Direct Console Services to Abu Dhabi

UK
The Direct console service will be handled through the port of Southampton in the UK, which will allow CSS to target the entire UK sector with reduced transit time. Hence CSS Abu Dhabi partnered with Locker Freight which is a limited company registered and operated from the UK with nearly 42 years trading experience in worldwide logistics. “With the number of UK citizens now residing in the UAE, and the level of trade that takes place between the UK and UAE this new service is set to grow from strength to strength in the comming months, and we look forward to further strengthening our partnership with CSS Abu Dhabi,” added Chris Goodfellow, Director, Locker Freight.

Locker Freight Limited.
Haleview Road, Huyton,
Liverpool.L36 6DD.
Tel: +44 (0) 151 4808922
Fax: +44 (0) 151 4803744
www.locker-freight.co.uk
ITALY
Known as the luxury capital of Europe, CSS hopes to target the luxury segment of the Italian economy such as designer Jewelry, clothes, accessories, ceramics, marbles, tiles, home appliances and household items like luxuries furnitures with the direct console offering. In order to make this successful CSS Abu Dhabi has partnered with COMBI LINE, a leading Console Service provider. “This will be a unique offering to both customers in the United Arab Emirates and Italy, it will allow faster transit times, and even faster processing, we look forward to working with the team at CSS Abu Dhabi in making this a success,” added Massimo da Vero, LCL Export Manager, Combi Line International S.p.A

Combi Line International S.p.A
Via Fanin, 2-20090 Segrate,
Milan (Italy)
Tel: (+39) 02.213087.1
Fax: (+39) 02.3919.5177
www.combiline.it
ROTTERDAM
Rotterdam was chosen as one of the origin as it allows CSS Abu Dhabi to target inbound volume from many of the European and Scandinavian sectors  like Austria, Belgium, Czech, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, France, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden and Swiss.  For this unique initiative CSS Abu Dhabi has chosen to partner with FPS Rotterdam. For over a decade, FPS Rotterdam and CSS Group have been working with each other because of FPS Rotterdam’s specialization in consolidation services worldwide, weekly and directly to and from Rotterdam. “We are truly looking forward to working closely with CSS Group on this new endeavor, which we believe is an untapped opportunity for our business in this region,” added Saskia de Jong, Director, FPS Rotterdam.

FPS Famous Pacific Shipping B.V.
Rotterdam
Tel:  + 31 10 2831919
Fax:  + 31 10 2831910
www.fpsrtm.com
For further information, Please contact :  
Arun Kuriakose, Sales Executive – NVOCC       Tel: +971 26431717, Fax: +971 26431919, Ext:410      arunk@cssabudhabi.com
www.cssabudhabi.com

CSS Abu Dhabi Provides a Single Window on Pharma Transport Solutions

Pharmaceutical companies around the world rely on us for customized, swift and safe delivery of their high-priority shipments. Due to the delicate nature of the cargo, pharmaceutical companies often look for a single window of operation to handle their requirement from end to end, thus ensuring single accountability and attention to detail from its logistics providers. We ensure the integrity and quality of sensitive, high-value pharmaceutical goods, offer distribution and controlled supply chain management programs.

Individualized Services offered by CSS Abu Dhabi:

  • Consultation with customers to review global transport requirements for their materials, as well as import and export requirements for customs clearance
  • Sourcing and provision of packaging supplies such as insulated shippers, UN certified shippers for all ambient refrigerated and frozen shipments, gel-packs, dry ice and temperature controlled shipping containers and temperature monitors
  • Pre-customs clearance in selected cities.
  • Transfer of Medicine to the cold room upon arrival in Abu Dhabi Airport.
  • Quick delivery order process at Abu Dhabi Airport.
  • All Transport Temperature Controlled – Chilled (+2°C to +8°C) and ambient (+15°C to +25°C) pharmaceuticals.
  • We handle time bound medical equipments.
  • Our own temperature controlled warehouse in Abu Dhabi


“My aim is to reach out into the niche market audience with our new product “Pharma Logistics”, having identified this as a unique sector which has a potential growth opportunity for its business since the healthcare industry is experiencing  a boost in the UAE over the past few years. By having the first mover advantage in this untapped sector, has meant that CSS Abu Dhabi has closely monitored and researched all aspects of Pharma logistics and, given their global expertise in the field of logistics, will be an invaluable asset to the pharmaceutical industry in this field.  With a keen focus on hospitals, medical supplies providers, medical equipment trading and pharmaceutical companies, CSS Pharma Logistics has set the stage to grow exponentially within this existing sector, which will further diverse its vast service portfolio and help to secure the future growth,” said Midhun George who is in charge of  Pharma Logistics.

