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25.11.2010
The European Shippers’ Council (ESC) is calling on the maritime industry to re-consider the “grey box” concept to help reduce equipment shortages. The ESC has formed a working group, open to shippers and others in the maritime supply chain, to discuss the so-called grey box concept — shipping lines using a pool of unbranded containers, rather than carriers owning and operating their own boxes. The ESC believes the concept could reduce the turnaround time of containers — therefore reducing the container shortages shippers said they experienced earlier this year— and also reduce emissions. The council said the grey box concept had been suggested several times in the past, but admitted it had never taken off. It said this was down to a lack of support among shipping lines, in turn mainly because they were not ready to abandon branding their boxes, and the re-organisation it entailed was considered too overwhelming. However, the ESC said that new environmental pressures meant it was time to re-examine the merits of putting the grey box concept into practice. Jean-Louis Cambon, Chairman of the ESC’s Maritime Transport Council, said: “Realistically, the grey box concept may not solve structural imbalances, but the potential to improve turnaround of equipment, and thereby increase efficiency and make more boxes available in the hinterland, is worth further investigation. “The concept does raise some big questions largely surrounding ownership/leasing of the equipment, interchange procedures and the impact of abandoning corporate or product branding on boxes. “This is what the proposed working group should explore, as a priority.” en.portnews.ru / rzd-partner.com
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