South Africa Cargo Services (SA Cargo Services) recently showcased its expertise by handling a challenging shipment for a valued paper mill customer. The project involved the refurbishment of an entire mill, necessitating the transportation of a diverse range of cargo types, including open tops, f lat racks, and 40-foot containers.Overcoming the complexities of the task, the company, in collaboration with its value chain suppliers, ensured a seamless delivery process from the port to the mill, located 200 kilometres away, complete with specialised handling and on-time off loading services.According to Mndeni Ngcobo, the project faced challenges over and above the usual complexities of moving heavy cargo in South Africa. "The cargo required permits, escorts and specialised off loading and handling. We also needed to complete the cargo delivery within a specific timeframe to ensure that the refurbishment deadlines were me t ."Ngcobo said the customer sought a reliable logistics partner who could handle the entire process, from unloading the cargo off the ship to delivering it to the mill site, sparing them the intricacies and delays that could potentially arise. "SA Cargo Services stepped up to the challenge and, renowned for its end-to-end logistics solutions, completed the project on time."One of the critical factors that had contributed to the project's success was the company’s meticulous attention to detail, said branch manager Denzil Reddy. "In recent times, a notable trend has emerged in the shipping industry, as more customers are gravitating towards utilising roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) ships as an alternative to conventional methods of transport. We help to facilitate this transition by offering a comprehensive range of services that cover various aspects of ro-ro shipping, including the supply of tug master services to ro-ro shipping lines. We also secure the cargo and are responsible for lashing and unlashing, cranage services for heavy cargo, and abnormal transport."Ashen Ramkissoon, who handles business development for the company's clearing and forwarding department, said one of the challenges the company had to overcome was the shortage of mafi trailers for where the project cargo is going, as many of the ro-ro vessels did not go to all the ports. "Because of the pandemic-related backlog of supply chains, clients now have a mindset requiring faster delivery," he explained, saying more and more people were requiring end-to-end logistics.