Touching Life, Beyond Borders

Palliative care is a multidisciplinary approach that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients. This holistic approach allows the palliative care team to address physical, emotional, spiritual and social concerns that arise with advanced illnesses.

Palliative care also improves quality of life for both the patient and the family. Alpha Palliative Care is the biggest of such charitable chains in India. Since 2005, Alpha has been providing palliative care to tens of thousands of patients in the four districts of central Kerala in South India.

Dubai-based Rashid Centre for the Disabled that provides high-quality, integrated education services and therapies for children with special needs, has grown to become the most successful humanitarian organization in the region. It strives to bring children with special needs to the main stream of society by developing them as much independent as possible. Under the slogan “Touching Life, Beyond Borders”, Alpha Palliative Care joined hands with Rashid Centre for the Disabled to provide patients with relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of serious illnesses.

The two centers jointly organized a meeting of minds at the Dubai World Trade Centre on June 20, 2014 to share the suffering of the sick. Renowned Indian classical dancer and world-famous choreographer Mallika Sarabhai, who is also a social activist and director of the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, presented a mesmerizing show to make the evening a memorable event.

The enthusiasm and the spirit, with which the children performed, overwhelmed the audience and was evidence of the amazing work of the teams at Rashid Centre for the Disabled and Alpha. It was indeed a proud moment for CSS Group as one of the table sponsors of the event to continually build upon its CSR initiatives within the community and to contribute to support the under privileged that benefit from this organization.

Beware and Be Aware of Packing of Flexible Tank

“Flexible tanks” or “Flexitanks” are a kind of storage equipment for liquids such as water, oil, wines etc. Compared to steel tanks or drums, flexible tanks have many advantages, including lighter weight and being rustproof, foldable, and quicker and easier to set up. With the same capacity, a flexible tank may have just 10% of a steel tank’s weight. The disadvantages of flexible tanks include lower durability and shorter longevity.
In this article we shall focus on Flexitanks being used in the Shipping Industry and the potential issues and claims faced in relation to the same.
Initially Flexitanks were designed on the basis that they would be for multi-trip use but these were soon replaced by single trip Flexitank. Though Flexitanks have been in vogue for over 20 years, their popularity have grown by leaps and bound in the recent past. A Flexitank is a bladder that is designed to fit inside a 20ft general freight container, known to carry products from portable water, and liquids like wine and fruit juices or concentrates to paints, oils, non – hazardous chemicals, latex, etc.
The main issue currently faced is the increase in number of incidents and claims regarding the use of these flexible tanks, which are usually much higher than normal cargo carried by containers.
There are presently no prescribed standards regarding design or construction or packaging requirements or rules for carriage pertaining to use of flexitanks. However, the Container Owners Association (COA) set up a flexitank working group with the inaugural meeting held in Paris on 28 June 2007. The said working group has been instrumental in formulating The Code of Practice for Flexitanks, which has being periodically revised. However, these are only guidelines to be followed and there is no authority to enforce or implement the code.
Discussions by various organisations dealing with the use of Felxitanks reveal that some of the main reasons for claims are due to the excess of the load bearing capacity, unsuitable container, failure to comply with the Transport Safety, improper installation, human factor and manufacturing defects.

Emotional Flying Club

It’s jokingly said some airlines have become so focused on getting more money from passengers, using add-ons to the basic fare that soon we’ll be charged for emotional baggage. This idea might make you chuckle but the chances are your flying routine follows an excitable pattern. The somewhat unbelievable concept of being enclosed in a pressurised metal tube, flying 40,000ft above the earth, hurtling along at 500 miles an hour triggers all sorts of emotions. This usually means that our flying routine, that others make look so easy-going, triggers lots of emotion. But we are not as alone as we think. If your friends do any of the following, they are with you in: – “The Emotional Flying Club”. They are just better at hiding their membership card!

