This page contain information copyrighted by other individuals and entities. Copyrighted material displayed in this page is done so for archival purposes only and is not intended to infringe upon the ownership rights of the original owners.
WHL Group Ltd (ID: 9867)
Page 1 of 1 [Back to companies list]
WHL Group Limited Specialists in Shipping and UK Transport Services -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Introduction and History Liner and Port Agency Services Ownership and Financial Structure Haulage Quality General Forwarding Trade and Professional Memberships NVO/Consolidation Services Data Processing and Systems Project Forwarding Image Gallery Customs Clearance Facilities Office Locations and Contacts European Service -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Introduction and History WHL Group Limited is an independent British owned group of companies specialising in shipping and transport services in the U.K. The Group can trace its history back to 1830 when an agency company was formed in London to handle a new steam packet service between that city and Rotterdam. In the late 19th century the Company was acquired by Wm. H. Muller & Co. and in 1970 became a member of the Internatio Muller NV Group, Rotterdam. Since January 1984, the Company has been in private ownership. It will be seen that the Group's association with the shipping services business spans many years and manifests the commitment of the shareholders, the management and staff to this core activity and the provision of a professional but highly personalised service to all its principals. The current Group membership comprises the following companies and further details of their individual business are given separately : WHL Group Limited (this WebPage) The holding company - provides central accounting, computer and administration services Worldfast Limited Specialists in liner and port agency services. Ocean Despatch Limited Handles U.K. general freight forwarding business and also has two specialist trading divisions, Mogul Project Shipping and Mogul Line. Trans-Port UK Limited Provides container haulage and storage services. Globeport Limited Provides liner agency services to Cho Yang Line. J.E. & A. Goodwin (Haulage) Limited Provides container haulage services. United Port Services Limited Provides specialist free standing port agency and logistic services at Felixstowe. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ownership and Financial Structure The Group has an issued share capital of ?1.63 million. Group turnover is currently ?26 million per annum and the Group's profits over the last four years have provided a satisfactory return. Infocheck, a leading UK credit rating agency gives the WHL Group a monthly credit rating of ?100,000 and a contract rating of ?2.5 million. The Group's professional advisers are:- Bankers: National Westminster Bank Plc., Bishopsgate Business Centre, 15, Bishopsgate, London EC2P 2AP. Auditors: Robson Rhodes, 186, City Road, London EC1V 2NU. Solicitors: Beachcroft Stanleys, 20, Furnival Street, London EC4A 1BN. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Management The Group Chief Executive is Michael A.V. Southcombe . The directors are Chris S. Brown, (Deputy Chief Executive) and Hemant D. Patel. The Company Secretary and Chief Accountant is Keith K. Newman. The Group employs just under 150 staff in total. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Liner and Port Agency Services Worldfast Limited Globeport Limited United Port Services Limited The provision of liner agency services reflects the Group's nineteenth century business and has remained a core part of its activity ever since. The main liner agency company is Worldfast Limited representing a number of important liner operators. Globeport Limited handles the "round the world service" of Cho Yang Shipping Co. Ltd. of Seoul, Korea. United Port Services offers backroom logistic and husbandry services to liner operators handling their own marketing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Haulage J.E. & A. Goodwin (Haulage) Limited Trans-Port UK Limited J.E. & A. Goodwin (Haulage) Limited operates 41 tractor units and 87 trailers and is principally involved in the UK container haulage. Trans-Port UK Limited handles all Group inland haulage requirements for FCL Container movements. Dedicated vehicles are used as well as owner drivers and other sub-contractors to provide an integrated and high quality service to Group companies as well as undertaking third party business. Trans-Port UK Limited also operates trailer services between the United Kingdom and continental Europe. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- General Forwarding Ocean Despatch Limited The General Forwarding business is long established, extensive and truly multi-modal, encompassing shipments by road, sea and air to all worldwide destinations including `cross-trade' shipments. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NVO/Consolidation Services Mogul Line A trading division of Ocean Despatch Limited, the Company operates as an NVO in a number of markets and has exclusive arrangements with agents in many countries. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Project Forwarding Mogul Project Shipping - Project Forwarding and FMCG Distribution The origins and trading reputation of Mogul Project Shipping, a trading division of Ocean Despatch Limited, are firmly rooted in the Middle East region, although today Mogul Project Shipping is a specialist project forwarder handling parcel and project traffic throughout the world. