage time and product temperature;
• Reefer (sea freight) loading takes place at the Singapore Airport cargo terminal by SASTS own staff and equipment – loading time approximately one hour;
• The reefer is transferred to the sea port and put “on power” approximately one to two hours after loading;
• SASTS also provides a portable generator (optional) to “power” the reefer immediately loading is completed.
• SASTS reports to the Australian freight forwarder reefer load start/finish times, product temperature at time of loading and time the reefer is “on power” at the port
Loading Details – Into 20ft sea freight reefer containers
Generally, shipments are loaded on skids/pallets 108cm x 89cm with a maximum
height of 210cm. Twelve such skids fit into a 20ft reefer. Six skids fit
on a standard airline pallet. When using lower deck pallets ex Australia
3 airline pallets each with six skids (total 18 skids) would be forwarded
and the ground service provider in Singapore tops up twelve skids for
reefer loading requirements.
Main deck (freighter) loading requires 2 airline pallets each 6 skids
(total 12 skids) built to a maximum height of 210cm – to optimise
reefer capacity.
This programme is based on full sea freight 20ft reefer shipments comprising
approximately 10,000 kilos gross weight (subject to product density).
Documentation
Your freight forwarder will issue a negotiable FIATA waybill covering
both modes of transport, this being accepted international practice.
To obtain full details and costs of this new service contact your Australian
perishable specialist air freight forwarder or either one of the two Air
Freight Councils who have developed this Air/Sea service.
Mr Craig Templeman
Executive Officer
Air Freight Council of Queensland Ltd
phone: 61 7 3860 5244
e-mail: afcqeo@westnet.com.au
www.australianairfreight.com
Air Freight Council of NSW Inc
Phone: 0416 110 997 Malcolm Bush
Email : malbush@bigpond.com
