CSS Group Foray into the Cold Chain Segment

Cold Chains are temperature controlled supply chain intended to optimize product quality and cost for specific commodities while minimizing wastage. CSS Group has now been setup to handle refrigerated cargo as a first step towards building an unbroken cold chain. Recent investment in technically adept personnel in addition to leveraging on new partner strengths overseas, CSS will now actively pursue temperature controlled commodities both for sea and air.

While CSS is already entrenched in managing substantial quantities of frozen foodstuff under its existing airfreight division, the foray into the chilled side of the business is a first of its kind for the Group.  As with all new product developments, key areas within this new segment have been identified in order to focus on the finest product implementation in the marketplace. Fresh produce, pharmaceuticals and high end technology products form 3 key areas that the CSS Group will work on whilst creating a door to door cold chain.

“Our objective to enter into this segment of business is largely to help add value to our existing customers who engage in any of the 3 verticals we have identified, creating this as a full scale commercial product is on track as well for the coming year.  We have with us today, the personnel and the infrastructure (overseas and in our region) required to pursue this segment. Our recent success with select trial customers in the fresh produce and pharmaceutical verticals bodes well for the Group and the initiative,” added Ajay Krishnan, Senior General Manager, Ocean Freight, CSS.

As the UAE imports 90% of its food and its position at the centre of a US$9.4 billion market serving the GCC and Africa, a high level of supply chain safety becomes even more critical. For this reason, CSS has carefully identified and isolated possible problem areas and have designed solutions that will ensure this is seamless, both in terms of a process and delivery. Quality Management Systems are essential for a successful Cold Chain. CSS, already has an effective QMS in place for core products whilst building on the same fundamentals to ensure effective quality checks will not be an issue.

CSS Abu Dhabi Wins Onam Pookkalam Contest

Onam is reminiscent of Kerala’s agrarian past; the harvest festival falls during the Malayalam month of Chingam (Aug – Sep) and marks the homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali who Malayalees consider as their King.

As part of its celebration, CSS Group organized an interoffice “Pookkalam” competition.  The floral carpet, known as ‘Pookkalam’, is made out of the gathered blossoms with several varieties of flowers of differing tints pinched up into little pieces to create an intricate design. It is considered a work of art as it requires a delicate touch and a highly artistic sense of tone and blending.

The event was organized by Chandrakala (CK), Manager Operations – Ocean Freight, CSS, and was considered a tremendous success as members of CSS Group offices worldwide started preparing weeks before the celebration of Onam, by gathering supplies and finalising designs. “The competitive team spirit of the offices globally was truly showcased during the course of the competition and the artistic talents of the staff highlighted, as the designs that were sent across to the group of selected judges were truly outstanding. Unfortunately there could only be one winner, which was the CSS Abu Dhabi office,” added Chandrakala.

The Mahabali’s Crystal Award trophy was presented to the CSS Abu Dhabi office at a recently held gathering at The Club in Abu Dhabi on September 27th, 2013.

Sports @ CSS

Under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Social Development, Chairman of the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) Kobe Bryant Health and Fitness Weekend in support of diabetes awareness was held at the American University in Dubai (AUD) on September 27th, 2013.
Hassan Haji, Public Relations Officer (PRO), CSS Dubai, was amongst the referees for the match and was elected as head basketball referee for the celebrity match which included local and international celebrities coached by basket ball superstar Kobe Bryant. An American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, has played for the Lakers his entire career, winning five NBA championships. Bryant is a 15-time All-Star, 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, and 12-time member of the All-Defensive team. As of March 2013, he ranks third and fourth on the league’s all-time postseason scoring and all-time regular season scoring lists, respectively.  CSS Group has been active in promoting sports and cultural activities amongst employees and Hassan’s participation as head referee was indeed a proud moment for CSS to be part of such an internationally recognized event.

CSS Group-Title Sponsors of “HEXA Onam 2013” Celebrations

Sponsored by CSS Group, the “HEXA Onam” celebration 2013, held at Family Palace Restaurant in Sharjah, UAE was a great success as they organized various cultural programs in honour of the Onam festival. HEXA, (Haripad Expatriates Association) had arranged performances that included, Thiruvathira, classical dances, cinematic dances, film songs, the Pookkalam and Maveli. The Maveli of HEXA Onam 2013 was none other than Swan Chacko, Operations Supervisor, CSS Projects, Oil & Energy division.  Also in attendance was Shelly V. John, Manager Admin, CSS.

“All programs were outstanding and congratulations to all the artists who participated and made this celebration a grand one.  The event was an outstanding success and received praises from the South Indian community that attended the event,” added Shelly V. John.