Before you even arrive at the airport you start worrying about how long it takes to get there. Do you doubly make sure you get up in time, for that early morning departure, and don’t oversleep? Go on, admit it, we’ve all set more than one alarm clock and also booked an alarm call. You have done the airport journey many times before. It only takes 30mins or is it 50mins? Well, let’s say an hour to be sure eh? On the way, and at the first of hint of any hold-ups we start thinking, “Will you get out of the way?” wondering why all the worse drivers are on the road at once. Arriving at the airport we are amazed at how the journey took such a short time. We have arrived with hours to spare. However it is an “airport travel” memory block, because next time we will have completely forgotten this and go through all the emotional panic again.

Of course, we now start double-checking if we have got all our passports and tickets. No chance of remembering where the passports were hidden for safety. Everyone in our party starts looking and things become more confused. Eventually the passports appear, as if by magic. We were so sure that the luggage was underweight but, as we get nearer the baggage drop, we become convinced that it must weigh at least 25kg and will be rejected for being overweight. Suddenly the security questions take on a new meaning. “Yes, no one could have interfered with my bags”. “No, I am not carrying anything for anyone else”. Easy answers, but why is it we try to avoid feeling and looking guilty? When it comes to security clearance, even though we are so organised, we worry if all liquids and gels are in the plastic see-through bag. On heck, I’ve not left that spray in the carry-on case have I? It goes without saying, that whichever security queue you join, the others will be quicker. Naturally we get annoyed at passengers who leave it, until the very last moment, to start removing belts, watches, mobiles and laptops. Admit it you look-on, with anticipation, as your case travels through X-Ray. Will it make it OK? As for walking through the security arch yourself – whoops, breathe again as no alarm sounded. If you have ever become annoyed with the others repacking their belongings so slowly, whilst you are ready to move on, then your emotions are certainly rising in the emotional baggage count. Now all you have to do is to make sure you don’t miss your flight and never leave your baggage unattended. Sounds easy – forget it!

Even if you are in a lounge, no flight ever seems to be shown on the screen when you are checking. No matter how many times you look, the boarding gate seems to appear just when you weren’t looking. If you find yourself late, your flight will be departing from the farthest gate possible from where you are. Have you ever boarded a flight that leaves from Gate 1? No, neither as anyone else! As to you having some luck, if you are allocated a middle seat, you can easily spot which passengers will be sitting either side of you. The two largest! If you are travelling on business, no matter what cabin class, the crying baby will be seated nearest to you. Another emotional moment, just as you are about to sit down, consider this conundrum. Why is it that, when there is less carry-on luggage space available, the more carry-on luggage the passengers will bring aboard? You end up having to stow your bags nowhere near your seat! By now, you’ll have realised that this article only touches on some emotional triggers. There are so many more, that it’s no wonder we all have enough experience to join the Emotional Flying Club.

So come on, admit and apply for membership. As a nervous elderly lady said to a pilot, “I’ve never flown before; you will land me safely down, won’t you?” “Well ma’am,” said the pilot, “I’ve never left anyone up there yet!” I bet this senior first-time flyer was already a bona fide Emotional Flying Club member! Happy travels………

Chairman’s Message

“Flashes of Thought” is the title of book written by His Highness Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. A reader soon realises that this book gives you a rare insight into a ruler’s vision about his country and the challenges he encounters in order to realise his dreams. History has taught us that a nation’s development definitely lies within the vision of its rulers. Not only have my friends and myself witnessed the dramatic growth of Dubai but also its astounding development which has earned worldwide recognition over the past two decades. I consider myself fortunate that I have been witness to the amazing progress that Dubai has achieved. Being a part of this also affords me a little pride. “Flashes of thought” tell you about the determination and vision of a ruler who, in turn, brought happiness to his citizens.
In chapter 15 there is a mention about time management which reads:-
“Some see the year as equivalent to 365 days. Well, I say that a year is equal to the number of days that you have invested in yourself, your family, your society or in your spiritual life.”
Only a visionary leader could think and postulate such a profound idea. I truly feel that all of us should take this idea into our hearts. By striving to interweave such thoughts in the right manner, into our minds and daily lives, we may all improve ourselves and our personality.
I am humbled to have a copy of this valuable book duly signed personally by His Highness Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.  It has pride of place amongst my books as it provides a reminder of what should inspire us all. This is not only because CSS continues in our belief of adopting the best from around us, but because “Flashes of Thought” also sets by the example. We can learn that by staying focused on turning ambitions into reality it will help everyone at CSS. Consequently I have pleasure in recommending this book as a “must” read which will help guide us all in our endeavours to achieve greater accomplishments.

