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Singapore,
Oakland, CA, London, 21 January, 2003 – Global container carrier APL and supply
chain management sister company APL Logistics (APLL) today released a white
paper (PDF 1.09MB) on supply chain security that underlines the far-reaching
impact of security initiatives globally.
APL’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ron Widdows, said, “Initiatives such as
the new Advance Manifest rule that requires filing detailed information on cargo
with the US Customs at least 24 hours before a vessel is loaded to sail to the
US are significant. But this is just the start.”
Mr Widdows said that APL and APLL had commissioned the paper to contribute to
the debate about security, to help draw customers’ attention to the changes and
to help them prepare for the new environment.
“All the initiatives passed or currently under consideration by the US and other
governments will mean there have to be changes to processes and systems that stretch
far back into the supply chain,” Mr Widdows said.
Hans Hickler, Chief Executive Officer of APLL, said that IT tools stretching back
to the original source of goods were key to helping provide in a timely fashion
the information required to monitor the supply chain.
“Currently, the supply chain is designed to get goods to market as rapidly as
possible. It’s very much a “hands off” system right from the factory floor, through
trucking or barging, terminals, across oceans and on to the customer’s door. IT
tools are used to provide visibility and inventory management.
“Now all those in world trade need to think about how to use the systems we have
in place to provide greater security, how we can adapt it, and how we can work
together with the authorities to tighten that supply chain while not causing undue
delays to the flow of goods.
“Also,” Mr Hickler said, “the fewer the links in the supply chain, the less opportunities
there are to compromise it.”
Mr Hickler and Mr Widdows highlighted that access to technology remained an issue
in some parts of the world that may disadvantage those wanting to export to the
US.
There was also a cost issue they said, although it was too soon to assess the
impact of that, since it depended so much on the implementation of the various
initiatives.
“But it still leaves the overarching question of how much and who pays, and the
important question of how to balance potential delays with the clear and present
need for more security,” they said.
DOWNLOAD
WHITE PAPER (PDF 1.09MB)
About APL and APL Logistics:
APL provides customers around the world with container transportation services
through a network combining high-quality intermodal operations with state-of-the-art
information technology. APL Logistics is a sister company of APL and offers end-to-end
supply chain management services enabled by leading information technology. APL
and APLL are wholly owned subsidiaries of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines
(NOL), a global transportation and logistics company engaged in shipping and related
businesses.
Media contacts:
Americas:
Jerry Drelling, tel. +1-510-272-8208 or jerry_drelling@apl.com; Asia/Middle East:
Paul Barrett, tel. +65-6371-5022 or paul_barrett@apl.com; Europe: Michael Haig,
tel +44-1737-248-300 or michael@isiscomms.com
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