Tips On Ship Arrest Procedures in UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has now become an important global hub for the people in the Shipping Industry. To arrest a vessel is a statutory right of a claimant under the UAE Maritime Code No. 26 of 1981, as amended (The ‘Maritime Code’). It provides and regulates the arrest of vessels.
TYPES OF CLAIM UNDER “MARITIME DEBT” LISTED IN ARTICLE 115 OF THE UAE FEDERAL MARITIME LAW
(a)    Damage caused by a vessel as a result of a collision or other accident.
(b)    Loss of life or personal injury occasioned by a vessel and arising out of use thereof.
(c)    Assistance and salvage.
(d)    Contracts relating to the use or exploitation of the vessel under the charter party or otherwise.
(e)    Contracts relating to the carriage of goods under charter party, bill of lading or other documents.
(f)    Loss or damage to goods or luggage transported by a vessel.
(g)    General average.
(h)    Towage or pilotage of vessel.
(i)    Supplies of product or equipment necessary for the use or maintenance of the vessel, in whichever place the supply is made.
(j)    Building, repairing or supplying a vessel or dock dues.
(k)    Sums expended by the masters, shippers, charterers or agents on account of the vessel or on account of the owner thereof.
(l)    Wages of the master, officers and crew and other person working on board the vessel under a contract of maritime employment.
(m)    Dispute over the vessel’s ownership.
(n)    A dispute in connection with the co-ownership of the vessel. Or with the possession or use thereof, or with the right to the profits arising out of the use thereof.
(o)    A maritime mortgage.
LOCUS STANDI OF THE CLAIMANT TO ARREST THROUGH POWER OF ATTORNEY
To arrest any vessel in UAE, the claimant shall provide a Power of Attorney (POA) to lawyers along with right of audience in the UAE Courts and if the said POA is executed abroad, it shall be notarized and regularized by the relevant Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Country of execution and authenticated by the UAE Embassy in that Country. Further, upon its arrival in the UAE, the POA shall be further authenticated into Arabic. In fact, this could be lengthy process and in case of urgency, these procedures are always an impediment to complete the arrest process.
NO INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS APPLIES TO ARREST IN UAE
UAE is not a party to any International Conventions relating to arrest of ships. The arrest will be under the UAE Maritime Federal Law.
In this context, it is relevant to note that the UAE is not a signatory to the Hague Rules, Hague-Visby Rules, or the Hamburg Rules. The UAE has not expressed an interest in the Rotterdam Rules as well.
International Conventions that are expressly incorporated into bills of lading will only be given the force of law in UAE Courts, if a translated and certified copy of the convention is provided to the Court. In practice, this rarely happens due to expense of having conventions translated and certified.
Whilst the UAE is not a signatory to the above conventions, the UAE Maritime Code borrows largely from the Hague-Visby Rules and relevantly incorporates, by way of example, the carrier’s obligation to exercise due diligence to make the vessel seaworthy, the Hague-Visby force majeure- type defences to the breach of the sea-worthiness obligation and package limitation.
Joy Thattil
Maritime Lawyer & Partner @ Callidus Corporate & Maritime Consulting ( CCMC) Dubai & India
joy@calliduscmc.com 

Social Media – Friend or For ?

Did you hear about a school-teacher who, four years ago, featured in the international press because she lost her job over pictures she had posted on FaceBook? She had the privacy settings set to high and only allowed friends to view. However, someone forwarded them to her school superintendent.  The pictures were pretty innocuous of her drinking beer at a Guinness brewery in Dublin.  The school ruled that if students saw them it would appear that drinking alcohol was being promoted by one of their school-teachers.  So she had to resign!

Earlier this year, when it seemed like everyone was joining in on YouTube, doing a version of “The Harlem Shake” dance, a group of Australian miners joined-in the craze which was sweeping social media.  At one stage some 4,000 variations of “Harlem Shake” were being uploaded daily. Their employers were not pleased when the miners’ dance videosurfaced. The company determined that the miners’ antics compromised its “core values of safety, integrity and excellence”.  The miners lost their jobs!

There are many more examples of how what we do in social media influences what happens in our business and equally, vice-versa, in our social lives. It is easy to get carried away, when we think we are only chatting with friends, because in our enthusiasm we forget others may see and read what we are posting. Social Media is INSTANT and it is important to keep the word INSTANT in capitals whenever you post, tweet or blog.  What personal checks you have in place, before you press the send key, determines whether social media is your friend or foe because once you have pressed it there is no turning back!

Many work colleagues share our social media contacts.  Examples of co-workers having, either inadvertently or deliberately, caused problems for their social media friends are well known. However private you think postings may be, they are not. It only takes one person to copy and paste your posting, somewhere else, and the “cat is out of the bag”. We need to realise that today our private lives are no longer so private. Many still believe that an individual has a right to control the information they consider private, but this has become an impossible aspiration.  The overall view is that we are not losing control; we are simply giving it away. Posting pictures on social networks or just sending an email may make public – private information. We are turning what should be a friend into a foe by not observing some basic rules.

