Michael Brown believes he developed mesothelioma after breathing in asbestos while working in and around Plymouth in the early 1960s.
The devastating disease can take decades to develop but is usually fatal within 18 months to two years of diagnosis.
The 68-year-old grandfather told his story before tomorrow’s Action Mesothelioma Day, which is being marked by special events in Plymouth.
The city is one of the UK’s worst hotspots for the disease, mainly due to the heavy use of asbestos at Devonport dockyard and on ships. The condition also affects many former labourers.
Mr Brown is looking to take legal action against his former employer Scaffolding (GB) Ltd, which has ceased trading.
He is appealing to former workmates for help with his battle for justice.
When a firm no longer exists, compensation is sought through their insurers.
Mr Brown said: “When I was told I had mesothelioma, my family and I were completely devastated.
“I worked in several different places for different companies and can’t say exactly where I picked it up, but I was definitely exposed to it while working for Scaffolding (GB) Ltd.
“I was always working next to people removing asbestos and I would end up covered in dust but I had no idea how serious this would end up being.
“I have had six rounds of chemotherapy treatment, which I am recovering from.
“I want to enjoy some quality time with my family, but I’m very aware this will now be cut short.”
He said Action Mesothelioma Day is a chance to raise awareness about the “terrible illness” and the dangers of asbestos.
“I hope that what happened to me serves as a warning to other workers and, in particular employers,” he said.
Mr Brown is the main carer for two disabled relatives and has six children and nine grandchildren.
He described coming into contact with deadly asbestos dust at building sites in Plymouth and the South West.
“I was sent to work in the Penzance Gas Works to erect scaffolding where I worked next to men who were removing asbestos lagging from extensive pipework using hand chisels,” he said.
“The air in the gas works was also filled with huge white asbestos dust clouds that I couldn’t avoid inhaling.”
Mr Brown, who has moved to Bristol, said he completed a contract at the Ramington typewriter factory in Plymouth and worked next to roofers who were cutting asbestos corrugated sheets using a grinder.
He also worked at the Plymouth Gas Works with another company.
“I can recall being constantly in close proximity to laggers who were mixing the asbestos powder in large drums and then applying the asbestos paste onto the pipework,” he said.
Helen Grady, from Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, is representing Mr Brown in his legal battle.
MESOTHELIOMA: the facts.
Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related cancer of the lungs or abdomen.
Although exposure to asbestos has been strictly regulated since the late 1970s, mesothelioma is still arising in people who were exposed beforehand.
Health and Safety Executive figures show 373 Plymouth men died from mesothelioma between 1981 and 2005.
Victims may be entitled to compensation but the battle for justice can be complex.
There are different rules for civilians and servicemen.
Claimants may also face difficulties proving a company’s liability, or gaining compensation where a company is no longer operating.
Via: thisisplymouth.co.uk Ex-scaffolder in a ‘battle for justice’ on asbestos
A FORMER scaffolder said his life has been cruelly “cut short” by an incurable asbestos-related cancer.
Michael Brown believes he developed mesothelioma after breathing in asbestos while working in and around Plymouth in the early 1960s.
The devastating disease can take decades to develop but is usually fatal within 18 months to two years of diagnosis.
The 68-year-old grandfather told his story before tomorrow’s Action Mesothelioma Day, which is being marked by special events in Plymouth.
The city is one of the UK’s worst hotspots for the disease, mainly due to the heavy use of asbestos at Devonport dockyard and on ships. The condition also affects many former labourers.
Mr Brown is looking to take legal action against his former employer Scaffolding (GB) Ltd, which has ceased trading.
He is appealing to former workmates for help with his battle for justice.
When a firm no longer exists, compensation is sought through their insurers.
Mr Brown said: “When I was told I had mesothelioma, my family and I were completely devastated.
“I worked in several different places for different companies and can’t say exactly where I picked it up, but I was definitely exposed to it while working for Scaffolding (GB) Ltd.
“I was always working next to people removing asbestos and I would end up covered in dust but I had no idea how serious this would end up being.
“I have had six rounds of chemotherapy treatment, which I am recovering from.
“I want to enjoy some quality time with my family, but I’m very aware this will now be cut short.”
