London Gateway will add value to supply chain, Chicago 3PL summit told "London Gateway is bucking the trend. As ports around the world move further away from manufacturing and consumer markets in search of deeper water for bigger ships, London Gateway is mitigating longer supply chains by locating the port and logistics park closer to the UK's main markets."
Chicago USA, 21 June 2013 -- DP World's London Gateway, the UK's new deep-sea port and Europe's largest logistics park opening in Q4 this year, will prove that ports add value to the supply chain, delegates to the 11th annual 3PL Summit and Chief Supply Chain Officer Forum in Chicago were told yesterday.
Peter Ward, London Gateway supply chain commercial manager, said: "London Gateway is overturning the traditional view that ports add cost, not value. We are reversing the trend – shortening supply chain time, distance and cost because our port is closer to the main manufacturing and consumer markets.
"Our state of the art terminal will deliver new levels of efficiency, enabling greater supply chain reliability and predictability." London Gateway, 25 miles from central London on the River Thames, is due to open later this year and the team is currently making a series of presentations in the United States to showcase the benefits of both the port and the adjacent logistics park.
Mr Ward said: "The development of this logistics spark – Europe's largest – is a game-changing opportunity for shippers to redesign logistics networks to support doing business in today's dynamic markets. There is an insatiable appetite to reduce transport costs and inventory whilst maintaining or even improving product availability and speed to market, and we are in the best position to make that happen." He added London Gateway provided a great opportunity for US exporters, importers and forwarders trading with the UK to protect and grow market share in the face of stiffening competition from emerging markets.
Last week leading retailer Marks & Spencer announced plans to build a major distribution centre at London Gateway's logistics park. Alan Stewart, CFO, Marks & Spencer, said: "We will reduce the lead times between goods landing in the UK and getting into our stores, in front of our customers, from about three weeks to three days."
The Chicago forum, organized by EyeforTransport, attracted 575 delegates and is one of the largest annual gatherings of shippers, forwarders and 3PLs in the US.
The London Gateway team also hosted an 'Insight' breakfast for local companies as well as for people attending the summit to give them a greater understanding of the benefits the port and logistics park can deliver. Comments from people who have attended the 'Insight' sessions in the US have been full of praise for London Gateway.
A spokesman for one of the leading global forwarders remarked that: "London Gateway is bucking the trend. As ports around the world move further away from manufacturing and consumer markets in search of deeper water for bigger ships, London Gateway is mitigating longer supply chains by locating the port and logistics park closer to the UK's main markets."
About London Gateway
Opening in Q4 2013, London Gateway will be the UK's first 21st Century major deep-sea container port and Europe's largest logistics park. Owned and operated by DP World and situated on the north bank of the River Thames, London Gateway will provide unrivalled deep-sea shipping access to the largest consumer markets in the UK. The port's location, with its superior operational systems and service, will ensure ships load and unload as fast as possible, making London Gateway a world class asset for the UK. www.LondonGateway.com
About DP World
DP World has a portfolio of more than 65 marine terminals across six continents(1), including new developments underway in India, Africa, Europe, South America and the Middle East.
Container handling is the company's core business and generates around 80% of its revenue. In 2012, DP World handled more than 56 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent container units). With its committed pipeline of developments and expansions, capacity is expected to rise to more than 100 million TEU by 2020, in line with market demand.
DP World has a dedicated, experienced and professional team of 28,000 people serving its customers around the world, and the company constantly invests in terminal infrastructure, facilities and people to provide quality services today and tomorrow, when and where customers need them. In taking this customer-centric approach, DP World is building on the established relationships and superior level of service demonstrated at its flagship Jebel Ali facility in Dubai, which has been voted "Best Seaport in the Middle East" for 19 consecutive years. www.dpworld.com
(1) As of June 2013.
LogisticsWorld news@logisticsworld.com 6/22/2013 2:01:42 PM