Breakbulk Europe 2014

FIRMLY ESTABLISHED AS WORLD’S LARGEST SPECIALISED LOGISTICS EVENT



Over 6300 project cargo and traditional breakbulk cargo logisticians and 275 exhibiting companies took part in the 9th annual Breakbulk Europe Exhibition from 12 to 15 May 2014 at the Antwerp Expo, Antwerp Belgium, making Breakbulk Europe 2014 the largest specialised logistics event worldwide. Breakbulk Europe 2014 attracted logisticians from 100 countries, creating a fertile environment for global cargo connections and business development.  The theme for this year’s event was “Moving the Gears of the World’s Big Businesses.”

Breakbulk Europe is one of ten annual specialized transportation events organized by Breakbulk Events & Media, a division of AXIO Data Group.  Major exhibitions include Breakbulk China, Breakbulk Europe & Breakbulk Americas.  Breakbulk Events also organizes targeted Congresses & Workshops in South Africa, Turkey, Brazil, Kenya, Tanzania, India & the USA.

CSS Group was well represented during the Breakbulk Exhibition, showcasing a strong presence led by a delegation from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, India and Pakistan. From CSS Dubai, T S Kaladharan, Chairman CSS Group, Raj George, Senior Vice President Projects, Oil & Energy, Ken Dinnadge, VP Business Development, Siby Kurian, Sr. General Manager Sales & Marketing and Amith Horra, Marketing Manager were in attendance. From CSS Abu Dhabi, Renjith Pillai, Branch Manager, from CSS Bahrain Narayan Tagore, General Manager, from CSS India Prabhakar Maniyan and Vice President Projects, Country Manager represented their respective regions during the exhibition.

“As always Breakbulk was an extremely interactive and an engaging exhibition, which is why it is rated as one the most vital exhibitions in the shipping and logistics calendar of events.  This year was no different with excellent networking events, an increase in participation from last year and more importantly more business opportunities were created with existing and new partners within the fraternity of shipping and logistics”, added Raj George, Senior Vice President-Projects, Oil & Energy.

BREAKBULK IN A SNAPSHOT:

Business Development Activities

At Breakbulk Europe, project cargo and traditional breakbulk cargo owners had the opportunity to learn about the latest industry trends and to meet and develop relationships with the leading specialised carriers, freight forwarders, ports/ terminals, packers and equipment companies that have the expertise to handle oversized cargoes requiring unique handling techniques.  In addition to the packed exhibition hall, attendees joined networking activities including a Welcome Reception in the hall, Ports Americas Happy Hour, Breakbulk Business Run and a multitude of networking dinners and receptions.

Professional Formation Activities

Educational activities were held during 12 to 13 May and were commensurate with one’s experience including the Heavy Lifting & Transport Master Class taught by Richard Krabbendam (Advanced/ Technical Level) and Managing Logistics for Capital Projects Workshop taught by Pam Holdrup (Entry/ Intermediate Level).

CSS Group 20th Anniversary

In today’s economy, it is rare to find an organization that can proudly say that it has completed twenty years since its inception. Today CSS Group, thanks to the enormous support of all its agents, associates and partners can proudly announce that they have embarked on their 20th year of operation by June 2014. Having had a humble beginning in 1995, CSS Group has grown to become not just a regional, but a global player in the shipping fraternity. Today, CSS Group is sought out internationally by partners and customers alike for its outstanding reputation in customer service excellence, quality of execution and global experience. As part of its celebrations to mark this momentous milestone, CSS Group will be inviting all its partners and associates to an exclusive gathering in March 2015 in Dubai, UAE. “With global partners, associates  and well-wishers all around the globe, we feel that it would be fitting to invite all those whose unending support have made this possible to celebrate with us right here in Dubai, where we began from our humble roots. It will be a celebration not only of our past but also of our future, one that we can build together through your continued trust and support in the organization,” added T S Kaladharan, Chairman CSS Group.
The event will be taking place in one of the many world-renowned venues located here in Dubai. Details of the event will be circulated to all partners and clients globally.
For further information, please log onto: www.cssgroupsite.com

