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New Case - AIT Worldwide Logistics, Inc., USA

Brief Company Bio:

As a world-class global transportation and logistics provider, AIT Worldwide Logistics offers custom-built IT solutions, competitive price structure, and superior customer service to enhance supply chain efficiencies and design tailored transportation plans.

Spanning numerous nationwide locations and an ever-increasing network of international partnerships, AIT provides a scope of flexible service offerings by ground, air, ocean and rail for the unique applications and delivery service requirements of individual customers across the globe.

Employees dedicate themselves to serving a wide variety of vertical markets and industries, including AIT’s Energy and Projects division.

Based in Houston, Texas, the team specializes in providing project logistics management solutions to drilling, oil and gas production, refining, service companies, construction and procurement organizations around the world. With extensive expertise in handling heavy, out-of-gauge cargo, the AIT Energy and Projects team commands the respect of various high profile companies within the project cargo arena.

A member of the WCAPN, AIT is pleased to share the following case study, as it twisted and turned like a near hurricane through the Gulf of Mexico.

On July 25, 2008, a market leader in the marine contracting and diving support business secured AIT Worldwide Logistics to provide the transfer of a saturation dive system, associated equipment and spares from New Orleans to Singapore.

The AIT energy and projects division immediately contracted a part-charter of the breakbulk vessel M.V. Celine to transport the customer’s 1,492 CBM out-of-gauge cargo.

Scheduled to depart on July 29, the collision of a 600-foot tanker and a barge loaded with fuel caused a spill of more than 419,000 gallons of crude oil into the Mississippi River. Due to the unforeseen emergency situation, the U.S. Coast Guard was forced to shut down traffic in both directions – approximately 100 miles of waterway – of the major shipping route between the Midwest and the Gulf of Mexico. Numerous vessels became stacked up and staged in queue awaiting approval to sail into the Port of Orleans for their port call.

Further complicating the project, a tropical depression was forming in the Gulf of Mexico just southeast of New Orleans.  Timely access to the Port of Orleans was becoming less likely for the M.V. Celine.

Execution:

Strategic communications between the customer, AIT, terminal staff and port authorities enabled a midstream offloading/loading operation to be developed, approved and ultimately commenced on August 1.

Once the inbound cargo was offloaded and the vessel was cleaned, the customer’s out-of-gauge cargo was safely and successfully loaded, stowed and secured for sailing in the middle of the Mississippi without accident or injury.

By August 3, the tropical depression in the gulf was approaching tropical storm force as M.V. Celine began her journey to the Gulf of Mexico and safe waters in Houston, Texas. While en route, however, tropical storm Edouard became a reality, heading straight for Houston and the southeast Texas coast.

With weather conditions worsening as Edouard approached on August 6, M.V. Celine anchored in the Gulf of Mexico to wait out the storm. By August 7, the storm moved inland through Houston heading northwest, losing much of its punch along the way. M.V. Celine berthed and while taking on cargo, AIT sent a surveyor to inspect the cargo and riggings. Jason Hakala, operations manager at AIT’s Houston station, and the customer’s logistics manager, witnessed the inspection.

With the cargo secured and in good condition, M.V. Celine sailed on August 9 with an ETA in Singapore of September 19, just a slight delay in the customer’s requested date of September 15.

M.V. Celine continued her voyage and following passage through the Panama Canal, berthed again to take on additional scheduled cargo in Los Angeles, California.  Back at sea and moving ahead, M.V. Celine was on course for a revised ETA of September 29 in Singapore.

Weather conditions were fair while departing Los Angeles; however, once in the western Pacific, conditions began to worsen once again.  Dodging several offshore storms with turbulent seas, M.V. Celine changed course numerous times before finally berthing in Singapore on October 1, 2008. 

Following offloading, clearance, and transport to final destination, AIT’s client was pleased with AIT’s proactive planning, outstanding service, and commendable communication throughout the tumultuous journey the cargo sustained from New Orleans to Singapore.

Results and Benefits of AIT Strategy:

This project illustrates AIT’s capability to engage with major customers, offer quality solutions, solve detrimental problems, and meet customer expectations in the face of significant logistical hurdles such as 419,000 barrel oil spills and extreme near-hurricane weather conditions. 

Based on the value of the successful results achieved, AIT and the customer have enjoyed an ongoing business relationship characterized by confidence, loyalty and service excellence.