ICON service to boost trade between South Asia and North Europe
March 7, 2011
Retailers in North Europe now have a faster and reliable connection for importing garments and textiles from one of the world’s largest sourcing area that exists in South Asia as Maersk Line launches ICON Service.
The Service that offers a direct and dedicated call from Chennai in India to North Europe is also the fastest on this route. It would take only 20 days for the cargo leaving Chennai to reach Zeebrugge in Belgium and 21 days to reach Felixstowe, in UK. For reaching Rotterdam in Netherlands and Bremerhaven in Germany it will respectively take 23 and 24 days.
"The ICON service will provide unmatched on time delivery in a very complex and infrastructural challenged market, which will give our customers efficiency and ultimately savings in their total supply chain," said Nikolaj Levin, Director, Europe - Middle East & Indian Subcontinent Services, Maersk Line.
To boost trade
This service also offers an efficient and fast feeder link to and from Bangladesh via Colombo and promises to boost the trade between Indian subcontinent and North Europe. Rice, coffee and jute are other commodities which this service will help to transport from Indian sub continent to North Europe on its westbound trip.
On the eastbound trip the service will help the importers of automobiles, chemicals, waste paper and scrap metal for re processing, in Indian subcontinent.
Top in Schedule Reliability Maersk Line heads the list of the top 20 largest carriers according to the latest Drewry Shipping Consultants Schedule Reliability Insight for the last three months of 2010. Maersk Line’s independent score without vessel sharing agreements (VSAs) was 87.1 % during the three months period. Maersk Line has also been the forerunner for 10 out of the previous 11 quarters in terms of schedule reliability.
Helps both suppliers and retailers While the just-in-time delivery will help the suppliers to keep manufacturing running, it will also help the retailers by placing the right goods, at the right time, at the right place for their end-users. This way the service will help the retailers keep inventory in check and save on the related costs.
Special Garment Hanger containers The service provides hanging garment containers fitted with hanger beams which ensure that garments are transported in good condition and are ready to place directly into retail outlets. This also reduces the lead-time as no additional packing or unpacking is required at origin/destination. Less cargo handling also reduces risk of damage.
Partnering with Maersk Line Maersk Line also offers a widespread network of intermodal connections enabling one-stop shipping to the store door. This can help retailers outsource logistics to a single point of contact, enjoy assurance of timely delivery, and reduce the administrative burden.