  1. Never forget anything can leak outPictures of you posted on-line, drunk at a party, can ruin your professional reputation. What you do on-line affects your off-line persona.


  2. If you have nothing good to say, don’t say it!If you are trying to build a positive image of yourself, imagine what an employer might think if all they hear is that you only ever complain.Having a bad day, frustration at work, headache – then go to the gym or chat directly to a friend but DO NOT post your irritations and grievances on-line.


  3. Do not promote or post too much Many businesses have grown on the strength of social media as work and home life are intertwined on social networks. However if all you do is promote yourself and your company rather than concentrate on building on-line relationships, others will soon get fed-up with you. The dangers of # “hash tag” twitter have caused many a tumble!


  4. Stir well clear of posting anything– which you consider a joke because some might find it offensive. Similarly do not post anything which is religious, political, sexual or graphic in content. The social media world is a very big place and it is easy, even innocently, to upset others.


  5. Never argue on social networksThis is one of the most important aspects to remember. You will never win an argument on social networks because there will always be someone else waiting to enter a counter viewpoint. Stay positive and polite, remember you can always “de-friend” them.  As for taking legal action about something which offends is, without doubt, the last resort. It is not true that all publicity is good publicity and legal action could well promote the very thing you want kept private as well as costing a fortune.


These rules may seem simple but if you were to ask the 500 million people on FaceBook or the 100 million on MySpace if they are concerned about their privacy you would find that the greater majority really don’t care. Just like in real life, most believe that on social media, “accidents and bad things” only happen to other people. Social media – friend or foe – it’s your choice !

Lucky Winner

As part of our continuous commitment to the freight forwarding fraternity, CSS initiated a thank you scheme over 6 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 2013 was Mohammed Zubair-Time World Freight LLC who walked away with gift vouchers worth AED 200 from Carrefour, presented by Fida Asghar, Team Manager, NVOCC, CSS Dubai.

Chairman’s Message

Have you ever wondered how companies calculate the value of their employees? It is a question I have often pondered upon. Interestingly, I soon realised that, in the business world, there are numerous theories which are supposed to help work this out. Does this sound odd? Well it did to me, because I believe we must place importance on employee intangibles whenever one tries to value the worth of his staff. However I never forget that such an assessment is a two-way exercise. It is equally crucial to accept that my employees are free to assess and express what they think of our Company. Attitude, passion, creativity and knowledge are all qualities which give an indication of intangible staff values which apply equally throughout our Company.
As Chairman I consider it important to promote an environment where we provide opportunities for all my staff to feel valued and part of a caring community. Gone are those days where productivity was calculated only in terms of numbers. Working, without passion, is what machines do. As real people, it’s our emotional and intellectual qualities which make a fundamental difference. It is these traits which enables our Company to achieve distinction above others. We all need a workplace where we enjoy attaining our dreams. Enlightened by these thoughts my managers understand why “pushing the boundaries”, within their domain, enables all of us to feel valued because our passions and skills are all brought into play. This results in actions which stimulate our sense of adventure, whilst building on the tried and trusted. Discovering and learning new ways that work, and those which don’t, keep us on our toes. Such invigoration makes for a meaningful and exhilarating workplace where we use our intangible attributes to stimulate innovation and growth. It is this ethos which interactively unites us all; where the real value of employees and our Company, is truly determined.

New Address For CSS Abu Dhabi

CSS OPENS ITS NEW OFFICE IN THE HEART OF ABU DHABI

Having been in operation for over 11 years, CSS Abu Dhabi has recently acquired new premises within Abu Dhabi to cater to its customers, clients and partners.

The new offices are located centrally in the heart of Abu Dhabi, making it easily accessible for customers and clients alike. The new premise is conveniently located close to the airport and seaport.

Well equipped with advanced capabilities in maintaining an efficient transport system and connections with global markets, gives the CSS Abu Dhabi a strong base to provide its customers with hassle-free and effective logistic solutions. In addition CSS Abu Dhabi offers its clients a vast array of services which include : NVOCC Management, Ocean Freight Management, Air Freight Management / Air Charter Services, Projects Management,  Multimodal Operations (Sea/Air, Sea/Land Management) CFS Management, and Relocation Management to name a few.

“The new premise in Abu Dhabi provides better access for customers and clients alike, as our customer base continues to grow it became necessary to be located in the heart of Abu Dhabi, and strategically located close to the airport and seaport. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our partners, agents and customers that have been a large contributing factor to the success of CSS Abu Dhabi, and we look forward to your continuous support,” said Arjun Bose, Director, CSS Abu Dhabi.

