Case Study: DSV Air & Sea

Date: 05 Feb to 06 Mar 2018 : Project duration: 1 month

Logistics Support Services are agents in Namibia for DSV Air & Sea who are responsible for all shipments of John Deere agricultural equipment globally. To this end, LSS received a pre-alert from John Deere in South Africa on 5 February, indicating that high value freight would be arriving in Walvis Bay for their client, a major agricultural equipment supplier based in Otjiwarongo, Namibia. The freight was designated DAP (delivery at place) in Otjiwarongo, however LSS assisted with the arrangements in order that the freight could be delivered further on to the end user on a farm in Grootfontein.

As agents for DSV, LSS had previously imported a great deal of cargo for John Deere, such as Twin Balers, Farm Loaders, Farm Tractors, Ploughs, Planters and Lawn Tractors, however it this cargo was shipped in containers. This new cargo from John Deere was unusual. It comprised of 1 x S760 STS Combine Unit, 1 x 8 Row Corn Head and 4 additional pieces for duals and parts. This Combine Unit was the first to be imported into Namibia for John Deere. Due to the physical size of the Combine Unit, the freight was transported via a Roro vessel rather than a container, therefore the procedures changed significantly.

Due to the abnormal nature of the freight, LSS was required to provide DSV with a quotation for the transportation (to its final destination in Grootfontein), port costs as well as insurance to the high value of the freight.
Following the pre-alert received from John Deere, LSS requested an estimated time of arrival from the shipping line. The cargo had been loaded in Baltimore, USA on 29 January on board the vessel Progress Ace.

The vessel docked in Walvis Bay Harbour on 19 February and the cargo was offloaded the same day. The cargo was cleared by LSS’s freight department at customs, and documentation for release from the port was issued on 23 February. The Combine unit was driven directly out of port, the remaining pieces were loaded onto a flatbed truck, and all cargo was stored at Wesbank Transport whilst the applications for abnormal transport permits were made.
On 5 March, with all permits in order, the Combine unit was driven onto a 100 ton lowbed truck, secured for transport, and commenced its journey to Grootfontein via Okahandjia, accompanied by abnormal escort. The other cargo was transported on a flatbed truck directly to Grootfontein.

The challenge of this operation was the tight deadline – the equipment needed to be delivered by 7 March, as it still needed to be assembled in time for the Grootfontein Boeredag Festival on 8 March. However, the operation was completed successfully as the flatbed truck arrived in Grootfontein at 6am on 6 March, the abnormal cargo arrived the same evening, and all cargo was safely offloaded at 7pm therefore meeting delivery deadline.
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