“In close cooperation with our colleagues in Dalian, China, our export team was able to manage this large-scale project successfully,” explains Thomas Lukner, Head of Ocean Freight at MBS in Cologne. The first challenge was securing a shipping line able to provide a sufficient number of containers suitable for transporting roundwood. Once the booking confirmation was in place, the operational phase began after several weeks of detailed preparation.

Coordinating transport from forest to seaport

Empty containers were first transported from the seaport to an inland terminal and from there to the forest loading site. The debarked logs were loaded directly into the containers on site. After loading, the timber underwent fumigation, which is required for export.

Because the fumigation agent used cannot tolerate freezing temperatures, the project could not be carried out during winter. In addition, the logistics team had to carefully plan suitable access routes. Soft or muddy forest roads would have made it impossible for trucks carrying loaded containers to move safely.

Special requirements for roundwood logistics

At the inland terminal, the containers were weighed and cleared by customs before continuing their journey by inland vessel to the Port of Hamburg. From there they were loaded onto an ocean vessel bound for Dalian. Another complexity was that wood fumigation is only permitted at selected locations in Germany, which added an additional layer of planning.

Not every trucking company is willing to operate in forest loading areas, and not every shipping line provides containers for transporting roundwood.

Close coordination ensured smooth execution

“To make this project work, close coordination with all partners involved was essential – including the inland terminal, the shipping line, customs authorities and the trucking companies,” says Lukner. “Only through this level of cooperation were we able to ensure a smooth door-to-door operation.”

Looking back at the project, Lukner concludes with a smile: “After managing a project like this, transporting finished furniture back from China almost feels like the easy part.”