As the capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi has seen extensive growth in all sectors over the past few years, with infrastructure on the rise Abu Dhabi has been in the investor limelight for the past few years. CSS Abu Dhabi has been able to capitalize on the success of the emirate because of its presence in the nation’s capital for over 11 years. While being an attractive hub for investors, it is its strategic location at the heart of the Middle East, with South Asia and Africa close by and well developed links to the Far East and Europe that makes it a growing logistics hub, across a variety of industries.

Over the past 40 years, Abu Dhabi has developed its port infrastructure, its road network, and more recently its airports to ensure it is well-connected to trading partners in the region and beyond.  With the development of an extensive road and rail network now started, Abu Dhabi has indeed become the trading hub of the Middle East having sailed strong through the difficult waters of the economic recession that almost left its neighboring emirate, Dubai, crippled. Abu Dhabi is currently ranked one of the world’s most significant hydrocarbon suppliers and ranked among the top five exporters of crude oil, a fact which has largely contributed to the success of this division.



With the backing of CSS Group’s global network base in the Middle East and Sub continent, CSS Abu Dhabi is able to provide its customers and client’s services across a number of industries with the CSS Group’s promise of effective and efficient solutions backed by years of expertise. Moreover, CSS Abu Dhabi’s strength lies in well qualified and experienced professionals, dedicated to customer service and satisfaction. With the level of expertise available CSS Abu Dhabi is quite confident of extending value added services in the field of Logistics. CSS intends to cater to a vast and varied clientele in Abu Dhabi with its highly competitive man power and state- of the art facilities. Combining expertise, experience and CSS’ Groups reputation, CSS Abu Dhabi will indisputably cater quality service to its clients in a way that will lead to increasing its competitiveness over other logistic providers.

New Address


Consolidated Shipping Services L.L.C. Abu Dhabi
ADCP Building C54
6th Floor, Door # : 603 & 604, Behind Trans AD
P.O. Box 32454, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tel: +971 2 643 1717, Fax: +971 2 643 1919
Email: info@cssabudhabi.com

For further information please visit: www.cssabudhabi.com

Token Of Appreciation

CSS RECEIVES PERFORMANCE AWARD FROM SAFMARINE

CSS was recently recognized with a performance award by Safmarine, at their annual dinner held at the Shangri La Hotel in Dubai, UAE.  In attendance to receive this award for CSS was Ajay Krishnan, Senior General Manager, Ocean Freight, Raufa Shaikh, Pricing Manager, Chandrakala, Asst. Manager NVOCC Operations and Arjun Bose, Director, CSS Abu Dhabi.

“Our strategy to focus our volumes with core carriers from Quarter 3 of 2012 has shown positive results. This recognition by Safmarine is a testament to the success of our program,” added Ajay Krishnan, Senior General Manager, Ocean Freight, CSS.

The recognition of this award was for the growth and consistent performance for the fiscal year 2012 and this was a first for CSS with Safmarine. With this award, CSS joins an elite tier within Safmarine in the United Arab Emirates.

“Safmarine is by far the friendliest carrier around, operationally and from a process point of view and we look forward to growing our business with them further in the years ahead,” commented Chandrakala, Asst. Manager NVOCC Operations, CSS.

ABOUT SAF MARINE:

Safmarine is an international shipping business offering container and break-bulk shipping services worldwide. Formed in 1946 by South African industrialists and American ship owners, Safmarine is now widely known as a north/south trade and African specialist. The line is represented in more than 130 countries throughout the world, with more than 1200 sailors selling their services.

For further information, please logo onto:
www.cssgroupsite.com & www.safmarine.com

CSS Onam

CSS Group Wishes you a wonderful Onam

Onam is the largest festival in the Indian state of Kerala. It falls during the first month of the Malayalam calendar which is Chingam (August–September) and marks the homecoming of the legendary King Maveli. The festival lasts for ten days and is linked to many elements of Kerala’s culture and tradition.

Intricate flower carpets, elaborate banquet lunch, snake boat races, Puli Kali, and the Kaikottikkali dance all play a part in the festival. It can be undoubtedly said that these elements constitute the diversity, richness and colorfulness that no other festival can claim in the world.

The most important things about Onam are the onakkodi, the new clothes worn on this day and onam sadya, a feast which is quite elaborate. This is usually a feast served on banana leaves and serves rice along with an array of 18 to 32 dishes. Traditional pickles and papadam are also served. Dessert is usually ‘payasam’, a sweet dish made of milk, sugar and other traditional Indian savories.