He said Action Mesothelioma Day is a chance to raise awareness about the “terrible illness” and the dangers of asbestos.
“I hope that what happened to me serves as a warning to other workers and, in particular employers,” he said.
Mr Brown is the main carer for two disabled relatives and has six children and nine grandchildren.
He described coming into contact with deadly asbestos dust at building sites in Plymouth and the South West.
“I was sent to work in the Penzance Gas Works to erect scaffolding where I worked next to men who were removing asbestos lagging from extensive pipework using hand chisels,” he said.
“The air in the gas works was also filled with huge white asbestos dust clouds that I couldn’t avoid inhaling.”
Mr Brown, who has moved to Bristol, said he completed a contract at the Ramington typewriter factory in Plymouth and worked next to roofers who were cutting asbestos corrugated sheets using a grinder.
He also worked at the Plymouth Gas Works with another company.
“I can recall being constantly in close proximity to laggers who were mixing the asbestos powder in large drums and then applying the asbestos paste onto the pipework,” he said.
Helen Grady, from Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, is representing Mr Brown in his legal battle.
MESOTHELIOMA: the facts.
Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related cancer of the lungs or abdomen.
Although exposure to asbestos has been strictly regulated since the late 1970s, mesothelioma is still arising in people who were exposed beforehand.
Health and Safety Executive figures show 373 Plymouth men died from mesothelioma between 1981 and 2005.
Victims may be entitled to compensation but the battle for justice can be complex.
There are different rules for civilians and servicemen.
Claimants may also face difficulties proving a company’s liability, or gaining compensation where a company is no longer operating.
Via: thisisplymouth.co.uk
Michael Brown believes he developed mesothelioma after breathing in asbestos while working in and around Plymouth in the early 1960s.
The devastating disease can take decades to develop but is usually fatal within 18 months to two years of diagnosis.
The 68-year-old grandfather told his story before tomorrow’s Action Mesothelioma Day, which is being marked by special events in Plymouth.
The city is one of the UK’s worst hotspots for the disease, mainly due to the heavy use of asbestos at Devonport dockyard and on ships. The condition also affects many former labourers.
Mr Brown is looking to take legal action against his former employer Scaffolding (GB) Ltd, which has ceased trading.
He is appealing to former workmates for help with his battle for justice.
When a firm no longer exists, compensation is sought through their insurers.
Mr Brown said: “When I was told I had mesothelioma, my family and I were completely devastated.
“I worked in several different places for different companies and can’t say exactly where I picked it up, but I was definitely exposed to it while working for Scaffolding (GB) Ltd.
“I was always working next to people removing asbestos and I would end up covered in dust but I had no idea how serious this would end up being.
“I have had six rounds of chemotherapy treatment, which I am recovering from.
“I want to enjoy some quality time with my family, but I’m very aware this will now be cut short.”
He said Action Mesothelioma Day is a chance to raise awareness about the “terrible illness” and the dangers of asbestos.
“I hope that what happened to me serves as a warning to other workers and, in particular employers,” he said.
Mr Brown is the main carer for two disabled relatives and has six children and nine grandchildren.
He described coming into contact with deadly asbestos dust at building sites in Plymouth and the South West.
“I was sent to work in the Penzance Gas Works to erect scaffolding where I worked next to men who were removing asbestos lagging from extensive pipework using hand chisels,” he said.
“The air in the gas works was also filled with huge white asbestos dust clouds that I couldn’t avoid inhaling.”
Mr Brown, who has moved to Bristol, said he completed a contract at the Ramington typewriter factory in Plymouth and worked next to roofers who were cutting asbestos corrugated sheets using a grinder.
He also worked at the Plymouth Gas Works with another company.
“I can recall being constantly in close proximity to laggers who were mixing the asbestos powder in large drums and then applying the asbestos paste onto the pipework,” he said.
Helen Grady, from Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, is representing Mr Brown in his legal battle.
MESOTHELIOMA: the facts.
Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related cancer of the lungs or abdomen.
Although exposure to asbestos has been strictly regulated since the late 1970s, mesothelioma is still arising in people who were exposed beforehand.
Health and Safety Executive figures show 373 Plymouth men died from mesothelioma between 1981 and 2005.
