Freight forwarder Dimerco has partnered with Cathay Cargo to pilot an air-sea solution from Singapore to Dongguan, China via Hong Kong, shaving up to a day off the established air-truck schedule.
The Dimerco team worked closely with Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) to optimize the transit time for a shipment of integrated circuits for a leading semi-conductor distributor. Originating in Singapore, the shipment travelled by air to HKIA, then by sea to the port of Dongguan (DGM) and by truck to DGM Logistics Park and on to the delivery destination. Total journey time was three days.
After the cargo was released from the air terminal without the need for customs clearance, it was towed to the seaport. The sea portion of the operation provided a more cost-effective alternative to trucking, and Dimerco had identified that, with the planned introduction of more frequent sailings, transit time could be reduced by between 12 and 24 hours.
The three participants in the pilot – the Airport Authority, Cathay Cargo and Dimerco – analyzed the outcomes of the pilot and identified further efficiencies, including the documentation procedure and customs data integration. This will improve the process flow for future operations.