Multimodal and Container Shipping Group Switches Offices plus Other Related News This Week

ASIA – SWITZERLAND – SOUTH AMERICA – Japanese multimodal transport group Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) will operate its own office in Basel, Switzerland as from the 1st January 2014. Although primarily recognised as a container shipping line MOL has worked up to now with Basel headquartered Hausmann Shipping, which company MOL says it will work closely together with during the transfer of operations to ensure a smooth transition.

Jochen Veldmann, Area Director for MOL, said his company had enjoyed a strong and long-lasting relationship with Hausmann and thanked the company for being an excellent partner over the past years, but that:

“The decision to open the new office in this important market is part of MOL’s company-wide strategy to have its own people on the ground and grow closer to its customers. We will [now] be much better positioned to respond to customer needs, improve service quality, and offer full-network coverage in the region.”

In other container related news ZIM has announced some sizeable General Rate Increases from all origins in Asia to all destinations on the East Coast of South America. The increases are said to be necessary ‘in order to maintain our current levels of service and high reliability’, and will be effective as from November 15. The increases in US currency are:

$750/20’ container (all types including Reefer, Open Top and Flat Rack with no Out-of-Gauge cargo)

$1500/40’ container (all types including Hi-Cube, Reefer, Open Top and Flat Racks with no Out-of-Gauge cargo)

Finally our photograph shows an Audi A5 which, according to local news outlet Nandu, met its maker this week when someone managed to drop a 20’ box on its roof. Miraculously none of the passengers suffered serious injury according to the reports and, surprisingly the doors still opened, albeit as ‘gull wings’ as can be seen HERE.