Projects @ A Glance

CSS PROJECTS, OIL & ENERGY UNDERTAKES COOL DELIVERY
The Projects, Oil & Energy division of CSS Group recently moved 1200 CBM of air cooler units and accessories from a supplier’s yard in Malaysia to the port of Alexandria which is on the West Verge of the Nile Delta between the Mediterranean Sea and Mariut Lake in Alexandria, Egypt.
The entire job was undertaken smoothly and effectively in a very short period, with close coordination with both the agents and supplier. The task ahead of the team at CSS Projects, Oil & Energy was not easy as they had received the job at a very short notice from the clients, but the team took up the challenge and proved once again their dedication and commitment to the customers’ needs.
“Considering the notice period we received to deliver this job, it took the team a lot of dedication and hard work to ensure the delivery was timely and according to the clients expectations,” added Raj George, Senior Vice President, Projects, Oil & Energy, CSS Group.

Building On A Strong Foundation

FPS HEADS TO SRI LANKA FOR THE AGM 2013

FPS Group announces that their annual AGM will be held at the Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo Hotel in Sri Lanka, between October 21st-24th, 2013. The FPS Group AGM sets the stage for members around the globe to take part in discussions and network with their fellow freight forwarders from across the globe. The AGM allows for members to have the opportunity to discuss and develop the networks direction and development and also gain a deep insight into the group’s future developments.  It will consist of one-to-one meetings, group meetings, networking sessions, gala dinners and social gatherings for all of its members.

Gihan Nanayakkara, FPS Chairman, Advisory Board gives a hint of the delights that await all those who attend this year’s AGM with the theme of “Building on a Strong Foundation,” which his company is hosting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, “My country, Sri Lanka, is often described as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, and for good reason. I count myself extremely lucky to live and work in such a beautiful place, with its history dating back to the birth of time. I and my team look forward very much to the honour of hosting this year’s AGM. We are proud of our beautiful country, and very much hope to share it with you.”

CSS Group will be represented during the FPS AGM 2013 with active participation from its network offices, in attendance will be: Dean Landers, General Manager CSS Kuwait, Narayan R T, General Manager CSS Bahrain, Jairam KR, Director CSS India, Rahat Talreja, Vice President CSS India and Siby C. Kurian, Senior General Manager, Sales & Marketing CSS Dubai.

In The Silicon Valley Of India

CSS BANGALORE AIMS A LARGER MARKET SHARE IN THE COMING YEARS

To be in Bangalore, the garden city and the IT capital of India, is a matter of pride for any multi-national company. The city has changed immensely over the last two decades making it adaptable to accommodate companies from a cross-section of industries. As a matter of fact, Bangalore is growing and so is the business.

CSS started their Bangalore operations 8 years ago as one man office and had eventually grown to become a team of professionals. Thanks to the enthusiasm shown by the team and the confidence shown by the management. Today CSS in Bangalore is involved in outward and inward movements of LCL  Shipments to Jebel Ali , Genoa, Hamburg, Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Barcelona, Valencia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Port Klang, Istanbul & from Jebel Ali, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Ningbo, Shanghai, Busan, Hamburg, Rotterdam and Tilbury.

Also CSS Bangalore has a strong presence in FCL, Air, Contract Logistics  reaching out to the nook and corner of the city and suburbs. The business has seen a remarkable growth that now CSS operates weekly bonded truck movements to Nhavasheva & Chennai carrying LCL shipments. Another unique feature of CSS Bangalore is Door to Door handling of personal effects in and out of Bangalore and Mysore where a commendable number of expat families are thriving for various reasons.

The huge industrial and manufacturing segments present in this area provides enough opportunities for any logistics company with a reputation to keep aside appreciable profit, end of every financial year. The industries include IT, automobile, construction equipment manufacturers, pharmaceuticals, garments, granites & marble, gherkin, forgings & precision and castings. Bangalore shelters companies in sectors like electronics, biotechnology, and food processing also which gives leverage to sizable amount of logistics activity.

CSS is proud to have a handful of reputed clients from the major industrial segments. Bangalore has a population of 5.54 million spread over 530 sq.km. There are nearly 1000 IT companies including 150 plus multinationals. These companies are employing over a hundred thousand professionals who float in and out with professional and personal logistics requirements on a daily basis. Bangalore expects a volume hike, if a few strategic issues are met with diligence. One such is the regular rail connectivity to Tuticorin, Cochin & Nhavasheva ports.

The presence of CSS in Chennai, Tuticorin, and Tirupur & Coimbatore gives an edge to CSS Bangalore operations thereby giving them an unparalleled reputation in the whole of South India. The strong CSS presence in Mumbai adds momentum to the whole network of operations in the South & Central India. With an appreciable growth rate of 21%, Bangalore contributes 33% of IT exports from the country. The district is ranked as one of the top five technology clusters in the world as per economic reports. Bangalore has been classified as the Innovation Cluster by Word Economic Forum. Many of the major central offices like the national aerospace laboratories are present in Bangalore which increases its international importance. Renowned educational institutions like IIS, IIM, IIIT, National Law School, NIMHANS & NID has got their campuses in Bangalore.

