Page 25 from: June / July 2008
June/July 2008 25
Concerns about container shipping
Increasingly, recyclables are shipped in containers rather than in bulk. At
the BIR Convention in Monte-Carlo, the problems – and potential solutions
– relating to container shipment were discussed during a workshop mode-
rated by Robert Voss of the UK.
The growing gap between exports and imports was identifi ed as the cause of
an imbalance in container availability in several parts of the world, thereby
leading to a surge in shipping costs. John Chen of the US/Chinese Tung Tai
Group observed: ‘Two years ago, shipping lines were very eager to send empty
containers back. However, the growing US export situation – thanks to a weak
dollar rate – and record oil prices make the availability of containers very
tight.’
Ikbal Nathani of the Nathani Group of Companies in India said: ‘Over the
last 12 months, our problems have increased by 200%.’ Laying the blame
with the shipping lines, he added: ‘They make a lot of mistakes in conver-
ting pounds to metric tonnes. Bookings are cancelled at the last moment
and they make unreasonable demands.’
Ivo Dolk from Marine Inspection and Logistics (MIL) in the Netherlands provi-
ded a different perspective. ‘Containers are increasingly damaged prior to,
during and after discharging,’ he said. ‘Poor methods are resulting in cracks
and dents, which need to be repaired.’
Mr Nathani added that, in many cases, container boxes were refurbished in
a far-from-adequate manner. BIR announced that it would be sending a
report on these problems to the main shipping lines.
Future BIR Conventions
2008 October 30-31 Düsseldorf Germany Hilton Hotel
2009 May 25-27 Dubai United Arab Emirates Grand Hyatt Hotel
Autumn Amsterdam Netherlands Okura Hotel
2010 May-June Sevilla Spain Tentative
Autumn Brussels Belgium Tentative
The Burj Al Arab (literally ‘Tower of the Arabs’) has quickly become a landmarki
in Dubai. It is the only seven-star hotel in the world. At 321 metres (1053 feet),
it is currently the tallest building used exclusively as a hotel. It is an iconic struc-
ture, designed to symbolise Dubai’s urban transformation and to mimic the sail
of a dhow, a type of Arabian vessel. Construction of the Burj Al Arab began in
1994 and the hotel cost US$ 650 million to build.
After six years as Chairman of the IEC, Alvaro
Rodriguez Martinez of Spain-based Energis
SA has stepped down and will be succeeded
by Olivier François, Development Director of
Group Galloo.
Successful convention
As mentioned above, the 2008 BIR Spring
Convention attracted some 1300 registered
delegates and 400 accompanying persons. But
Communications Director Elisabeth Christ
adds: ‘I think there were hundreds of traders
in the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel who had
not registered but who had come to Monte-
Carlo nonetheless, hoping to do business with
BIR delegates.’
The recycling exhibition alongside the conven-
tion hall featured 36 stands and eight large
hospitality booths – also a record for BIR.
The reasons for the success of the entire event
were manifold. First, the recycling markets are
still strong in many instances, and so traders
and recyclers are eager to do business. Second,
BIR had put together an especially attractive
programme for its 60th birthday. And last but
not least, Monte-Carlo is a favourite destina-
tion and many BIR members seize the oppor-
tunity to take a short holiday in the nearby
Provence region of France, on the Mediterra-
nean coast or across the border in Italy.
Panellists Ivo Dolk of Marine
Inspection and Logistics of the
Netherlands.
John Chen of the Tung Tai Group,
USA/China.
Tom Bird of the Sims Group, UK.
A statue comprised of rusted steel and concrete blocks near Monte-
Carlo’s marina.
Ved Prakash (left) and Surendra Borad of Gemini Corporation in
Belgium.
Bob Garino, Director of Commodities of ISRI and his wife Bert.
RI_020 BIR intro.indd 25 19-06-2008 17:05:32