A Visit to Carotrans

T S KALADHARAN, CSS GROUP CHAIRMAN VISITS CAROTRANS

Chairman of CSS Group, T S Kaladharan visited CaroTrans head office in New Jersey and offices in Chicago with Roshmon Manoli, Route Development Manager – North America, in May 2014, with a focus on building further growth plans for the year 2014/2015. During the course of their visit to CaroTrans offices, they conducted meetings with Greg Howard, Global CEO, Michael Forkenbrock, President, CaroTrans International and Riyaz Jordan, Branch Manager, while discussing new opportunities in the market and ways to further develop the business in 2014/2015. The meeting allowed both partners to discuss growth areas within their markets that would serve as a channel for development within the routes that they operate in. “In our business it is vital to meet with partners face to face, as it allows us to better understand the economic scenario that they are working in, while understanding new growth opportunities that together as partners can be mutually beneficial,” said T S Kaladharan.

With an increase in demand for value-added global import transportation services, CaroTrans, a leading global NVOCC, ocean freight consolidator and longstanding alliance partner to the CSS Group, is strategically expanding its import service operations and coverage in key trade lanes.  In the last twelve months, CaroTrans has expanded its global import service network in key global trade regions including  Asia, North and South America, Middle East and Europe.

“It is always a pleasure to welcome the team at CSS Group to our offices here in New Jersey and Chicago. With the recent growth the Middle East is experiencing since after the recession, it is important that as partners we regroup and realign our plans for the future in order to fully capitalize on what is clearly a growing market.  Partners like CSS Group are very important in our industry as their acute and in-depth knowledge of the industry within the region they operate in, is comparable to none. We look forward to working with the team very closely in 2014/2015, and look forward to an exciting year ahead,” said Greg Howard.

WCA Relocations Conference

CSS HOMEWARD BOUND ATTENDS 2ND ANNUAL CONFERENCE
CSS Homeward Bound recently attended the 2nd Annual WCA Relocation conference held on May 14th in Hong Kong. The WCA Relocations is the newest and fastest growing specialty network created in mid-2012 and has already grown to over 75 member offices in 50 countries and 62 cities worldwide.
“With many old faces returning for the second year conference and many new ones joining to meet one another, the discussions about new business opportunities and building new relationships was phenomenal. The group is now stronger than ever and looking for only the most qualified removals experts,” said Victor Gomez, General Manager, WCA Relocations.
The aim of the group is to provide a platform for household goods and personal effects movers to meet, build business and efficiently find partners globally. With expert partners around the world just a click away, members of the group can deal with peace of mind knowing that each member is qualified and is best in class in the service they provide
“The WCA Relocation conference is a true testament to the work done by the WCA in ensuring that only the best players from within the network of relocations are chosen to be a part of such a significant event within the industry,” said Suku Sudhakaran, General Manager, CSS Homeward Bound who attended the conference. In addition the event was the ideal platform whereby like minded individuals were able to network and share valuable experiences from within the industry.

NAFL Gathering

CSS ATTENDS NAFL GATHERING OF ARAB UNION OF LAND TRANSPORT

The National Association of Freight and Logistics (NAFL) on Sunday April 20th, 2014 hosted the Arab Union of Land Transport (AULT) annual meeting and  was inaugurated under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed  Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Honorary Patron, at the World Trade Centre in Dubai, UAE. The event focused on enhancing the industry and to improve operational efficiency in the freight and logistics industry in the region, with one eye on elevating the standards of the industry in line with the UAE’s objectives of excellence.

Presentations on the industry were conducted by important senior officials and dignitaries. “NAFL is pleased to have hosted the annual meetings and its opening ceremony, and sees it as a chance to push the bar further up this year. This was an important event for our industry and we are proud to have had it in Dubai. The UAE has a modern and advanced infrastructure, which is vital for every growing economy,” said David Phillips, President NAFL at the conference.

CSS Group was represented by Ken Dinnadge, VP Business Development and Amith Horra, Marketing Manager, at the event.  The event saw an attendance of over 700 participants from around 15 Arab nations and the UAE.