CSS with its enthusiastic and ambitious team has plans to chalk out innovative advancements to areas and industries which still remain untapped in this mighty industrial city. Under the leadership of Sandeep Anthur, Branch Manager, CSS looks forward to achieve even more in the years to come and establish itself as the most preferred logistics partner for every industry present here.

For enquiries contact: sandeepa@cssindiagroup.com;
                                    mailblr@cssindiagroup.com

Hearty Welcome!!

C.H. ROBINSON VISITS CSS GROUP IN DUBAI

CSS Group, recently hosted Matt Ostrowski, Director Business Development and Tom Sweet, Vice President Overseas Development – Global Forwarding  of C.H. Robinson at its offices in the United Arab Emirates.

As part of the visit, the guests from C.H. Robinson were treated to a tour of  CSS Group offices and its facilities in Dubai, Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi, UAE.  They also met with management of CSS Group and given a keen understanding of the vast array of services that CSS Group provides in the region. Overseas attendees from the CSS Group Network present at the meetings and presentations were, Narayan R T, General Manager, CSS Bahrain, Dean Landers, General Manager, CSS Kuwait, Ben Jones, CSS Saudi, Oliver Hahn, IFS Doha and senior members of CSS Group, UAE.

“We were glad to host the team from C.H. Robinson and provide an in-depth understanding of the services CSS Group provides to the client and also showcase its extensive footprint of offices in the Middle East. We look forward to sharing our expertise and further developing trade routes with C.H Robinson,” added TS Kaladharan, Chairman, CSS Group.

As part of the visit the guests from C. H. Robinson were also treated to an exclusive tour of D.P World in Dubai, by CSS VP Business Development, Ken Dinnadge and Amith Horra, Marketing Manager, where they were able to experience firsthand one of the largest port operations in the world.  “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire DP World team for an excellent meeting and tour of the ports facilities.  The gracious hospitality, arrangements, time and overall information provided is definitely a true testament of the success of DP World. We look forward to continually build upon and further strengthen our business relationships together with DP World amongst the shipping and logistics fraternity,” added Ken Dinnadge, VP Business Development, CSS.

ABOUT C.H. ROBINSON:

Founded in 1905, C.H. Robinson is a global provider of multimodal logistics services, fresh produce sourcing, and information services to 42,000 customers through a network of more than 275 offices and over 11,000 employees around the world. The company also provides access to over 56,000 transportation providers worldwide.

For further information please log onto:
www.cssgroupsite.com & www.chrobinson.com
Approved Agents in UAE, BAHRAIN, QATAR, OMAN, KUWAIT & SAUDI ARABIA

Booming With Developments

LNG TERMINAL AT KOCHI READY FOR OPERATIONS

Petronet LNG Ltd, the country’s largest importer of liquid gas, has received its maiden cargo at its recently constructed Kochi import terminal in Kerala on August 2013.  The vessel, “Wilenergy,” carrying around 1 lakh cubic metres of LNG in its liquid form (liquefied natural gas or LNG) arrived from RasGas in Qatar.

With this, the Rs 4,200-crore terminal would be ready for operations.

The Kochi terminal, however, will operate at just 8 per cent of its capacity in the first year of operation as pipelines taking gas to customers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are not ready, they said, adding that the company plans to import 2 cargoes or shiploads of LNG at the terminal this year.

In year-2, the terminal is expected to operate at 75 percent capacity when the pipeline connecting Kochi to Mangalore and Bangalore are built. Also, state-owned GAIL is planning to connect this pipeline to Chennai.

Kochi terminal is currently being connected to two main customers — Bharat Petroleum’s Kochi refinery and the Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT), which are in the process of converting their facilities to run on natural gas.

At least 70 per cent of the total capacity, or 3.5 million tons a year, is required for the terminal to function at minimum optimum efficiency.

Convenient And More Accessible

CSS RELOCATES ITS D/O COUNTER TO A MORE ACCESSIBLE LOCATION

As stated in our mission statement CSS Group will “always strive to achieve the highest level of customer satisfaction,” in testament to that statement we have relocated the Delivery Order Counter from its previous location at the Corporate Head Office to a more accessible location, adjacent to Port Rashid in the Dubai Customs Building from September 2013.

The reason for the move was to be more centrally located to our customers and securing a location next to Port Rashid was very fortunate for CSS Group, as it still remains the symbol of growth within the UAE shipping fraternity. The relocation will help our customers to process their customs documentation at a single point. Once customers collect their delivery orders from the CSS counter they may move directly into customs processing which is located in the same building, saving time and money.

