Brazilian sea cargo and changes brought by Provisional Measure 595, a new regulatory framework for the sector, were talked up big at Intermodal South America 2013 this week at Transamerica Center, in São Paulo, Brazil.
     Many in attendance are hoping that constant changes in rules and regulations will now slow down to allow investment and business to flourish.
     "Brazil needs to provide competitive standards.
     “With a clear regulatory framework, the investor has baseline rules, and from that confidence can develop," said Pedro Brito, Director Brazil’s National Agency for Waterway Transportation.
     Elsewhere during the busy panel sessions, the call was for further integration of road, rail, sea, and air resources into the main stream of Brazil’s logistics business.
     “In logistics, if you do not think of connectivity with minimum unnecessary expenses, and focus on competitiveness, you cannot compete,” The Executive Director of Centronave (Centro Nacional de Navigation), Claudio Loureiro de Souza said, adding:
     "We believe that competition is the best protection for the industry.
     “We support the MP because it will enable new investment, promote cultural change, and help in streamlining the processes," he said.
     Also in attendance at Intermodal 2013 was The Customs Brokers Association of São Paulo (Sindasp), an organization that represents over two thousand professionals in the State of São Paulo.
     Sindasp President Valdir Santos thinks the time to let the world know that change is afoot in Latin America is now:
     "During Intermodal we demonstrated to the shipping community worldwide the ability of Customs Brokers to fully serve our clients, entrepreneurs, importers, and exporters, primarily as a result of the end of the ‘War of Ports’ in Brazil and the introduction of tax incentives in certain states.
     "Our message at Intermodal 2013 to the business sector is if services are entrusted to duly accredited agents, the entire shipping process can be handled with much more tranquility and security,” Mr. Santos said.

     It may be a small thing, but this edition of Intermodal included an opportunity for delegates to “go green,” ditching the taxis and rental cars via a “Green Exhibitor Program” initiated by show organizer UBM.
     “We encouraged exhibitors to use public transportation in moving private employees and guests,” said the manager of Intermodal, Michael Fine.
     "It's a way to reduce emission of carbon monoxide expelled by cars, especially in the city of São Paulo, which suffers from pollution," he added.
     Some of the companies that joined the Green Exhibitor Program included Deugro, CMA CGM, Maersk, Hamburg Sud, APL, Dachser, and Port of Santos.


     One product amidst an almost endless stream of small to medium companies at the event was a Brazilian offshoot of an Israel-based outfit specializing in OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technologies for trucks that carry containers to and from ports.
     Much griping about the long lines at the Brazilian ports and delays in the receipt of cargo could be a thing of the past, or greatly diminished in any case, says HT Systems Brazil, which specializes in OCR technology.
     “Our system can recognize what is aboard a truck, including the container number, and then transmit the information.
     “This simple solution speeds access for vehicles and loads while also offering images and videos for damage inspection and are utilized around the world in Lisbon (Portugal), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Algeciras (Spain),” said Benjie Wells, VP Cargo Systems, HTS America.
www.ergostecnologia.com.br
Geoffrey

or our money, Claudia Silva emerged as “The Pope” of Latin American air cargo when he put the powerhouse that is the freight part of LAN, now known as LATAM Group, on world maps during the last decade.
     Today Claudio is President and CEO at GSA startup Cargo Essence, which was launched in Miami in November 2011.
     After a decade with Fast Air and 17 years leading the growth of Lan Cargo in North America and Asia, Claudio wanted out on his own, so he started his own company.
     To the surprise of almost no one, less than two years later white smoke appeared above the offices of Cargo Essence, as once again The Cargo Pope emerged supreme, building a solid enterprise that delivers a top notch product for a growing group of clients across the Americas.
     Here Claudio talks Latin America from Intermodal 2013.
     “Brazil is quite important as a destination to Latin America for our GSA organization, Cargo Essence, because the country represents more than 50 percent of what we sell in the USA for LATAM Airlines Group,” Claudio said.
     “The driver in many areas of the USA where we represent LATAM—in places such as Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Colorado, and Utah—are shipments closely tied to oil and gas and mining.
     “Brazil is a natural fit, with tremendous reserves of resources and oil near its Atlantic Ocean shores, including beautiful Rio de Janeiro.
     “Brazil has gone through a very important political and economic modernization that facilitates foreign investment.
     “Now as never before when you say the word Brazil, there is confidence and trust in long term stability.
     “To be successful in Brazil or anywhere else in Latin America is no secret.
     “Shippers need the right local partner at destinations that understand how the market works and know the rules of engagement that guarantee a successful and long term profitable experience.
     “But Brazil is not isolated or lacking in the balance all world markets require.
     “Brazil needs the continued recovery of the global economy and beyond and must do its part to encourage both manufacturing and transportation companies to think again in terms of growth, investment, and hiring.
     “At Intermodal 2013 I really enjoyed most of my colleagues, but especially the ones that are eager to listen, learn, share their thoughts, and act fast on their feet.
     Less bureaucracy and no canned thinking has to be the first priority in air cargo today—especially in Latin America!” Claudio Silva said.
     Amen to that, we say.
Geoffrey/Sabiha

