The Metro team talk: Andy Fitchett

The Metro team talk: Andy Fitchett

Jun 22, 2020 | , ,

Andy is “relishing the opportunity that Brexit brings” because, working with our IT development team, he is pioneering the automation of EU and UK customs declaration requirements, to streamline freight movements into and out of the EU.

Andy joined Metro nine years ago, as import manager, to oversee this critical function and to take a leading role in the development of Metro’s award-winning operations and supply chain management platform, MVT.

With 35 years in the freight industry Andy’s experience has been invaluable in managing significant volume increases, from a variety of origins and across multiple verticals.

He has been pivotal in the creation of some of Metro’s most successful innovations, including specialised GOH (Garments on hanger) services for FCL and LCL movements, VIP account support and, more recently, integrated end-to-end supply chain solutions for the automotive sector: from raw materials; to OEM machining sites; and final delivery to manufacturers.

On Brexit, Andy has concerns. “Shippers are under-estimating the challenge facing them. “It is critical that people recognise that we have left the EU and instruct their forwarder, ideally Metro, as to their post transition requirements. There are still too many shippers that have still not even assessed their potential 2021 volumes which they need to prioritise and share with us, to avoid issues after withdrawal in December this year”. 

Challenging shipping and supply chains

Challenging shipping and supply chains

Jun 18, 2020 | ,

As the Coronavirus pandemic has spread globally, deep supply and demand shocks have severely disrupted international trade. Marine Traffic a data solutions provider is hosting a series of digital sessions on the future of shipping and what container movements may tell us about our return to prosperity.

The challenges thrown up by the current situation will also expose the ability of shipping lines and logistics providers, to help manage supply chains in dire need of exception management.

The ability to competently and effectively assist in challenging conditions is where shipping lines and logistics providers can differentiate their services and this is an area that Metro have invested heavily in for decades.

There is no doubt the industry is facing a very challenging period, however, this is also a time where we get to test the resilience of the container shipping and our supply chains, and perhaps this is the time that will accelerate digitisation across the industry.

The intelligent interpretation of shipping data and vessel utilisation, lays bare the realities of global trade and is the surest indicator of our return from the worst impact of the pandemic.

These questions and many more will covered in Marine Traffic’s, ‘Tracking Maritime Trends’, series of digital sessions on the future of shipping.

Metro’s Technical Solutions Director, Simon George is joining the expert panel for the session that will consider Maritime Digitalisation and Unlocking Opportunities for the Shipping Industry, on 25th June from 2pm.

In the post-COVID 19 world, the need for smart thinking is greater than ever before. Simon and his fellow panelists will look at the accelerating digitalisation process and how to make best use of the huge volumes of available information.

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India approve use of ‘Blockchain’ Bills of Lading

India approve use of ‘Blockchain’ Bills of Lading

Jun 16, 2020 | ,

Just weeks after we reported on the Digital Container Shipping Association’s (DCSA) initiative to enable the collaboration necessary for achieving full eBL adoption, India is set to allow bills of lading to be filed over a blockchain platform.

India’s efforts to digitise its maritime supply chains has become increasingly urgent as the paper-based administrative processes that accompany container shipping have been severely hampered by the coronavirus pandemic, leading to major port congestion.

In response, India’s ministry of shipping gave the go-ahead to run trial shipments with B/Ls submitted on CargoX’s blockchain technology through the country’s Port Community System.

“Metro, with our local partners, are ready to support Blockchain Bill of Lading in India”

Blockchain technologies replace countless paper checks with sealed and approved electronic transactions, that cannot be changed or deleted, creating supply chains with higher accuracy, greater transparency and inherent cost savings.

Metro Shipping is an early adopter of blockchain technology engaging with CargoX, who’s Blockchain Document Transfer Platform (BDT) has been successfully trialled by India’s global shipping stakeholders to transfer electronic bills of lading.

At the vanguard of Blockchain adoption and resilience, Metro’s technical team has been simulating different freight flows, using a secured Blockchain network to improve the document flow, visibility, efficiency and verifiability of shipments.

Metro support the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT), developing standards to streamline international trade, including Blockchain and electronic Bills of Lading.

The Metro team talk: Mike Quish

The Metro team talk: Mike Quish

Jun 12, 2020 | ,

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the desperate need for PPE, the air freight services delivered by Mike Quish and his team have never been more critical.

The transport of PPE and essential medical products, primarily from China, began in late March, as airlines began grounding passenger flights and accelerated through April and May.

Throughout this time Mike’s air freight team managed the movement of more than 250 million PPE units by freighters, charters and latterly by converted PAX flights.

Beginning his air cargo/freight forwarding journey in 1974, Mike is a career veteran, with a wealth of experience and knowledge, honed at many of the UK’s most influential air cargo specialists.

Mike is a relative newcomer to Metro, joining the business in early 2018 as LHR Regional Manager, to further develop the already talented Metro air team at Heathrow.

Responsible for all inbound and outbound air freight movements, Mike’s team manage client cargo requirements through all UK airports, including London, Birmingham and Manchester.

Working closely with Metro’s overseas partners is a critical element in the effective delivery of time-critical solutions and the strength of those relationships has been evidenced by the challenges that have been overcome in the last three months and the huge volumes of inbound PPE handled.

Mike feels there is light at the end of a the tunnel, with demand easing and more capacity coming on stream and the Metro air team look forward to providing innovative solutions in these testing times.

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