CSS Group would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our dedicated customers and the Customs and Port Authorities who have always supported the Group in all our endeavours.


The new CSS Delivery Order Counter is located at:                            For further information please contact:
Dubai Customs                                                                                              Santhosh Kumar:
Al Fardah Building                                                                                     santhosh@cssdubai.com
-Port Rashid                                                                                                  Suresh Babu:
Office Number: 19                                                                                         suresh@cssdubai.com
Bur Dubai                                                                                                    Tel:  +9714 324 8884 ext: 217 & 218
PO Box 27802                                                                                                Fax: +9714 324 9994
UAE                                                                                                                 Website: www.cssgroupsite.com

 

 

CSS Delivery Order Counter Office Timings:
Sunday to Thursday: 8am-1pm & 2pm-5pm
Saturday: 8am-12pm

Making Of Container Terminal 2 At Jebel Ali Port

Jebel Ali Port has seen a steady growth in volumes since its inception. As a key contributor to Dubai’s economic growth and diversification the port witnessed a surge in volumes over the past decade which has resulted in a continual requirement of capacity expansions. It was during this period that the Journey to develop Container Terminal 2 commenced.

The expansion was announced in Aug’2005 by Dubai Ports Authority.

The first phase included development of 1.2km of quay length, 4 berths with 17m depth alongside and 2 million TEU capacity. Container Terminal 2 commenced operations during 2007 bringing capacity of Jebel Ali Port to 11 million TEU and the unique ability to handle the largest vessels in the world at the time. Container Terminal 2 received its first ship – ‘Dubai Discovery’ in the first week of August 2007.

It was during 2007 that Jebel Ali port handled more than 10 million TEU in a single year for the first time. This required the phase 2 development of Container Terminal 2 to be expedited. The project involved developing 1.3km of additional quay, 3 berths and 3 million TEU handling capacity bringing total handling capacity at Jebel Ali to 14 million TEU during 2009. It was also during this period that container handling operations were suspended in Mina Rashid and transferred to Jebel Ali Port.

The development of Container Terminal 2 was a response to our customer’s requirement to increase capacity and efficiencies for the shipping lines to be able to bring in mega vessels into Jebel Ali. The works also involved deepening the channel up to 17 meters Container Terminal 2 is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and machinery, including 29 mega Quay Cranes capable of lifting two 40 foot containers or four 20 foot containers in one move from ship to quay or quay to ship. The tandem lift cranes have a capacity of 80 tonnes and when commissioned had the widest outreach in the industry, i.e, they were the largest in the world. The terminal is also equipped with 60 rail mounted gantries (RMGs) rather than the conventional rubber-tyred gantries (RTGs). Jebel Ali Port was the first within the wider region to have this unique capability all increasing handling efficiencies and turnaround time of vessels.

Infrastructure and equipment were complemented by terminal management systems. DP World implemented Advanced Navis Sparks 3.6 operational system in the terminal. This was complemented by terminal gate automation systems, the first port in the region to bring in gate automation resulting in quicker truck turn times and access to market for the importers & exporters. In addition the terminal was equipped with the most sophisticated security system to enhance the security capabilities within the port facilities. Subsequently, Rostima – Labour management system was integrated to the Terminal Berthing and Gate automation systems. This enabled to best deploy labour depending on a number of variables such as vessel arrivals to gate appointments. The system was interfaced with the HR department’s time attendance readers and assigns manpower to points of work through mobile text message notification – matching man to machine on real time information. The first integrated control room for container operations was set up within the terminal – providing comprehensive operational interface for planning, monitoring and control.

Innovation is enshrined in our values and the development of Container Terminal 2 was a testimony to our passion to innovate, implement new technologies and provide an unparalled customer experience.

During 2011, DP World committed to expanding Container Terminal 2 by 400m adding an additional berth and bringing total quay length to 3km. Additional yard will increase handling capacity at Container Terminal 2 to 6 million TEU/annum. The Terminal has the unique ability to handle 6 mega vessels simultaneously. The additional capacity was launched by DP World earlier in 2013.

Expanding Jebel Ali Port’s capacity in line with market demand is part of our commitment to nurture trade and cater to meet the emerging needs of the shipping lines and traders.

Did you knowContainer Terminal 2 was designed to segregate the yard and operations traffic from the vessel traffic with a quay side perimeter fence ensuring safety and maximum efficiency.

