"Shrimp Express": When all else fails, get on the rails
In challenging circumstances, those who are resourceful and innovative are best placed to succeed. Hapag-Lloyd India demonstrated an innovative approach when faced with a logistical challenge, transforming it into an opportunity. The company collaborated with rail operator CONCOR to establish a distinctive cargo route, comprising a rail line traversing the entire subcontinent from the Bay of Bengal in the east to the Arabian Sea in the west, connecting Vizag to Nhava Sheva.
A few weeks ago, Hapag-Lloyd India was facing a significant challenge. In wake of the ongoing space situation on EC5 and AA7 service, they lacked the necessary capacities to service their existing reefer customers who urgently needed to ship their produce to their customers in North America. The produce in question was seafood, and the stakes were high. Hapag-Lloyd India needed to act quickly.
A one-of-a-kind operation
What followed was nothing short of a testament to creativity, pragmatism, and out-of-the-box thinking. They’re calling it “The Shrimp Express”. The idea: Moving seafood from the east coast to the west via a dedicated rail line. By leveraging the upcoming launch of our upgraded TPI service, they connected customers to this innovative new offering and brought the idea of a reefer block train between Vizag and Nhava Sheva to life. An idea that not only elevated our inland operations to new heights but also gave our reefer niche business a powerful boost.
Turning challenges into innovation
What began as a major headache evolved into a golden opportunity to innovate and redefine our offering in India. Despite this being a new concept for the Vizag market, the proposed solution was enthusiastically received. And now, with The Shrimp Express up and running, our colleagues at Hapag-Lloyd India have shown that sometimes the best way to solve a problem is to change the rulebook.
Turning challenges into innovation
What began as a major headache evolved into a golden opportunity to innovate and redefine our offering in India. Despite this being a new concept for the Vizag market, the proposed solution was enthusiastically received. And now, with The Shrimp Express up and running, our colleagues at Hapag-Lloyd India have shown that sometimes the best way to solve a problem is to change the rulebook.
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