Russian intermodal container operator, Global Ports Group, is establishing its own fleet of 4,000 specialised containers that will be used for the transportation, storage, and handling of bulk cargo.
Global Ports is launching a service which will enable manufacturers to ship bulk cargo by block trains from their own manufacturing facilities.
Such a service may be of particular interest to companies in the chemical industry, particularly producers of mineral fertilisers.
The first lot of 1,240 containers is already at Global Ports’ terminals in St. Petersburg.
Roughly the same number of containers will be delivered to Global Ports at the beginning of May, while the third lot of containers is expected by the end of June.
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According to Global Ports Group, loading in containers from its own facilities and the following shipment by the block train will enable the group’s customers to significantly speed up logistics in comparison to traditional shipping in open wagons.
In addition, cargo owners will be able to store different grades of fertilisers separately in the port and accumulate any combination of shipment lots.
Handling of cargo into the hold from a specialised container is also significantly safer and more environmentally friendly, reported the group.
The first customer of the new service will be the chemical holding company, EuroChem.
This announcement comes in the same week that LogTech company, AELER, launched its new generation container, ‘Unit One’, at the Singapore Maritime Week.