The spokespeople at the event were Mohammed Ibrahim Al Tuwaijri Arab League’s Assistant Secretary for Economic Affairs, Abdulla Bin Damithan Director Commercial DP World, UAE Region, Saeed Al Tayer, Director of Jebel Ali Custom Centers, Atiq Juma Nasib Head of Dubai Chamber’s Commercial Services Sector, Eng. Mahmood Al Bastaki, CEO Dubai Trade and Fahd Al-Rasheed the CEO and Managing Director of King Abdulla Economic City who spoke about the Kingdom’s new project relevant to the industry.

“CSS is a NAFL member which is a non-profit organization with 310 members, including top multinational companies as well as large, medium and small national enterprises. NAFL is the official UAE representative of FIATA, which is the global body that represents the freight forwarding industry and works closely with UAE government bodies to help enhance the freight and logistics industry.  Attending this event was extremely important for CSS as it was an opportunity to interact with senior transport officials from member Arab states,” added Ken Dinnadge, VP Business Development, CSS.

The main event supporters and host of NAFL were leading members of the shipping and logistics fraternity as well as key government institutions such as Dubai Chamber, DP World, Dubai Customs, and Etihad Rail.

CSS Abu Dhabi Attends Etihad Customer Appreciation Event

CSS Abu Dhabi recently attended the Etihad Airways Cargo Customer Appreciation dinner which took place at the Sheraton, Abu Dhabi Arzanah Ballroom.  The management team of Etihad Cargo took the opportunity to express their gratitude and cooperation to CSS Abu Dhabi for their continued business and support throughout the year 2013.
It was an excellent platform for CSS Abu Dhabi and its team to network with the Air Cargo fraternity in Abu Dhabi, UAE whilst creating new business opportunities and fostering current ones within the air freight spectrum.
For further information, please log onto www.cssabudhabi.com

His Highness Visits Container Terminal 3

2014 opened with grandeur with the inauguration of Container Terminal 3, the World’s Largest Semi-Automated facility, by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

His Highness, accompanied by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, were welcomed to Terminal 3 by HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman, DP World, Mohammed Sharaf, Group CEO, DP World, Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region and other senior officials.

During the visit, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed viewed the construction of the pioneering Terminal 3, which will add 4 million TEU (twenty foot equivalent container units) capacity to Jebel Ali Port this year, taking total handling capacity to 19 million TEU.

Jebel Ali Port is the pride of the UAE, leading the industry by implementation of large scale automation. This includes 19 sophisticated automated quay cranes and 50 automated rail mounted gantry (RMG) yard cranes, all operated from a purpose-built operations building using remote control technology. This is also in line with His Highness’s vision of transforming Dubai with smart systems using technology.

Automation and new technology are our way of the future and will help our customers and the wider supply chain realise efficiencies on land that the new mega-ships generate at sea. Next generation vessels are a large support system to excellent customer service and will help us offer efficiencies as the country gears up to handle the cargo required for Expo 2020 preparation.

As a result of smart system technologies, quayside jobs such as remote quay crane operations will be located inside the new Terminal 3 Operations building.  This has proven to be attractive to Emirati nationals, including women, who, we are delighted to note, make up a significant number of our new T3 team.

During his visit, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed talked with some of the new female recruits about their new roles and one of the women crane operators gave His Highness a live demonstration of a remotely controlled quay crane.

Planning for the long term and focussing on the next generation of Emiratis, is something DP World have always done and will continue to for the benefit of future generations. Indeed, 30% of the new quay crane operators recruited are Emiratis. The figure is even higher for RMG operators, with 70% of those recruited being Emiratis.

With the opening of Terminal 3, Jebel Ali Port will be able to handle ten of the largest vessels afloat simultaneously – the only port in the region able to do so. With the forthcoming connection of Etihad Rail to Jebel Ali Port, the port will be part of a multi-modal supply chain that seamlessly links sea-road-rail and air through the Dubai Logistics Corridor, reinforcing our position as the premier gateway for the region and the entire Middle East.

Abras -The Traditional Mode of Transport

Cultural Corner

Forget the luxury yachts heading to Dubai Marina, there are other traditional ways of seeing Dubai and hopping on an Abra is one of the most enjoyable.

Taking an Abra is the most cost effective and enjoyable way to cross the beautiful Dubai Creek. The Abra has been an integral part of Dubai’s history. It is a small motorized traditional commuter boat made of wood intended to travel across Dubai Creek, which in years gone by was one of the main modes of transport in Dubai.

