All the latest news from OMNI

Bridge closure in Kuwait means delays for two years
16th February 2017

The Ghazali bridge connecting the main seaport Shuwaikh to Kuwait city has been closed for a period of two years for road development works. The closure is likely to create traffic chaos until motorists become familiar with alternative routes. The temporary road under the bridge is only open to heavy trucks and trailers from 4-10pm Sunday – Thursday.

The closure is likely to cause delays in handling containers from the port. OMNI members should work closely with their agents in Kuwait to monitor the situation and advise clients of delays and additional costs that may accrue.

Import Delays at Apapa, Nigeria
15th February 2017

Yinka at IAL Nigeria has advised that household goods shipments to Nigeria are now subjected to more intensive customs examinations due to an incident two weeks ago where a lot of guns and ammunition was found in an import shipment that arrived through the Apapa ports.

Consequently, we have noticed an increased number of officers attending the examinations which ultimately results in more boxes being pried open with an equal increase in levels of pilferage and indeed damage.

We will continue to try our best to avoid any unpleasant outcomes but will appreciate that prospective transferees are informed of the likelihood of delays and rummaged boxes.

Thank you.

Aires awarded prestigious Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics
27th January 2017

Aires has been awarded the Torch Award for Ethics by the Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania. Aires received the award in a presentation ceremony conducted at the company’s Pittsburgh, PA headquarters and attended by Better Business Bureau representatives, Aires clients, and members of the Allegheny County Council.

Orphee Beinoglou receives growth award in Greece
27th January 2017

Orphee Beinoglou in Greece has been honoured as one of only 20 winners in the country’s Awards for Growth and Competitivity ‘Growth Awards’, organised jointly by Eurobank and Grant Thornton. The aim was to reward enterprises that were able to combine high financial performance with a successful modern corporate management and who have the drive to contribute to the structure of the business environment and corporate culture in Greece. The awards were made on Thursday, December 1st 2016 at the Athens Music Hall.

Peter Rosada joins AIReS
3rd January 2017

Peter Rosada, CRP, has joined Aires as Director, Business Development. In his role, he will be responsible for strategic sales initiatives and global account management.

Major fire strikes Liftvan in Argentina
3rd January 2017

Facundo Urtubey and Santiago Bosche have advised that their warehouse was seriously damaged on Christmas night as a result of a fire that started at a neighbour’s factory.

They explained that despite the fire prevention system being activated and the efforts of the fire bragade who were there before the fire reached their building, they had to stand by and watch 22 years of work burn in front of them. As a result, their offices, the permanent storage section and the air transit storage area, were completely lost.

However, the company has begun its contingency plan and, thanks to the proper protection of the server and record filing areas, it is now business as usual as the company works from temporary offices. All the company’s surface shipments were kept in a separate area that was not touched by the fire. The company’s own crews and trucks were operating as normal the following day.

Nobody was injured in the fire. The Lift Van family is deeply touched by this tragic situation and asks for the cooperation of its OMNI friends to help in overcoming this sad and difficult situation.

Staff at the company have added their cell phone numbers to email signatures for urgent matters.

Venezuela update
19th December 2016

Juerg Degenmann provides his latest insight into the worsening trading and social position in Venezuela

Glenn Stephenson joins Mudanzas Gou
14th December 2016

Mudanzas Gou in Mexico has recently appointed Glenn Stephenson as Director of Client Relations. Glenn began his career in the international relocation industry with The Viking Corporation in St. Thomas, USVI in 1977. From there, Glenn joined NorthAmerican International holding positions in Cairo, Egypt and returning to the headquarters office of North American Van Lines in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Steve Sheldon walks 40 miles to work for Children in Need
12th December 2016

For the last twenty six years, John Mason International’s facilities director Steve Sheldon has driven to work each morning from his home in Poynton to Liverpool, a distance of approximately forty miles. In the bid to raise money for Children in Need, Steve decided to take up the challenge of walking to work.

Santos strike intensified
12th December 2016

The port strike in Santos, Brazil, has intensified this week with the introduction of ‘Red Light Week’ until 16 December. During this period, import cargoes will be retained in the terminals and the export shipments will undergo physical and documentary inspections.