ESTABLISHED in 1962 by Sir Clive Bourne as a parcel delivery service in Europe, Seabourne is launching the next stage of its global journey as it celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

Seabourne has announced it is consolidating operations in South Africa, the UK, France, and The Netherlands. The company will now be known as Seabourne Logistics.

MD of Seabourne Logistics Daniel Flitterman said, “Our experience is unparalleled in its breadth and scope, and we will continue to leverage this to integrate flexibility throughout our global operations by means of technology and customised solutions.”

“As an independent company we are able to offer rapid and reliable services globally via our extensive network of select partners,” noted Flitterman.

Flitterman points to the 2008 financial crisis and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic as examples of seismic shifts in the supply chain and logistics sector. It ultimately resulted in an unprecedented boom in e-commerce as markets scrambled to adapt to the ‘new normal’.

“We have evolved and transformed in line with these trends, and expanded our global services,” said Mark Volante, Freight Director at Seabourne Logistics in the UK. The outcome for Seabourne customers is transparency and increased productivity through consistent logistics and delivery.

South African operation

A key part of Seabourne Logistics is its South African operation, managed by husband and wife team Garry and Ezelle Harris. Harris set up the business from his garage in 2002, with one of the drivers who started out with him still at the company today. After establishing a significant footprint in the automotive industry, and other niche sectors such as wine and pharmaceuticals, Garry and Ezelle sold a 70 percent stake in the business to the Seabourne Group in 2009.

“We put our feelers out to Seabourne in the UK as a means to expand our international network and gain momentum abroad,” said Garry. Such has been the success of the company to date that it entered the burgeoning warehousing sector in the boom period from 2015 to 2016.

“There are many large corporates that avail themselves of our warehousing services due to our level of technology and the skilled people we have,” said Harris.

In terms of the freight and courier side of the business, being part of Seabourne Logistics has allowed all businesses to offer global end-to-end solutions.

Jan Kalkman MD of Seaborne Logistics in the Netherlands said Seaborne’s global affiliation means the company can cater for the entire logistics supply chain.

“We are calling it a consolidation, but the important point is the synergies it unlocks between businesses in all the different regions we cover.  With the Netherlands being the gateway to the rest of Europe, we are investing significantly in the business-to-consumer e-commerce side of the business with our new e-fulfilment operation connected to our new B2C onnect delivery solutions,” Kalkman said.

Leading-edge technology

Seabourne Logistics aims to be the first-choice partner in terms of offering global transport, logistics and warehousing solutions. Key to this strategy has been adopting leading-edge technology to increase productivity and ensure consistent delivery.

“Wherever you find us in the world, the Seabourne experience is the same,” added Garry Harris. “The global Seabourne Logistics family is creative, dedicated, and inspired to deliver the best service possible to its vast client base.

“We all share an unshakeable commitment to problem solving and delivering a personal service to all,” said Mark Volante.

Seabourne Logistics focuses on a basket of services that include: warehousing, distribution, courier, clearing and forwarding, air, rail, and sea freight, in addition to specialised solutions customised for specific industries.

“We always aim to enter into partnerships with our clients, whereby we effectively become an extension of their business as a trusted advisor and service provider,” said Flitterman. He attributes the longevity of the group to its pedigree of trust, reliability and flexibility, which has allowed it to become one of the leading independent operators in the world.

The ‘Seabourne Experience’ is based on the following factors:

• Industry specialists: Personalised, best-in-class solutions offered at excellent rates.
• Single point of contact: Gives clients peace of mind to focus on their core business.
• Latest technology: IT systems both acquired and internally developed specifically for respective markets to boost communication, assess service levels, and provide real-time information for easy tracking and data integration.
• Large consignment negotiations: Partner discounts are passed onto clients for added cost-savings.