PJSC TransContainer of Delo Group has launched its first international multimodal service of cargo transportation from China to Germany under unified CIM/SMGS consignment note. The route goes through Ust-Luga Container Terminal (ULCT of Global Ports Group, co-controlling shareholder of which is Delo Group).

A unified CIM/SMGS consignment note is executed for the entire route through the territory of the countries applying the corresponding document, and it allows avoiding idling at border crossing points, as well as reducing the risk of mistakes when reissuing documents.

The test shipment was performed in January; within the framework of the second shipment TransContainer arranged transportation of 50 containers loaded with consumer goods from the Chinese city of Wuhan (Hubei Province) to Mukran port in Germany. The train was dispatched from Wuhan on January 20 and went to Zabaikalsk border crossing point, after that it proceeded to Ust-Luga Container Terminal. Then the goods will be transported by sea to the destination port in Germany. Transit time over Russia was 9 days, the sea leg will take three days. Total transit time will be 21 days. For the new service TransContainer arranges railway transportation from Zabaikalsk to Saint-Petersburg; transportation over China is ensured by its subsidiary, TransContainer Freight Forwarding (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.; and its German partner, Baltic Sea Bridge GmbH, ensures the sea leg transportation. Ruscon company of Delo Group became freight forwarder and agent at Ust-Luga port.

“The route from Wuhan to Mukran via Ust-Luga Container Terminal was the first one where TransContainer started using unified CIM/SMGS consignment note. Its usage allows speeding up the cargo handling process at borders and at ports, as well as reducing the cost of transportation and the number of shipping documents. In the future, we plan to dispatch cargo from China to Germany with the use of a unified consignment note 3-4 times a month. Through cooperation with the partners from Global Ports, TransContainer is able to offer its customers multimodal solutions for transit transportation from the countries of the Asia-Pacific region to Europe as an addition to entirely overland routes”, noted Vladimir Khlutkov, Asia-Pacific Business Development Director of PJSC TransContainer.

CIM/SMGS consignment note is executed for the entire route in case of transportation to the countries applying different international transport laws (CIM and SMGS). The CIM international railway consignment note is used for railway and multimodal cargo transportation of goods in the EU countries, as well as in some countries in Asia and Africa. In Russia and other countries of 1520 area, where transportation is regulated by the Agreement on International Freight Traffic, the SMGS consignment note is used. Due to this discrepancy on the international routes, it is necessary to reissue the consignment note when crossing borders. The unified consignment note can only be applied on directions declared by participants of both legal systems. In Russia, these are the port sections of the Oktyabrskaya and Kaliningradskaya railways.