Sustainable Logistics. This means logistics that aim to offer the service and economical conditions demanded by the market, at the same time seeking all the most appropriate solutions from the environmental and mobility point of view, connected with the transport, delivery and recycling of products and goods. Sustainable Logistics seeks, finally, to promote more efficient logistics that are, at the same time, more respectful of the quality of life. We spoke about this issue with Daniele Testi, President of SOS-LOGistica (Association for Sustainable Logistics).

In Italy the shipping agent has the function of a supervising agent, an important role that intends to represent the shipowner with the maritime authority. An agent is the connecting link between the Harbour Master, the ship and the Port Authority regarding all the necessary procedures on arrival and departure and for the loading and unloading operations. However it is not only this, we have carried out this interesting interview with Michele Pappalardo, President of the National Federation of shipping agents to explore the many features that characterise the role of these professionals – which have a major presence in Italy with about 600 agencies – also it enables an understanding of their importance within the whole logistic supply chain, what we discovered was both intriguing and valuable.

One of the most sophisticated and cutting-edge sectors in innovation and international competitiveness is logistics. The interview with the CEO of the Italian branch of BLG Logistics Solutions, a multinational company operating in this industry, demonstrates the growing use of sustainable logistics to expand the competitiveness of enterprises.

We have interviewed the Vice President of Contship Italia, a company whose core businesses are the operations and investments in port terminals and all the container-related services, especially intermodal transport, maintenance and storage which bring added value to the company’s core business. With Marco Simonetti we have discussed the competitiveness and the economic scenarios, besides the more obvious talk about the company’s strategies.

We have carried out an interesting interview with Jonathan C. Williams, General Manager of FONASBA to explore the role of Ship Brokers and Agents in the international context.

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Mare Straetmans is currently the managing director of PortXL, the World Port Accelerator. The Port of Rotterdam is the innovation hub for port business around the world. PortXL is aiming to develop an ecosystem for port startups worldwide. PortXL focusses on scouting the best startups, and bring them to Rotterdam for three months, to find their first clients. This way building the port business of the future.

In 2015, SRM carried out a scientific mission in Hamburg with the aim of gaining a better knowledge of the strategies and the issues regarding the maritime sector in a country like Germany, which is considered one of the top European countries as for maritime logistics. During the mission, SRM interviewed Bengt van Beuningen, Head of Communication & Information, Port of Hamburg Marketing Regd. Assn.

SRM in collaboration with SOS-Log, interviewed Alberto Rosotto, Business Development & Accounts Manager of SKF Logistics Services Italy, a major international player in industrial logistics operating in 40 sectors. This interview focuses on logistics and especially on logistics sustainability.

In Italy, when talking about ports, usually one lingers on the territory where the port authority is located, failing to analyze in depth the surrounding and smaller ports which are nevertheless important on a strategic and economic point of view. One of these realities is the third port of Campania, the Port of Torre Annunziata, which is also internationally oriented. This and other topics were discussed with Giuseppe Rocco, General Director of SOLACEM Spa, a company of integrated port logistics, operating since 1967 in the port of Torre Annunziata, more specifically in the fields of debarking operations, the handling of cereals and flours and of their distribution in the south of Italy and in the Mediterranean in general.

This interview was released during the scientific mission carried out by SRM in Hamburg in order to have a better understanding of the strategies and problems affecting the maritime sector of Germany, which is considered one of the top European country as for maritime logistics. In particular, we interviewed Dennis Kögeböhn (DK), Partner at EMBA shipping & Logistics, HPC – Hamburg Port Consulting GmbH, who gave an “itinerant” interview in the HHLA terminal of Hamburg port providing valuable information about its structure and functioning.

Ports, terminals, infrastructural projects, and economic forecasts are some of the topics covered in this interview with Paul Valery Spallino, Trade and Sales Manager (Italy) Seago Line, a company of the Maersk Group specialized in intra-Europe trade, which includes the areas of Mediterranean and Black Sea.