When 261 tons of equipment was transported from Venice, Italy, to Chicago, Illinois on behalf of an Indiana-based steel corporation, some people used to moving heavy stuff were more than impressed.
     The deadline demanded that huge machines had to arrive at the consignee's place before Thanksgiving last week (November 23).
     That demand was a condition that put everyone involved under extreme time pressure.
     With no time to get anything wrong ocean freight was ruled out.
     What happened was that the steel mill's agent, U.S. forwarder Mallory Alexander International Logistics approached the Chicago office of Lufthansa Cargo Charter to arrange air transport for the heavy equipment.
     Contract for the project was concluded and right away Lufthansa Charter people went to work putting all elements of an intercontinental logistics puzzle together.
     Quite a challenge, since a huge number of details had to be considered, such as hiring a local Italian crane company that was willing to work during weekends; planning the interfacing for landing and departure of one Jumbo-Boeing and two AN-124-100 freighters at Venice Marco Polo airport with local management and similar demands all along the chain.
     Coordinating each step with Italian forwarding agent EURService of Genoa as well as the shipper Danieli & Company at Buttrio in Northern Italy was critical.
     "It was of tremendous help that our parent company Lufthansa Cargo has got a station in Venice.
     “So their District Manager Maurizio Benato and his colleagues could look after all of the thousand things that had to be done," said Monika Houck, (left) LH Cargo Charter's Head of Global Sales and Customer Relations.
     Obviously Maurizio and his crew delivered a first-rate job.
     As the shipment departed onboard a leased AN-124-100 of Russian provider Polet Airlines on November 11 from Venice to Chicago with 98 tons on board, that movement was quickly followed by a B747-300F of Lauderdale-based Focus Air two days later with 65 tons.
     Finally an AN-124 on November 20, lifted another 98 tons across the Atlantic to ORD.
     Every piece of the shipment arrived at the consignee's facility prior to Thanksgiving bringing the project to a successful conclusion.
     However, the last of the three flights was quite unique, for it was not only the crew and the shipment that were on board the cargo plane, but also riding right along with the consignment was Mirja Nissen of Lufthansa Charter Agency's Chicago branch.
     Talk about hands on service!
     A young German lady among 16 Russians was an unforgettable experience for Mirja and the Polet crew who had someone aside from each other to talk to as they wrestled that big Antonov across the heavens. (story follows)
     But this integrating and coordinating of people and equipment to deliver a successful charter movement is the real story here.
     Lufthansa Charter Agency operates not by Lufthansa alone, but as this shipment illustrates leverages resources in Italy, aircraft from Russia and Florida, and know-how from Kelsterbach to Venice to Chicago to get the job done.
(Heiner Siegmund)