Victims may be entitled to compensation but the battle for justice can be complex.
There are different rules for civilians and servicemen.
Claimants may also face difficulties proving a company’s liability, or gaining compensation where a company is no longer operating.
Via: thisisplymouth.co.uk Jobs: Calling all graduate engineers
Review: Which gloves are best ?
Welcome to another instalment of our reviews this month I have been reviewing the best gloves all supplied by the great guys at Active Workwear. I have worn each pair of these gloves for one week while erecting and dismantling scaffolding.
I hope you find these reviews helpful and informative please let us know in the comments below.
General Handling Gloves MP1
We have all seen them and worn them and by far the best gloves for all scaffolding tasks. i got at least 3 to 4 days work out of the gloves before holes started appearing.
Overall very comfortable to wear and retained grip even when wet.
Price: £1.10 each
ScaffMag Rating: 
Click here for more information
Snickers Craftsmans Gloves
The Snickers craftsman boasts unbeatable grip and uncompromising protection perfect for really tough jobs. The palm and fingers are reinforced with Grip TechT which is a durable rubber with an advanced textured surface.
When I first wore the gloves they provided great grip and felt like a second skin although scaffolding for a full shift took its toll on these high priced gloves. Overall A great pair of gloves to look at but just didn’t cut the mustard when worn for scaffolding.
Price: £22.90 each
ScaffMag Rating:
Click here for more information
Blaklader Craftsmans Gloves
The Swedish firm Blaklader have created a comfortable pair of gloves that provide a decent amount of protection. The gloves are made from synthetic leather and are a slip on design.
But like the Snickers gloves they fell short when used for erecting and dismantling scaffolding.
Price: £13.68 each
ScaffMag Rating:
Click here for more information
Dewalt Gel Palm Protective Gloves
Another well known brand giant Dewalt provides a well rounded protective glove but comes with a huge price tag. The glove provides a gel palm with Toughgrip Reinforced palm and fingers and comes with Velcro straps around the wrists.
When i first wore the gloves they felt like what i call “riggers gloves” but performed well during everyday scaffolding tasks and lasted well over the review period. Saying this I can not ignore the fact that these gloves cost a small fortune and why I can only give them a 4 star rating.
Price: £25.38 each
ScaffMag Rating:
Click here for more information
Reviews By Daniel Norton
Gloves Supplied By Active-Workwear.com with thanks.
We have all seen them and worn them and by far the best gloves for all scaffolding tasks. i got at least 3 to 4 days work out of the gloves before holes started appearing.
Overall very comfortable to wear and retained grip even when wet.
Price: £1.10 each
ScaffMag Rating: 
Click here for more information
Snickers Craftsmans Gloves
The Snickers craftsman boasts unbeatable grip and uncompromising protection perfect for really tough jobs. The palm and fingers are reinforced with Grip TechT which is a durable rubber with an advanced textured surface.
When I first wore the gloves they provided great grip and felt like a second skin although scaffolding for a full shift took its toll on these high priced gloves. Overall A great pair of gloves to look at but just didn’t cut the mustard when worn for scaffolding.
Price: £22.90 each
ScaffMag Rating: 
Click here for more information
Blaklader Craftsmans Gloves
The Swedish firm Blaklader have created a comfortable pair of gloves that provide a decent amount of protection. The gloves are made from synthetic leather and are a slip on design.
But like the Snickers gloves they fell short when used for erecting and dismantling scaffolding.
Price: £13.68 each
ScaffMag Rating:
Click here for more information
Dewalt Gel Palm Protective Gloves
Another well known brand giant Dewalt provides a well rounded protective glove but comes with a huge price tag. The glove provides a gel palm with Toughgrip Reinforced palm and fingers and comes with Velcro straps around the wrists.
When i first wore the gloves they felt like what i call “riggers gloves” but performed well during everyday scaffolding tasks and lasted well over the review period. Saying this I can not ignore the fact that these gloves cost a small fortune and why I can only give them a 4 star rating.
Price: £25.38 each
ScaffMag Rating: 
Click here for more information
Reviews By Daniel Norton
Gloves Supplied By Active-Workwear.com with thanks.