It is still a vital mode of transport used by over 1 million people every month including local residents, business people and commuters trying to beat the traffic.
The Abra is now a well-respected tourist icon in addition to being a vital mode of transport. It’s not uncommon for tourists to privately hire an Abra to further enjoy the stunning Dubai Creek scenery.

An Abra ride commences when the boat is full, normally about 20 passengers, the driver sits in the centre of the boat, whilst the passengers sit facing out, circling the driver.  The fare for an abra ride is about 1 Dirham per person and is paid to the driver. The journey to cross the creek will only take around 10 minutes and is used by about 42,000 people daily.

If you are the type of person who likes to immerse themselves in tradition then an Abra ride is a must. It will expose you to the lesser known side of hustling and bustling Dubai. As you step on board there is a genuine feeling of history.

CSS Attends Arabian Travel Market

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2014, the region’s leading travel industry showcase, celebrated its 21st edition which took place at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre from May 5 to 8, 2014. The exhibition welcomed over 4000 exhibitors from 95 countries with exhibition floor space covering more than 25,000 square meters.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the show has grown to become the largest showcase of its kind in the region and one of the biggest in the world.

One of the main highlights of the exhibition was the Middle East’s cruise sector which was highly visible and well represented at this year’s Arabian Travel Market. Having been in decline since the global downturn and the subsequent effects of the Arab Spring the cruise sector has seen a recent bounce back with significant infrastructure investment, easing visa regulations and creative marketing.?One challenge that the region faced was the lack of ports of call and the location of cruise facilities – most of the berths for cruise vessels were located within commercial shipping ports, which was not particularly conducive for leisure visitors. In response, Mina Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi is currently undergoing major redevelopment creating a dedicated cruise terminal. Dubai has been upgrading Port Rashid to accommodate seven vessels simultaneously, up from the current five, as part of its strategy to attract 450,000 cruise tourists by 2016.

ATM 2014 encompasses more than 40 wide-ranging seminar and tech theatre sessions which besides cruise tourism cover aviation, mobile trends and the rising demand for wellness tourism.

CSS Participates in FPS Sales Conference 2014

CSS Group participated in the FPS sales conference 2014 which took place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from May 20 to 22, 2014. CSS Middle East was represented by Fida Asghar, Team Manager, NVOCC CSS Dubai and Dean Landers, General Manager, CSS Kuwait. The three day conference consisted of presentations, networking session, one to one meetings, sales training seminars, personal selling skills case studies, team building activities, gala dinners and social sightseeing excursions.  “The one on one member meetings were extremely important as they were designed to build on the reciprocal sales activity and business opportunities between members,” added Fida Asghar.  The three day event was hosted by Johnny Khoa, FPS member for Vietnam who added, “The conference provided valuable workshops on Personal Sales Technique and Advanced Selling Skills.  It was a good opportunity to involve everybody in relaxed outdoor activities, entertainment, and to share an enjoyable stay here in Ho Chi Minh City.”

Celebrating 10 Years in Style- CSLC 2

The Supply Chain Management facility CSLC- 2, of CSS Group began its operations in June 2004, with limited customers and today, has grown to become the preferred partner for major multinationals within the region. Located in JAFZA, one of the largest man made ports in the world, the facility is located close to the main container terminal which is naturally convenient for all parties involved. The current infrastructure of the facility is spread over 25,000 sq.mtrs with 14,000 sq.mtrs of state of the art racked warehousing that has a cargo capacity of 1050 TEUs. In addition, CSS Group is looking to expand this space by an additional 3000 sq.mtrs by the end of this year. The office space is around 300 sq.mtrs with an additional dedicated area of 500 sq.mtrs for value added jobs.
Supply chain management (SCM) is a necessity in today’s business. It is a dynamic issue. It is the focus of key issues such as the global market place for sourcing and sales and with outsourcing. Consolidated Shipping Group, being a front runner in the field of freight forwarding in the Middle East and Indian Sub continent, their customer base and the requirements have to be successfully harmonized with the state-of –the art infrastructure and service qualities. CSLC-2 is a towering example of CSS Group’s commitment towards its clients. The Group understands the importance of its warehousing capacity and therefore has ensured that its infrastructure includes 22 Loading / unloading bays with dock levelers, multi tier heavy duty racking system, latest handling equipments- reach truck and battery operated forklifts, large staging area and space for value added activities and special cargo handling. In addition, the entire warehouse comes under special security surveillance.
For the hi-tech industry, dedicated storage area and special handling equipments are also available. The SCM facility has full-fledged Warehouse Management System, Real Time Transactions, Optimized Stacking & Cargo Removal, automated cargo identification using barcodes, infrared & radio frequency devices. Hareesh M Haridas, Manager, CSLC- 2 states, “Since our inception, innovation has always been the cornerstone of our success. Today, our facility boasts some of the most up to date equipments available in the industry that enables our clients to be assured that their cargo is in safe hands. With the recent EXPO 2020 win, we are looking at further expanding our infrastructure in order to keep up with an industry that will play a vital role for all nations participating at the EXPO.”
CSS Group has always been a leader in innovation and technology. The success of the CSLC-2 is evidence of the vision of the CSS Group management who has always ensured out-of-the-box solutions, customer driven service and up to date technology which is part of their core offering.
Contact Details:
Consolidated Shipping Logistics Centre 2 – SCM
PO Box 18595, Jebel Ali, Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 4 8873999
Fax: +971 4 8818696
Email: info@fmcglogistics.net