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Customs Clearance Facilities The Company's offices are computer linked to the local Customs offices through the Direct Trader Input (DTI) system facilitating quick and accurate customs formalities. In Felixstowe the Group computer system is linked to the port's FCP80 Customs & Port Inventory system which also provides interface to the DTI systems of Thamesport, Harwich, Ipswich and Immingham. The Group's current facilities include a Duty/VAT deferment account and facilities with H.M. Customs & Excise for transhipment and bonded cargo. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- European and Scandanavian Trailer Services Ocean Despatch Limited Trans-Port UK Limited During the 1960's the Group was among the first in the UK to offer trailer groupage services between the UK and Europe when it converted its sea services to Holland and France to road vehicles. The Company continues to maintain services to and from Europe Regular export and import full and part-load trailer and groupage services are offered throughout Europe centred on the Ocean Despatch offices in London and Felixstowe while Trans-Port UK Limited also operates in this field full trailer load movements. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quality It is the policy of the Company to provide its customers with a professional service that meets their agreed requirements. In order to achieve this objective the Company has adopted a quality management policy. The quality system has been designed to create a user-friendly environment in its systems and operating procedures. Every member of the staff is required to be aware of the Group's quality policy and to conform to the detailed procedures and instructions relevant to their area of work. Staff are encouraged to make positive recommendations for improvements to the procedures and system in operation as part of the Group commitment to continuous improvement of the quality service. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trade and Professional Memberships The Group considers that it is important to aspire to the highest standards of professional performance and it is a member of various bodies regulating the transport services business. The Baltic Exchange The Baltic is the most respected of the world's shipping exchanges. The Company and its predecessors have been members of the Exchange since 1904. Worldfast is the Group member of the Baltic Exchange. Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers Is the national organisation for shipbrokers and agents and operates under a royal charter. It regulates conduct and its membership requirements incorporate the UNCTAD minimum standard for shipping agents. Worldfast, Globeport and United Port Services are company members of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers. British International Freight Association Is the national forwarders association. It is the requirement of membership that companies offer as a minimum level the BIFA standard trading conditions which create a fair division of risk between the forwarder and his principal. Ocean Despatch, Globeport and Worldfast are members of BIFA. The Baltic and Maritime Council Worldfast Limited is a broker member of BIMCO, the Copenhagen based ship owners' organisation. Road Haulage Association Provides national standard trading conditions in the haulage industry and acts as a focal point in this otherwise very dispersed business. Trans-Port UK and Monarch Transport Services are members of the RHA. London Chamber of Commerce and Industry The WHL Group Limited and all associate companies are members of LCCI who provide all the customary services of a chamber of trade and commerce. The Office of Fair Trading The trading terms and conditions under which the Group operates, those of the ICS, BIFA and the RHA, have all been registered with the Office of Fair Trading who have deemed they are not against the public interest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Data Processing and IT Systems The Group has made a very heavy investment in computer systems and has undertaken in-house development of an integrated shipping system to meet the requirements of its liner agency and forwarding services. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Image Gallery See here for some of our preferred images. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Office Locations and Contacts The Group has its main offices at the following locations: London: 150, High Street, Stratford, London E15 2NE. Tel: 020 8534 8844 Tlx: 897714 Fax: 020 8532 3445 Felixstowe: Orwell House, Ferry Lane, Felixstowe IP11 8QL. Tel: 01394 676032 Fax: 01394 607451 Tlx: 987702 Manchester: 1, Kay Street, Openshaw, Manchester M11 2DX. Tel: 0161 223 8383 Tlx: 665506 Fax: 0161 230 2614 Click here for maps and directions to each of the offices. For details of the operating companies see their respective entries. Electronic mail : For individual Managers/Directors see here. Otherwise please address all correspondance to info@whlgroup.com.Thankyou. WHL Group Limited is an independent British owned group of companies specialising in shipping and transport services in the U.K WHL Group Ltd