Bulk Distributor Nov/Dec 17 | Page 17

November / December 2017

Logistics

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Imperial christens gas tankers

In the presence of 100 guests , Imperial Logistics

International christened two new gas tankers in Duisburg , Germany on 14 September . ‘ Imperial Gas 92 ’ and ‘ Imperial Gas 93 ’ ( each 110m long and 11.45m wide ) will be used for transporting liquefied petroleum gas ( LPG ) and pressurised gaseous products among other things . The total capacity for gas products is 2,856 cbm in each case . Each tanker has six load tanks . The new units will replace two older gas tankers from the fleet that will now be decommissioned and will be deployed by Imperial Gas Barging GmbH , which currently operates 17 gas tankers . Anke Bestmann , managing director of Imperial Gas Barging ,
commented : “ The two new units will set new standards in terms of energy efficiency and load carrying capacity . When in operation , they will consume significantly less fuel than their predecessors .” This is made possible by Veth ’ s innovative dual Z-Drive rudder propeller , where the rudders and propellers form a single unit . Compared with older drive systems , this requires less fuel and maintenance . Operating data from the main engines , such as fuel consumption , position , speed , exhaust temperature , load and speed , will be sent online to the shipping company ’ s control centre . The ships ’ hulls are reinforced with increased protection against collision in the cargo areas , so-called ‘ Schelde skin reinforcement ’.
Imperial Gas 92 ( left ) and 93 ( right ) on the Rhine near Duisburg

Green light for Felixstowe rail improvements

In the UK , the latest improvements to Port of Felixstowe ’ s rail connections have been given the green light by the Secretary of State for Transport . The £ 60.4 million scheme , jointly funded by Network Rail and Hutchison Ports , will allow up to 47 freight trains to run per day in each direction between Ipswich and Felixstowe . Clemence Cheng , executive director Hutchison Ports and CEO of Port of Felixstowe , said : “ Rail is an increasingly important differentiator as shipping lines and cargo owners look to remove carbon from their supply chains . The Port of Felixstowe already has the widest choice of rail services in the UK with 33 daily services to 17 different inland destinations . “ This scheme complements the investment we have made in rail capacity at the port and will allow us to offer an even greater range of sustainable distribution option to our customers . Over 100 million HGV miles a year are already saved by using rail freight from Felixstowe and we look forward to that figure increasing significantly in future .” Freightliner ’ s UK managing director Adam Cunliffe said : “ We are delighted that the Port of Felixstowe ’ s improvement plans have been given the go-ahead which will create much needed additional rail freight capacity at the port . As well as satisfying growing customer demand , the environmental benefits of moving freight by rail are significant , and we look forward to operating increased services once the enhanced rail connections are complete .”

Improvements to the Felixstowe branch line have been approved by the UK transport secretary
The Felixstowe Branch Line is part of a key strategic freight route through to the Midlands and Northwest , pointed out John Smith , managing director of GB Railfreight . Infrastructure manager Network Rail said improving the Felixstowe branch line would provide a step change for rail freight in Suffolk and beyond .

Orders for RTN

RTN Clayton Vallely has seen vacuum pump . a slew of orders for its The trailer runs on BPW drum tanker trailers . axles with a front axle lift and Lanes For Drains took delivery of features X – Lite alloys with an Ultra Last 30,000-litre vacuum Bridgestone tyres . trailer , built from 304 stainless steel Industrial Chemicals recently took and fitted with a Jurop RCV 520 delivery of its 14th ADR rubber lined tanker . Built to the customer ’ s specification , the tanker has a 25,000 litre capacity , built out of mild steel and is a single compartment rubber lined tanker designed for carrying hydrochloric acid . The trailer runs on Jost axles with a front axle lift and features steel MWS wheels fitted with Dunlop tyres . Finally , 3R Solutions is the customer for a brand new tanker trailer . An Ultra last 30,000 litre , also built out of 304 stainless steel and with a Jurop RV520 vacuum pump , is fitted with BPW disc brake axles with front lift axle , accompanied on X-lite alloys and Bridgestone tyres . This is 3R Solutions ’ 15th new build tanker from RTN Clayton Vallely .

Abbey to deploy �������������������

UK bulk liquid and powder transport provider Abbey Logistics Group is deploying a Microlise fleet management telematics solution to 350 tractors and 300 tanker trailers in its fleet . Microlise Fleet Performance will provide Abbey with real-time visibility of its fleet and help it to improve driver performance and safety ; while reducing fuel costs and environmental impact . It will replace three different tracking systems currently being used in the business as a result of contract wins and an acquisition . Driver performance metrics will be available via the Microlise Driver Performance Management ( DPM ) app that Abbey ’ s drivers can download . DPM is designed to empower drivers to improve with easy access to insights about their own performance . The app also gives drivers a view of their performance compared with others in their team , providing the option to motivate each other through league tables and incentives . Abbey Logistics ’ management will also be able to identify areas for improvement and manage by exception , delivering targeted driver debriefs and training . The full suite of Fleet Performance reports will also be available via the Microlise web portal , giving detailed information about the fleet operation to enable the Abbey Logistics team to understand where improvements can be made . In addition , Abbey will implement Microlise Remote Digital Tachograph Download , which automates the collection of drivers ’ hours on a regular basis , no matter where the vehicle is . “ The deployment of Microlise Fleet Performance will give us the visibility we need to make effective improvements quickly ,” said Steve Granite , Abbey Logistics CEO . “ We are also hoping to free up management time by removing many manual processes and focusing our resources where they are needed . All of this is aimed at delivering the best service for our customers .” Abbey Logistics Group was bought in August 2016 by management with funding from a Manchester-based private equity firm . It has announced a string of award wins and nominations in 2017 , as well as several large contract wins . “ There is great energy and enthusiasm at Abbey Logistics , along with an excellent company culture . The success it is seeing as a business is no accident . We ’ re pleased to be supporting the operations team with a telematics product to help identify and enact efficiency improvements ,” said Microlise CEO Nadeem Raza . DPM runs on both Android and iOS devices , delivering increased driver engagement with telematics , whilst at the same time reducing management resource requirements . Abbey Recently announced it was closing its general haulage and Pallet Track division , following a strategic review of group activities . Abbey has grown rapidly in the past two years through its core tanker business , securing significant contracts in the food , polymers , and non-hazardous chemicals markets . The group has also expanded the range of value-added services it can provide to include warehousing , drumming and reprocessing . The general haulage and Pallet Track division , which contributed 7 percent of group revenue , is not part of Abbey ’ s longterm objectives , which focus on the development of its core road tanker and value-added businesses . Steve Granite said of the move : “ We continue to make strong progress in our road tanker business in the food sector . In addition , we have grown our customer base and the range of services we provide to new markets , including polymers , minerals and non-hazardous chemicals .”

Microlise Fleet Performance will provide Abbey with real-time visibility of its fleet and help it to improve driver performance and safety