1. Leading, Connecting, Enabling Irish Exporters @Irishexporters 2016, the year the freight container comes of age. Howard Knott, Logistics Consultant, Irish Exporters Association. 26 th January 2016.

2. Leading, Connecting, Enabling Irish Exporters Presentation content. Introduction to the IEA and the IEA Supply Chain Ireland activity. Some container history. Bringing that up to date. What’s really new and coming at us in the container shipping supply chain. A glimpse further ahead. @Irishexporters

3. Leading, Connecting, Enabling Irish Exporters IEA Supply Chain Ireland In 2005 IEA set up its Trade Facilitation Group. In 2009, established the IEA Rail Freight Group. In 2015, launched its Supply Chain Ireland activity with industry and DTTAS backing. Publishes monthly e-zines, runs regional workshops and links members with other IEA activities. @Irishexporters Photo of launch event.

4. Leading, Connecting, Enabling Irish Exporters Some Container History Modern container era started, April 1956 introducing concept of standard dimension freight containers. Bell Lines was an early adopter running intermodal services, trucking, railing and shipping 20ft and 40ft containers throughout Ireland and Europe. That model has now become global with a wide range of container types and sizes. @Irishexporters

5. Leading, Connecting, Enabling Irish Exporters Intermodal routes link Ireland to Europe and further afield. Short Sea shipping services to Britain and Continental Europe Deep Sea shipping services mainly via European hub ports. Emerging barge and Rail services through Europe and into Asia. @Irishexporters

6. Leading, Connecting, Enabling Irish Exporters The ships vary. @Irishexporters

7. Leading, Connecting, Enabling Irish Exporters The containers vary @Irishexporters

8. Leading, Connecting, Enabling Irish Exporters And the handling equipment @Irishexporters

9. Leading, Connecting, Enabling Irish Exporters Current issues Oil prices still dropping, Alternative fuels being adopted, New ships are more cost efficient, GPS and Cloud technology drives efficiency for ship and cargo owners, Automated terminals, Longer and heavier trucks and trains. N. E. Passage, Suez and Panama canals. @Irishexporters Good newsConcerns to be addressed Slow trade growth hits Carrier, Port and Terminal Operator profits and ability to invest. SECA and other pollution control schemes drive costs up at sea and on land, Implementation of EU Union Customs Code and Global verified container weight regulation will put exporters on the spot. Congestion and regulation may frustrate development of international rail services.

10. Leading, Connecting, Enabling Irish Exporters And to finish – they might work! @Irishexporters

11. Leading, Connecting, Enabling Irish Exporters Final thought to leave with you. Large metal boxes might be dull but, properly used can play a vital role in a cost efficient Supply Chain. Failure by an exporter to take control of the use and documenting of the containers in that chain will break that chain. Thank You. howardknott@irishexporters.ie @Irishexporters