Coca Cola's new shipping business
How do shippers avoid congestion today? Messages on LinkedIn by Coca-Cola procurement director Alan Smith made this brand's new policy crystal clear: ""When you can't get containers or space due to the current ocean freight crisis, then we had to think outside the box (or the container)."
In order to cover the space for the transport of 60,000 t of soft drink ingredients, the company did not choose its traditional way to rely on containers.
The head of Coke's logistics division explained that the company chartered three Empire Bulkers, the 34,399-dwt "Aphrodite M", the 35,000-dwt "Weco Lucilia C" and Zhejiang Shipping's 35,130-dwt "Zhe Hai 505". Their capacity covers the 2,800 boxes Coke originally worked with. Furthermore, the three vessels plan to target non-congested ports to keep the supply chain fluid.
Smith said the bulker shift was the first of many planned over the upcoming months. While the Coke deliveries are in sacks in the holds of the three handy ships, many other shippers have decided to employ similar means to get their goods to market. This has resulted in bulk carriers repurposed and strengthened to carry containers, and big name retailers such as Walmart, Ikea and Home Depot chartering their own containerships. (cd)