Free working at height safety videos
The Access Industry Forum (AIF) have released free working at height videos that was filmed in May at the latest Safety & Health Expo in Birmingham UK.
httpv://youtu.be/P6TSBphnmyc
The Milton Keynes scaffolding collapse What lessons can we learn?
The event was arguably the largest event ever to focus on working at height. The organisations involved in the event included the Department of Work and Pensions, the Health and Safety Executive, the Association of British Insurers, RIBA, IOSH, RoSPA, IIRSM, British Safety Council, RICS, Association for Project Safety, and all 11 trade association members of the Access Industry Forum.
A large number of these presentations and discussions were videoed and are now available free to view online in full here
Scaffolder hurt in fall from Great Yarmouth church tower
A scaffolder had to be brought down a Norfolk church tower on a stretcher after he suffered three broken ribs in a fall.
Michael Sheldrake, 26, was working at St Nicholas Minster in Great Yarmouth when he lost his footing.
Norfolk Fire Service said he fell 15ft (5m) from scaffolding on to a flat roof on the tower while working about 100ft (30m) up.
A specialist rescue team abseiled Mr Sheldrake down on a stretcher.
The area was cordoned off for several hours as paramedics climbed up scaffolding to treat him before the specialist team arrived.
His father, Dave Sheldrake, who owns the scaffolding business, claimed his son fell a much shorter distance and his injuries were not as serious as initially feared.
‘Amazing job’
“He fell 6ft (1.8m) and landed face-down on beams,” said Mr Sheldrake, who did not wish to give the name of his business.
“He’s got three broken ribs, he’s fine and should be coming home today or tomorrow.
“I’d like to thank the emergency services, they did an amazing job.”
He added his son, a qualified scaffolder, had been wearing a safety harness but the equipment only deploys at 15ft (5m).
Phil Berry, from Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The man was injured in the fall and we worked with police and ambulance colleagues to bring him down safely.”
Mr Sheldrake was treated by paramedics who climbed scaffolding around the tower after a safety assessment was made.
‘Chest injuries’
The Reverend Andrew Avery, from the minster, said the accident happened as they were finishing morning prayer.
“When we came out the fire service were already here,” he said.
“I believe the man fell from the scaffolding around the spire into the tower which has a flat roof.
“He suffered chest injuries which are significant.
“We have prayed that he will make a swift recovery.”
The East of England Ambulance Service said it was called to Yarmouth Minster at 09:25 BST and the patient taken to James Paget Hospital in Gorleston.
A spokeswoman said: “This was a very complicated operation due to the difficult location.”
Via: bbc.co.uk Harsco secures renewal refinery contract worth $30 million
Global industrial services and engineered products company Harsco Corporation (NYSE: HSC) announced today the multi-year contract renewal and expansion of its onsite access and insulation services to a major oil refinery in the Netherlands under an award valued at close to $30 million over its duration.
The five-year contract renewal from Zeeland Refinery N.V. expands Harsco’s exclusive onsite role for providing 24/7 access support and repairs to the plant’s mechanical insulation, a critical component of refinery operations that mitigates heat loss and reduced crude oil production due to thermal inefficiencies. A typical refinery plant can have more than 350 miles of insulated piping (1.85 million linear feet), operating at temperatures in excess of 600 degrees.
Harsco supports Zeeland Refinery with dedicated scaffolding support and services for the maintenance and repair of both its thermal and cold insulation, and under the expanded framework agreement, will also now provide mobile elevated work platforms and other access services. The refinery, a joint venture of France-based Total S.A. and Russia’s OAO Lukoil, processes approximately 7,500 kt of crude oil and 2,500 kt of heavy fuel oil annually.
The award reflects Harsco’s growing role in providing large-scale, recurring industrial plant maintenance services on a global basis, including specialized services for mechanical insulation at leading petrochemical and refinery operations. These latter services have continued to play an increasing role since the Company’s two specialty acquisitions in this sector: its 2006 acquisition of the Cleton industrial maintenance service operations in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany and its 2009 acquisition of the UK-based Nicol businesses, which also include industrial site cleaning and painting services.
