MACS chooses to limit reefer business

Far East box fleet upgraded
RAY SMUTS LIMITED VOLUMES mean more customer smiles, which explains why Maritime Carrier Shipping (MACS) is content to carry on in this fashion in its reefer department in order to provide optimum service. Keeping the customer happy is really what the demanding perishables business is all about and MD Felix Scheder-Bieschin Jr is under no illusion about the competition that MACS, a relatively small player in this market – fruit in particular, is up against. “We find reefer business is very demanding. If you choose to deal with a customer you actually have to serve him right, no half-dealing, because the cargo is too precious and arrival times and logistics requirements too demanding. “This is the attitude one should have toward any business, even more important in reefers, because it would be unfair to offer new customers, in particular, something that would stretch our resources too far,” asserts Scheder-Bieschin. He adds many would-be customers are actually surprised and perhaps a little upset, to learn, belatedly, of MACS’ regular reefer service between South Africa and Europe. “We have to realise our reefer business probably accounts for less than 2% so that is not a true reflection of the overall reefer market, yet we are not about to increase our share of fruit cargo. “This is a risky area and we are up against big worldwide network players against whom we cannot and do not, wish to compete. We want to carry what we are able to carry and not make it any bigger.” An important MACS development is the complete upgrade of its Far East-built box fleet which should serve the carrier for a good many years to come. “We have not got any bigger but prettier and more state of the art.” Adds colleague Marc Frauendorf: “By limiting ourselves on our vessels, we are trying to provide optimum service to each individual client by guaranteeing space and equipment.” One of MACS’ strong points lies in shipments of deep-frozen meat and fish to
Europe and it is in the fishy context that the Spanish port of Vigo is a major player. The Hamburg-based carrier follows the original concept cultivated in 1980; reefers on deck and conventional below, the latter turning out to be a most productive cargo. As to what lies ahead for MACS, Scheder-Bieschin has no hesitation in saying: “Plenty of ideas but all are in the research and development department.”