Russian company developed electronic seal on container loaded with salmon on Netherlands/Belgium joint venture – which is first logistics company pushing cargo through the Embargo from Europe to China.
Railfreight reports that New Silk Way Logistics, a Dutch company that offers “door-to-door intermodal rail and logistic solutions between Europe and China”, has loaded frozen salmon on a container train operated by DBO Bahnopertor destined for Xi’an, China.
Unique circumstance
Managing Director Oscar Vermeij told SalmonBusiness that New Silk Way Logistics is a joint venture between two large logistics forces from the Netherlands and Belgium, named KLG Europe & H.Essers.
“We are specialised in rail transportation between Europe and China, with a high focus on temperature-controlled carriage. Mainly for Pharmaceutical products, but now also for foodstuff,” he said.
“We transported this shipment with salmon in our unique 45ft Reefer Hichcube pallet wide from the Netherlands to the rail terminal. Salmon is a product which is on the Russian embargo list. It’s a very unique circumstance, we are the first logistics company pushing cargo trough the Embargo from Europe to China,” added Vermeij.
Setting off from Duisburg, Germany, the train is now currently near Moscow. “We are in contact with the Russian authorities, the customs in Kazakhstan and China to secure a stable, solid and fast rail solution. In addition, our 24/7 control tower is monitoring temperatures and GPS strictly for all our reefer cargo along the route,” added Vermeij.
14 days
A growing market due to the drop out of air freight availability, train transit is around 14 days, total lead-time including customs and truck carriage the lead-time is 18-21 days, door/ door.
To get around delaying difficulties through the former Soviet State, an electronic seal was attached to the container. The Russian government is also involved in the test and a Russian commercial company developed the seal.
“On the border with Russia, the electronic seal will be attached to the container”, said H.Essers’ Hanno Reeser to Railfreight. “This is currently done by the Russian government, which is also involved in the test. But ultimately, the railway operator on that stretch is responsible for the application of the seal”, he added.
BluWrap
In January, SalmonBusiness reported on the project where salmon would have been transported by train from Norway to China using existing links through Finland.
This was thanks to extended shelf-life technology created by the US company BluWrap.
However, that project has been stuck in limbo as a permit from the Russian authorities has not been authorised.