Harsco Corporation is a diversified industrial company that is helping build the world by providing essential services and products to fundamental global industries, including steel and metals production, construction, railways and energy. Harsco’s common stock is a component of the S&P MidCap 400 Index and the Russell 1000 Index. Additional information can be found at www.harsco.com.
The five-year contract renewal from Zeeland Refinery N.V. expands Harsco’s exclusive onsite role for providing 24/7 access support and repairs to the plant’s mechanical insulation, a critical component of refinery operations that mitigates heat loss and reduced crude oil production due to thermal inefficiencies. A typical refinery plant can have more than 350 miles of insulated piping (1.85 million linear feet), operating at temperatures in excess of 600 degrees.
Harsco supports Zeeland Refinery with dedicated scaffolding support and services for the maintenance and repair of both its thermal and cold insulation, and under the expanded framework agreement, will also now provide mobile elevated work platforms and other access services. The refinery, a joint venture of France-based Total S.A. and Russia’s OAO Lukoil, processes approximately 7,500 kt of crude oil and 2,500 kt of heavy fuel oil annually.
The award reflects Harsco’s growing role in providing large-scale, recurring industrial plant maintenance services on a global basis, including specialized services for mechanical insulation at leading petrochemical and refinery operations. These latter services have continued to play an increasing role since the Company’s two specialty acquisitions in this sector: its 2006 acquisition of the Cleton industrial maintenance service operations in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany and its 2009 acquisition of the UK-based Nicol businesses, which also include industrial site cleaning and painting services.
Harsco Corporation is a diversified industrial company that is helping build the world by providing essential services and products to fundamental global industries, including steel and metals production, construction, railways and energy. Harsco’s common stock is a component of the S&P MidCap 400 Index and the Russell 1000 Index. Additional information can be found at www.harsco.com. John Brash take the lead in fire safety scaffold boards
John Brash (www.JohnBrash.co.uk), the UK’s leading manufacturer of graded timber scaffold boards, roofing battens, shingles & shakes, and commercial anti-slip decking; launches ‘JB FireSafe’ into their scaffold board product range.
- Reduced lead time due to a shorter supply chain
- Streamlined logistics and costs
- Treatment to Euroclass ‘B’ or ‘C’ (equivalent to BS476 Class 0 or 1)
HSE investigates after rail workers fall from scaffolding
A health and safety watchdog has launched an investigation after rail workers were hospitalised after falling from scaffolding.
The air ambulance landed at Sandown Park racecourse on Thursday, June 14, after a call that Network Rail workers had fallen about 15ft from scaffolding on a bridge they were working on.
The men, aged 49 and 52, were taken to St George’s Hospital in Tooting.
One had minor head injuries and the other sustained serious chest injuries, according to a spokesman for Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance.
Surrey Police closed the road for several hours as a result of the accident.
A spokesman for Network Rail said: “At about 10am on Thursday, two contractors working on behalf of Network Rail Infrastructure Projects fell from scaffolding being used on a rail bridge at Lower Green Road, Esher.
“Both men were taken to hospital. Network Rail will fully assist the contractor and the Health and Safety Executive in any subsequent investigation and wishes both men a speedy recovery.”
The Health and Safety Executive confirmed it was aware of the incident and had launched an investigation.
Via: yourlocalguardian.co.uk
The air ambulance landed at Sandown Park racecourse on Thursday, June 14, after a call that Network Rail workers had fallen about 15ft from scaffolding on a bridge they were working on.
The men, aged 49 and 52, were taken to St George’s Hospital in Tooting.
One had minor head injuries and the other sustained serious chest injuries, according to a spokesman for Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance.
Surrey Police closed the road for several hours as a result of the accident.
A spokesman for Network Rail said: “At about 10am on Thursday, two contractors working on behalf of Network Rail Infrastructure Projects fell from scaffolding being used on a rail bridge at Lower Green Road, Esher.
“Both men were taken to hospital. Network Rail will fully assist the contractor and the Health and Safety Executive in any subsequent investigation and wishes both men a speedy recovery.”
The Health and Safety Executive confirmed it was aware of the incident and had launched an investigation.
Via: yourlocalguardian.co.uk Apex Scaffolding Services fined over fall death
A scaffolding company and two of its personnel have been fined after one of its workers died in a fall in Sussex.