Ralf-Rainer Auslaender
Managing Director
leisure Cargo

Leo Moreira
Regional Manager Florida
American Airlines Cargo

     “An excellent worthwhile event,” said Ram Menen, Emirates SkyCargo DSVP, of Intermodal 2013, as it offered more floor space than ever, and participation was excellent as always.
     “For Emirates, Latin America is a very important market as we connect the dots across the world.
     “We have been quite active in the Brazilian and neighboring markets.
     “Intermodal 2013 was great to meet our existing and potential customers to explore new opportunities.
     “We were extremely busy all week long with good, productive meetings.
     “Latin America is definitely a happening place.”
     For the Middle East the “Road to Brazil” begins in Dubai, as the location creates headlines and new standards in the air cargo business.
     At Intermodal South America this past week in São Paulo, Emirates’ Dener Souza talked about what lies ahead as SkyCargo turns up the heat on Latin America.

I am very positive concerning Intermodal 2013 this week in São Paulo.
     The event is perfect and well focused for South America, where we were front and center with a big SkyTeam stand and met all the key companies from the transport/logistics sector in one single place at a very important event for networking and meeting customers.
    Intermodal São Paulo 2013 afforded us an opportunity to catch up with important logistics stakeholders linked to our business, with lots of interactive discussions on the latest industry trends and businesses opportunities.

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have never told anyone this, but as writing is my job, every story must be told eventually.
    The picture (above) that you are looking at, Dear Reader, is my absolute favorite from all our 40-plus years in air cargo, and maybe a million pictures later.
     When I learned earlier this year that an old friend Phil Bowell—with whom we had met and become familiar back in the mid-1980s, when he headed up the British Caledonian Airlines Cargo team at Hangar Nine (Eastern Airlines) at JFK—was recognized and awarded a coveted MBE “Member Of The British Empire” for his career in air cargo and for his recent work in Bahrain, all these memories came flooding back.
     We recalled what a damn good guy Phil is—a real square shooter, team player, and all-around lovely air cargo professional.
     Phil joined BCAL in 1969 as catering supervisor and moved around the company, but by 1981 had moved to Dallas/Ft Worth as Regional Sales Manager, SW USA.
      In 1985 Phil moved to JFK as Cargo Sales & Services Manager, NE USA and Canada.

     After British Airways took over BCAL in 1988, Phil remembers “without a green card, I was shipped back to the UK, where I worked the ramp at Gatwick starting over again in the airline business from square one.”
     “In 1990 l went to Ogden as part of senior management team for 2 years, and later was asked by David Coltman to join United Airlines at LHR. David is a great man.”
     Determined to stay in the business, Phil Bowell worked to open Cathay Kansai Terminal Services at the new Kansai Intl Airport in Osaka, Japan.
     “CKTS was a JV owned by Cathay Pacific, Northwest Airlines, and a Japanese company called KAB,” Phil recalls.
     Then Phil joined Menzies Transport Services as Business Development Director.
     “I had a great time—we bought Ogden during that time and became a truly global player.
     “I flew to Korea to open the new Incheon Airport and then to Hong Kong to run the operation there. Based at HKIA, we did project work in Philippines and Malaysia.
     “In 2006, I joined Swissport International as COO and went to Japan to open their new JV there. I opened Nagoya operations and commenced development of Narita operations, as well as growing Kansai operations.
     “In 2008, I was asked to take over as CEO of Bahrain Airport Services, the handler at Bahrain International Airport.
     “In November 2011, I retired back to the UK and started PJB Aviation Services, which is keeping me active.
     “In my spare time I am a councilor on the Parish Council in Steyning West Sussex, where I live and have taken up campanology (bell ringing).”
     Phil is still married to Pauline; the couple have two sons and three grandsons.
     Phil is remarkably understated about the MBE, but he was selected as the former chief executive of Bahrain Airport Services and received an MBE for services to the British industry and the community in Bahrain.
     It’s no small potatoes, in our opinion, and it’s not a surprise.
     And the above picture that brought all of this on?
     I remember so well when it was taken. It was early one morning in New York’s Time Square. All the ladies of the night and the honky-tonk drug dealers were scurrying from the daylight, and the insomniac juke joints that make up the after dark scene were pushing their regulars onto the waking streets. Like vampires, they shuttered at first light, rested through the day, and opened again at night.
     We laughed out loud at these guys with their kilts and bright faces, thinking that they probably never left that area in one piece.
     We learned right away that BCAL was a special group of folks, so special, in fact, that I still get goose bumps recalling their determination to get the business and goodness forwarded toward the JFK air cargo community with guys like Phil Bowell, the late Joe Sanchez and Jim Erickson (who is still around JFK yet today), and many others.
     BCAL made us all feel we were special, and that is something to celebrate forever.
     Good for you, Phil Bowell, and lovely to see that you are still ringing a bell in the air cargo community. philip.bowell@btinternet.com
Geoffrey

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