By sea, air and road
16 Feb 2012
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Krista Dulon
Remote-controlled vehicles like this one will transport ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ's "highly exceptional loads" along the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ Itinerary. Photo: AIF
Engineering designs, prototypes, production lines ... if we could only see into the innumerable workshops and laboratories currently working toward the production of one—or more than one—part of the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ machine it would be dizzying. In a short time, components for ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ will begin to arrive on site in a carefully planned order that is closely associated with building and assembly schedules.
An important contract was signed this month that establishes the conditions for the transport of ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ components from suppliers' factories to the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ site. The (LSP) Framework Contract—which provides for global transport, logistic and insurance services—was signed on 10 February with the European company DAHER by Director-General Osamu Motojima on behalf of the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ and the seven ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ Members.
For the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ this was a first-of-a-kind joint procurement, carried out in close collaboration with the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ Members. Within the boundaries of the contract, each Domestic Agency will now contract directly with the LSP provider by means of a Task Order for all of its transport needs.
Following a planning phase, during which the Domestic Agencies will furnish detailed information on foreseeable requirements, shipments will begin in 2014. Every aspect related to the transport of ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ loads—including customs management at departure and arrival, logistics, insurance, intermediate storage before delivery, handling, and final unloading at the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ site—will be handled under the LSP contract. DAHER will work through either a local partner or a local subsidiary in each ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ Member country.
The largest ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ loads will arrive by ship from China, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the United States and travel by night over the 104-kilometre . Agence Iter France (AIF) will act as the interface between the French authorities (préfecture, gendarmerie) and the Logistic Service Provider for all matters related to the use of ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ Itinerary.
"The transport of ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ components from so many different points on the globe and according to schedule is a logistics challenge of major proportions," stated ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ Director-General Motojima on the occasion of the contract signature. "An integrated Logistics Service Provider will be fully qualified to address these challenges and assure the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ and the Domestic Agencies of optimized coordination."