LOS ANGELES, JULY 6: Consolidators International (CII) has created a new division, Tuna Support, to manage its growing freight operations for the tuna industry based on the oceans of the western Pacific. The forwarder’s tuna business has increased significantly since the beginning of 2009 when CII initially began transporting supplies and equipment both to boats of the tuna fleet and to facilities on shore.
“With our growth in business, a separate division devoted exclusively to the tuna industry became an absolute necessity,” stated Julian Keeling, Chief Executive Officer at CII.
In announcing the new division, Keeling stated that Tony Feist, a specialist in logistics for the tuna industry, is in charge of the new operation with title of Vice President. “We are fortunate to have Tony on board with his detailed knowledge and experience of this $3 billion industry,” said Keeling.
Commented Feist, “the tuna industry, with its far flung sea and land operations, requires distinct, specialized services. Our new division is geared exclusively to meet these needs.” Feist noted that hundreds of tuna boats cover vast areas of the Pacific Ocean, operating from a chain of islands including Samoa, Tonga, Papua Nui Guinea, Pohnpei, the Marshalls as well as the nations of Thailand, Taiwan and Panama.
“Our tuna business is growing by leaps and bounds despite its complexity and enormous geographic scale,” asserted Feist.
The Tuna Support vice president explained, “there are two principal facets to our job. One is the task of supplying parts and equipment for the tuna factories operating on the Islands. The second is replacing spare parts and machinery for the tuna fleets. We must replace this equipment quickly to allow minimum turn around time as tuna boats earn nothing in port but make their living while at sea.”
Among the critical items handled by Tuna Support are parts and buoys manufactured in Spain and re-exported to the western Pacific.
Feist said agreements already have been consummated with two of the largest U.S. tuna companies; Star Kist and Chicken of the Sea, to move equipment and supplies to their fleets and land based factories.
He pointed out that supplying the tuna industry operating in the western Pacific is a challenging task.
“General economic activity on these islands is weak due to the world-wide recession. Shipping companies like Matson and Horizon, traditional lines serving this region, are cutting back schedules or eliminating them entirely. Moving freight by air is even more challenging to the forwarder. The islands’ small population and anemic tourist industry make them peripheral to airline operations. CII really has to scramble to provide on time, hassle-free delivery of parts and equipment, particularly emergency shipments.”
CEO Keeling noted that “CII and its personnel have specialized in traffic to this part of the world including Australia, New Zealand and the many island dotting the western Pacific for the past 35 years. We know the territory and know how to move freight whatever the obstacles,” he emphasized.
Tuna Support has created a new website: www.tunasupport.com to handle all inquiries and requests for quotes.