Apex Scaffolding Services (Sussex) was fined £3,000 for safety failings after Joe Murphy, 31, fell to his death in Washington Avenue, St Leonards on Sea.
Director Michael Walsh, from Hastings, and Leslie Hustwayte, a supervisor from St Leonards, were fined £1,500 and £2,000 respectively.
Hastings magistrates ordered them to pay £2,500 costs each, and Apex £5,000.
The court heard the company, based at Court House, Hooe, Battle, had been in trouble over unsafe working practices even before Mr Murphy’s death in August 2009.
In December 2008 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued a Prohibition Notice against the firm and some employees relating to safety breaches on scaffolding.
‘Missing’ hand rails
Such a notice requires work to stop until the issue has been resolved.
But the executive said poor attitude to safety in the organisation had continued.
HSE representatives told Hastings magistrates that Mr Murphy had been constructing a scaffold “over-roof” at the property in St Leonards when he had fallen.
The executive was not able to establish how far he had fallen, but it said an investigation had identified “a number of defects” with the scaffolding at the site, including missing hand rails and incomplete scaffold platforms.
The charges against Apex and Walsh related to a failure to ensure the safety of workers at height and inadequate supervision.
Hustwayte was also prosecuted for failing to use adequate safety equipment.
The company and individuals had pleaded guilty to all charges at a previous hearing.
HSE inspector Melvyn Stancliffe said after the hearing: “HSE and the scaffolding industry have worked together to produce easy-to-follow guidance to help contractors ensure their scaffolding is safe.
“So there is no excuse for compromising safety, as was clearly the case here.”
Via: bbc.co.uk
Apex Scaffolding Services (Sussex) was fined £3,000 for safety failings after Joe Murphy, 31, fell to his death in Washington Avenue, St Leonards on Sea.
Director Michael Walsh, from Hastings, and Leslie Hustwayte, a supervisor from St Leonards, were fined £1,500 and £2,000 respectively.
Hastings magistrates ordered them to pay £2,500 costs each, and Apex £5,000.
The court heard the company, based at Court House, Hooe, Battle, had been in trouble over unsafe working practices even before Mr Murphy’s death in August 2009.
In December 2008 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued a Prohibition Notice against the firm and some employees relating to safety breaches on scaffolding.
‘Missing’ hand rails
Such a notice requires work to stop until the issue has been resolved.
But the executive said poor attitude to safety in the organisation had continued.
HSE representatives told Hastings magistrates that Mr Murphy had been constructing a scaffold “over-roof” at the property in St Leonards when he had fallen.
The executive was not able to establish how far he had fallen, but it said an investigation had identified “a number of defects” with the scaffolding at the site, including missing hand rails and incomplete scaffold platforms.
The charges against Apex and Walsh related to a failure to ensure the safety of workers at height and inadequate supervision.
Hustwayte was also prosecuted for failing to use adequate safety equipment.
The company and individuals had pleaded guilty to all charges at a previous hearing.
HSE inspector Melvyn Stancliffe said after the hearing: “HSE and the scaffolding industry have worked together to produce easy-to-follow guidance to help contractors ensure their scaffolding is safe.
“So there is no excuse for compromising safety, as was clearly the case here.”
Via: bbc.co.uk
Shipping Freight and the Scaffolding Industry
Rob Shelley is the CEO of Maritime Cargo Services, one of the UK’s leading freight forwarders. Established over 20 years ago, Maritime Cargo Services handle more than 20,000 containers a year on behalf of its clients.
Is the long term viability of the major shipping lines in question? And what could that mean for the scaffolding industry?
Without a doubt, what happens in the global shipping market is of crucial importance and might well have a significant knock-on effect on the scaffolding industry.
We have never seen such volatility in ‘dry van’ shipping rates as we have witnessed over the last few years; with rate swings of over 100% from one quarter to another not uncommon. And the first knock-on effect is, of course, in the overall profitability and, therefore, viability, of the shipping lines themselves. So, ultimately, this is something that is of importance to the scaffolding industry!
