«After all, we’re a community».
Story of a shipment
You know that feeling you get when a project is taking shape, and you put the last piece of the puzzle in place, the one you thought was lost somewhere under the sofa, or inside the dog? We do.
It all started one afternoon when we were sitting at the meeting table of the Parodi family’s shipping agency. Alberto (not his real name, -Ed.), had called us a few days earlier, asking us for professional support on a project he was handling: “After all, we’re a community, aren’t we?” he added.
Time and again, we’ve heard the word ‘community’ used in reference to our port system. In every meeting, every conference, at the opening of every negotiation process.
And it’s true: Genoa port has a tight-knit community with a long-standing port and seafaring tradition. More than just belonging to a trade, what really defines it is its ability to nurture a system that brings port traffic and prosperity for all.
Once we’d got the small talk and coffee out of the way, Alberto, who has always been a practical guy, got straight to the point: he was in touch with a Spanish ship operator and they were planning a liner service with a stop at Genoa. All the essentials were in place: a ship, cargo and a market: the only thing missing was the office to top it all off.
Alberto had done his homework. He’d spotted the business opportunity, caught the shipping company’s attention, offered to provide assistance during stops, and was now asking us to do our bit. The traffic would be within the EU, so the authorities needed to be involved, particularly Customs, to get the necessary authorisations. And we needed a terminal with a window for receiving a ship and working on it. That would also mean negotiating the conditions, and the port costs needed to be defined: everything from nautical technical services to taxes and so on.
We instantly got to work, and in the space of a few days we returned to the same meeting room to hand over everything Alberto had asked us for. He looked at us, a slight smile on his lips; he never was one to display emotions, but you could see he was pleased. We shook hands and said our goodbyes, then we crossed our fingers and waited.
When all the pieces had fallen into place and the ship operator had appointed the Parodi family to represent it, it was a real victory for all involved. The port had earned itself a line, and all the downstream business that goes with it. Alberto had won the trust of a new client, and we had been appointed to handle the freight forwarding. For a long time after we would handle the cargo manifests, the formalities with all the port authorities and assistance with renewing ship certificates. And the terminal had an extra ship to work on.
In short, when there’s a hole in your port jigsaw, we’ve always got the right piece for your puzzle!
Customers Reviews
Sat has always stood for knowhow, promptness and a can-do attitude, with the “plus point” of the human touch which has evolved over the many years we have worked together.
An outstanding team and impeccable organisation, featuring professionalism, reliability and skill. But what really counts is the passion they all put into their work, ensuring we do not encounter obstacles in our work.
Sat is a cohesive group with sound leadership. Its people are always willing to help, and over the last two years they have increased their competences, particularly where “ship assistance” is concerned. As for freight, they have always been, and still remain, at the cutting edge.
I often turn to them for consultation regarding the “cargo” sector, and their answers are always precise, reliable and professional.
The nature of our ties makes Sat more of a partner than a supplier to us.
When it comes to Spediporto’s sea freight companies, the knowhow of Sat Vice Chairman Giulio Baer has long provided a crucial benchmark. Their extensive work on issues such as preclearing, PMIS, VGM and much more comes to mind. The sector is highly technical and calls for outstanding skill. Sat has always proven it is up-to-date with technological developments and regulatory evolutions; so much so it is a reference point, not just on a local level, but for Italy as a whole.
Sat combines its knowhow and professional approach with a relationship built on trust. This allows us to work with peace-of-mind, knowing we are dealing with people capable of tackling the situations that crop up in our line of work each day. The team has a kind, helpful approach which enables them to run the business successfully.
At Holcim Italiam we see SAT- Ship assistance and transit – as a competent and reliable partner, whose prompt, can-do attitude when it comes to operations makes them stand out.
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