PowerPoint Edition:-Geest Line Ltd Christmas eCard 2014
Geest Line bid farewell to Gordon Long (Treasury Accountant) following 20 years loyal service.
Gordon joined the company in 1994 for temporary cover, however despite our best efforts he managed to stay!.. all joking aside Gordon over the years has demonstrated a very high level of dilligence in his day to day work and efforts for the company. Outside of work Gordon enjoys (or suffers) following the trials and tribulations of his favourite and local football team Southampton FC, Gordon has been known in the past to play abit himself and became a regular 5-a-side organiser and player.
Here we see Gordon receiving from Chris Roberts (Finance Director) a new pace maker (otherwise known as a Garmin Forerunner) a GPS watch which Gordon will be able to test to destruction on his road running jaunts around the streets and parks of Southampton.
All staff at Geest Line past & present wish Gordon (Longo) all the very best in his well earned retirement..
Bart Bodart Line Manager for De Keyser Thornton (DKT) Antwerp, Geest Line agent and representative recently visited the UK head office for discussions and to visit the UK base port for Geest Line of Portsmouth. In 2014 Geest Line started a limited service from Antwerp, Belgium via Portsmouth to the Eastern Caribbean shipping exclusively 40′ Reefer containers. DKT have become an invaluable asset to Geest Line and although there is limited space on this service we hope that in the future the service will be further enhanced.
Here we see Bart Bodart (DKT) & Jeremy Bristow (Geest Line) on the quay at Portsmouth.
Geest Line Executives attended the Caribbean Shipping Association 44th annual AGM, Conference and Expo this year held by the Dominican Republic National association in Punta Cana at the Barcelo Bavaro Beach Resort. The conference was the ideal location for over 350 attendees this year making this conference one of the largest attended in CSA history. Many varied topics were discussed over 3 days from security to the recent low sulphur fuel regulations as well as the important Group meeting discussions between industry specific businesses. The conference was also an ideal opportunity to meet old and new acquaintances, and as always an excellent networking venue to establish new contacts.
As well as all the work…. there was an excellent expo – including a Tug simulator designed to train potential future Captains not Business and Sales Managers!
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the legal governing body for International Shipping and subsidiary of the United Nations (UN), sets the global sulphur emissions limits for marine fuels as per international convention MARPOL Annex VI Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from ships.Within Europe it is covered by regional agreement under European Directive 2012/33/EU. IMO also sets the areas, within which the regulation applies these are called Emission Control Areas (ECA’s).
Geest Line have successfully managed to refrain from introducing any LSS to its clients and borne the higher operating costs during the phased introduction by the IMO. However, this is not sustainable going forward given the requirement to reduce emissions from 1.0% to 0.1% effective 2015. For more information on Geest Line Low Sulphur Surcharge (LSS), please click here.
Geest Line were privileged to be asked to play their part in the restoration of sugar cane locomotives that were once used in the industry in Antigua.
Lawrence Gameson MD of Thomas Gameson Ltd of Cannock, UK embarked on this project over two years ago and will shortly be completing the renovation of a number of locomotives in Antigua. Please click here to view the attachment to discover more about this project.
Geest Line recently sent three members of the team on a short trip on board the Timor Stream to visit both Portsmouth and Le Havre. The three adventurers were Lucy Lovegrove (imports), Alison McCormick (reception) and James Norton (Customer Services) and they experienced the life and working of a vessel.
All three adventurers remarked on how worthwhile the experience of gaining knowledge of a busy working port both in Portsmouth and Le Havre, and taking in the sights and sounds of busy working ports.
The vessel left Portsmouth at 1600 hrs, where they proceeded to the bridge of the vessel where they met the Pilot and watched as the vessel was guided out of the harbour by tugs. Timor Stream arrived in Le Havre around midnight, and work started on the vessel at 05.30 the next morning. Alison, James & Lucy were invited to the bridge where they watched the discharge and loading of the ship.
After breakfast they were met by Guillaume Boutigny of SAS, Geest Lines agent in Le Havre who took them on a tour of the port and facilities. Our thanks to Guillaume and all at SAS who made this possible.
Lucy – “It was nice to put faces to names and to see how different the two ports works (Portsmouth and Le Havre)”
Alison – “We had some free time to explore the town of Le Havre and to sample some local cuisine, a great trip”
James – “We had the pleasure of having lunch with some of the staff from SAS before some free time to explore the town. This was a very useful and enjoyable trip”
All in all a very enjoyable and worthwhile experience.
We welcome Chileshe Musonda as the latest recruit to the Geest Line finance team.
Chileshe, known to his colleagues as “Chilie” has over 15 years of experience working in accounts and is currently studying his final exams towards the ACCA qualification. We know Chile will settle into his new position with the company as Financial Accountant.
Outside of work Chile enjoys both playing and watching football, we all wish him well in his new role.
Geest Line are pleased to announce their membership to the British International Freight Association.
BIFA is the trade association for UK-registered companies engaged in international movement of freight by all modes of transport – air, road, rail and sea. BIFA has around 1,500 corporate members, which offer a wide range of services within the logistics and supply chain management sector. Geest Line will benefit in four main ways from its membership to BIFA:
Geest Line continue to operate four vessels on weekly service to/from UK, France and the Eastern Caribbean.
Should you require further information &/or quotation for any of our services please do not hesitate to contact us:
Consignees/Importers &/or their Agents should be aware that with effect from 1st October 2014 a local charge of $28 per B/L will be applied by Admiral Shipping Ltd on all imports.
As part of their unwavering commitment to customers, Admiral Shipping endeavours to deliver the most competitive and dependable transportation value. Due to dramatic increases in administrative costs, their ability to sustain and invest in the service delivery that you have come to expect has been impacted. Therefore, in order to continue to provide the highest quality of service, application of a local Administrative fee has become necessary. This charge is common throughout the Caribbean and sanctioned by the various local Shipping Associations.
For further clarification &/or additional information please do not hesitate to contact:
Karen Lawrence
Admiral Shipping Ltd
9 Bridge Street
PO Box 99
Castries
St Lucia
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +1 (758) 458 8250
To visit the website click here.