Yusen Logistics and Imperial Health Launching the First Temperature Controlled Sea Freight Consolidation Service to Southern Africa Dedicated to the Pharmaceutical Industry

Imperial Health Sciences (IHS) and Yusen Logistics (YL) announce the launch of the pharmaceutical industry’s first dedicated, temperature controlled sea freight consolidation service to southern Africa. This weekly service commences in January 2014. Solutions for East and West Africa will follow later in 2014.

This innovative solution has been developed in response to demand from pharmaceutical customers for a robust total supply chain service, with handling by GDP trained staff throughout.

The service will maximise the cost-effectiveness of sea solutions versus airfreight, providing a transparent and comprehensive solution for the supply of replenishment stocks. With a door-to-door pallet rate structure for consignments which can range from a single pallet to a dedicated container, the new service enables maximised quality and minimised risk, with a complete audit trail for temperature control (15C/25C) and security.

Collections will be made throughout Europe by YL’s award winning network "the Superhighway" and received into YL’s European pharmaceutical hub in Antwerp. Weekly sailings will depart from the Port of Antwerp direct to Cape Town where product will be pre-cleared and offloaded into IHS’ local GDP warehouse. Quality sampling can be performed on request.

Onward transportation is by fully temperature controlled vehicles, with the following options available:

• Direct delivery to consignee
• Direct delivery to manufacturer’s warehouse
• Onward delivery to IHS’ GDP approved facilities in South Africa with final mile distribution

All in all this represents the first "total solution" from Europe to southern Africa, offering quality and cost benefits for both large and small shipments.