New Freighter Hub In Middle East

DUBAI WORLD CENTRAL AIRPORT WILL BE AIR FRANCE- KLM-MARTINAIR CARGO’S NEW MIDDLE EAST FREIGHTER HUB

On request of customers, Air France-KLM-Martinair Cargo have started operating 14 weekly freighter flights to and from Dubai World Central Airport (DWC) from August 1st, 2013. Built for the future, the airport once completed, will have the capacity and state-of-the-art facilities to handle 12 million tons of cargo annually.

With this development, Air France-KLM-Martinair Cargo will be the first and biggest scheduled cargo carrier in DWC. They are already using DWC as a transfer station for some of the Far East freighter routes and it will now become the main hub in the Middle-East, connecting flights between Europe, Asia, Africa, and India along with their freighter stations Muscat, Doha, Bahrain, Dammam and Kuwait in the Middle East. With this move Air France-KLM-Martinair Cargo can offer its worldwide customers more main deck frequencies and a wider coverage.

Next to this, Air France-KLM-Martinair Cargo want to position their fleet closer to Abu Dhabi (AUH), the hub of Etihad (EY) so they can further develop their co-operation by offering seamless connections in the EY network.

DWC as the main future cargo airport of the United Arab Emirates will become the base for all important forwarding agents. In order to organize smooth transfers between Sharjah (SHJ), where currently many forwarding agents are based, and DWC, Air France-KLM-Martinair Cargo will offer seamless trucking solutions.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) will remain the airport for all of the current passenger flights and the handling agent at both airports is ‘Dnata’, to ensure smooth transfers between DXB and DWC.

An ERP Solution For Your Shipping Business? Think Again, Hard!

The global financial crisis of 2008 was quite a while ago but the economic slowdown that followed is far from gone. Being one among the worst hit, the shipping industry still sails through troubled waters.

With profits plummeting, most shipping companies are reluctant to invest in innovation, or anything new, for that matter. There are a few others who think out of the box and see this as an opportunity to equip themselves to meet the fierce competition and offer “more for less”. This is where Information Technology acts as a strategic business enabler and adds value to the business.

BE SURE OF WHAT YOU WANT

So what do you look for when you invest in an ERP software during such hard times? An earlier trend was to choose standard ERP systems and integrate them with internal systems. The downside of this strategy is that the software might not be very relevant to your business requirements. The operational needs of a freight forwarder can never be complementary to those of a container leasing agent. With a standard ERP, you might end up getting something insufficient for your cause or buying more technology than you need.

The most critical factor in successfully selecting an ERP system is identifying what you need to efficiently run your business. After doing an initial ball park analysis for product fit, it is important to review your needs thoroughly and relate them to the ERP solution you have opted for. Ensure that the software comprises of all the modules you need and it is well designed to offer all what you are looking for. Also, the product should be intended for your type of organization.

UNDERSTAND THE MARKET TRENDS

Keep yourself updated on the latest technologies implemented in the shipping arena while choosing an ERP solution. For instance, the RFID technology is widely used now, owing to its ability to speed up the inventory management. While most shipping companies are still in a pre-cloud stage, some have moved on to use Cloud based solutions, thereby enabling business improvement. Crisis might be a good opportunity to move to a new architecture where solutions are Cloud-based. This will help to integrate new Social Media channels and make use of Analytic tools in the post PC era ruled by mobile devices.

TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP

When you are evaluating a solution cost, consider all the aspects including the software, implementation services, ongoing maintenance and the cost of upgrades. All these elements play an equal role to help achieve a quick ROI. In an age of aggressive marketing & attractive discounts, you may be forced to believe that you are getting a good bargain at the time, but high cost of implementation, expensive annual maintenance and pricey customizations will take its toll on your return on investment, perhaps eliminating it totally.

PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

Before you choose an ERP system, see if it offers enough capacity for the growth of your business. Analyze your business thoroughly and forecast your position in the near future, say 5 years or 10. Buy a software that can meet your changing needs in these 5 or 10 years, and not one that is good for the 1st year alone. Very often, companies do not plan ahead. As a result, they are forced to plan an upgrade or overhaul immediately after they are done with the installation of a new ERP system. This can be a very expensive mistake and should be avoided at any cost.

Many ERP vendors today understand that, to exist in today’s competitive market, they need to work hand in hand with their clients to ensure that the implementation of their software is a smooth and fruitful affair for their clients. “Educate and sell” is the new business mantra and this is what we follow with our Shipping ERP solution – FINS. We have utilized our extensive experience in the shipping sector to understand and address the IT requirements of various Logistics services. Over the past 6 years, we have utilized cutting edge technologies and relentlessly studied the shipping sector to fine tune and enhance our ERP suite. And the result – we have enabled our customers to transform the way they do their business. With an increase of 30% in operational efficiency, our clients are a happy lot. We continue to embrace the latest technology trends and push our limits to serve the shipping sector better.