CSS Sponsors India Club UAE Open Badminton Tournament

The 37th edition of the India Club UAE Open Badminton tournament got off to a colourful start with a record 595 participants in the men’s, ladies’, boys’, girls’ and veterans’ categories.

The competition is spread across 26 categories and the event has broken last year’s record of 560 entries in the same number of categories.

The tournament, which has been held every year since 1978, was inaugurated by Anurag Bhusan, Consul General of India to Dubai, Dr Ram Buxani, Chairman of the India Club, trustee board member Sunil Singh and Dr Nilanjan Chattopadhayay, Chairman of the School of Business at Manipal University in Dubai. CSS Group is the co-sponsor for this tournament and is pleased to be associated with India Club over the years for its sporting events.

“The India club badminton tournament is one that is rooted in the tradition of the club, and has become a vital part of the community as a whole. CSS Group is proud to be associated with India Club, which has given so much to the Asian community here in the UAE, since its inception. On behalf of the CSS Group we would like to wish all the players in the tournament the best of luck,” added Amith Horra, Marketing Manager, CSS Group. All matches are being played in the 21-points format in line with the rules and regulations of the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

Each player is restricted to participating in only three events in a bid to create opportunities for more players to make excel. Matches are also being conducted in a separate pool for special needs students from SNF Development Centre and Dubai Autism Centre. There is also a separate pool for blue collar workers. The finals are scheduled for June 20, with cash prizes, trophies and gift hampers worth a total of more than Dh50,000 up for grabs.

Lucky Winner

As part of our continuous commitment to the freight forwarding fraternity, CSS initiated a thank you scheme over 8 years ago, whereby one lucky name out of the scores of business cards that are dropped into the raffle bowls placed at the Delivery Order Counter will be rewarded with a gift.
The winner picked selected and rewarded for the months of July-August 2014 was Meeran from Toll Global Forwarding who walked away with gift vouchers worth AED 200 from Carrefour, presented by Shelly Varkey, Manager- Admin., CSS Dubai.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars


As part of a CSS – CSR initiative, new bags and umbrellas were distributed amongst pre-primary and primary school children at Thrikkunnappuzha, Alleppey Dist. Kerala. Three schools which are running under the Government of Kerala aid were benefitted by this regular CSR programme of school aid distribution by CSS under the guidance of T S Kaladharan, Group Chairman. The schools were Govt. LP School Valiyaparambu, Govt. LP School Thrikkunnappuzha & Govt. LP School Panoor.
New bags and umbrellas brought beaming smiles on more than 600 little faces. The programme commenced with local authority members from the Panchayat wards welcoming the gathering.  All the children, their parents and the school authorities were present for the occasion.  On another occasion the school park and play area which was also donated by T S Kaladharan to Govt. LP school Thrikkunnappuzha was inaugurated the previous day by the Hon. Home minister of Kerala, Ramesh Chennithala. People’s representatives and the school authorities thanked CSS and Kala for this noble activity. G Unnikrishnan, Head-Corporate communications, CSS Group and Hareendran, Manager, Devas Farm house were present on behalf of CSS for the programme.