Container freight rates on some of the main Asia-Europe routes increased again last month for the third time in as many months piling pressure on shippers after the previous large rate hikes. Furthermore, it would appear that the shipping lines were able to enforce the vast majority of the requested price increases; although many would suggest that they might not be sustainable in the longer term given the expected delivery of a significant number of large new ships from the shipyards.
Furthermore, some analysts expect pricing to ease as weakening load factors impact the sustainability of current rate levels. In addition, there is some significant disparity when looking at overall global route trends; for instance, the divergence in freight rate trends between the ascendant Asia-to-Europe trade and moribund transpacific routes.
Tighter capacity on the former has enabled lines to press ahead with aggressive rate restoration programmes, while weaker load factors on the transpacific have held such attempts in check. This might well mean that the rally in Asia-to-Europe rate increases may be losing steam. In fact, carriers are already offering pricing reductions on cargo bookings for later in the month, indicating that the market may now have peaked.
Cumulatively, the container lines lost over $6 billion in 2011; $2 billion in the last quarter alone. And, despite the many recent rate increases, many of the lines are expecting to lose money again this year. In fact, Maersk Line, the world’s largest shipping line, has just announced that it lost almost $600 million in Q1 2012; more than it lost in the whole of last year. And that was on revenue up 7% to $6.3 billion!
This is all very sobering and, although we wouldn’t for a minute doubt the long term viability of Maersk itself – who has stated that it expects an overall “negative up to neutral result in 2012” – the omens are potentially more ominous for some of the smaller players.
All of this means that the importers and exporters of scaffolding products are increasingly under pressure to ensure that their logistics chains are working at optimum safe and efficient levels. It’s imperative that in order to avoid ‘contagion’, the scaffolding industry does its upmost to ensure that its logistics chains are being well managed and that it utilises a high quality freight forwarding partner; one that can advise them knowledgably and help them successfully and profitably navigate through the instability of the global shipping industry.
Without a doubt, what happens in the global shipping market is of crucial importance and might well have a significant knock-on effect on the scaffolding industry.
We have never seen such volatility in ‘dry van’ shipping rates as we have witnessed over the last few years; with rate swings of over 100% from one quarter to another not uncommon. And the first knock-on effect is, of course, in the overall profitability and, therefore, viability, of the shipping lines themselves. So, ultimately, this is something that is of importance to the scaffolding industry!
Container freight rates on some of the main Asia-Europe routes increased again last month for the third time in as many months piling pressure on shippers after the previous large rate hikes. Furthermore, it would appear that the shipping lines were able to enforce the vast majority of the requested price increases; although many would suggest that they might not be sustainable in the longer term given the expected delivery of a significant number of large new ships from the shipyards.
Furthermore, some analysts expect pricing to ease as weakening load factors impact the sustainability of current rate levels. In addition, there is some significant disparity when looking at overall global route trends; for instance, the divergence in freight rate trends between the ascendant Asia-to-Europe trade and moribund transpacific routes.
Tighter capacity on the former has enabled lines to press ahead with aggressive rate restoration programmes, while weaker load factors on the transpacific have held such attempts in check. This might well mean that the rally in Asia-to-Europe rate increases may be losing steam. In fact, carriers are already offering pricing reductions on cargo bookings for later in the month, indicating that the market may now have peaked.
Cumulatively, the container lines lost over $6 billion in 2011; $2 billion in the last quarter alone. And, despite the many recent rate increases, many of the lines are expecting to lose money again this year. In fact, Maersk Line, the world’s largest shipping line, has just announced that it lost almost $600 million in Q1 2012; more than it lost in the whole of last year. And that was on revenue up 7% to $6.3 billion!
This is all very sobering and, although we wouldn’t for a minute doubt the long term viability of Maersk itself – who has stated that it expects an overall “negative up to neutral result in 2012” – the omens are potentially more ominous for some of the smaller players.
All of this means that the importers and exporters of scaffolding products are increasingly under pressure to ensure that their logistics chains are working at optimum safe and efficient levels. It’s imperative that in order to avoid ‘contagion’, the scaffolding industry does its upmost to ensure that its logistics chains are being well managed and that it utilises a high quality freight forwarding partner; one that can advise them knowledgably and help them successfully and profitably navigate through the instability of the global shipping industry.
