December 22 - Turners Shipping (Pty) Ltd from South Africa has become a Premium Partner in the BDP Global Network - an alliance of small to mid-sized logistics companies.

In joining earlier this month, Turners Shipping adds to the 18 other companies which have joined the network from countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East.

Tim Frear, director of BDP Global Network Services, the network's administrative arm, said: "Turners Shipping is one of the leading players in the logistics and transport industry in South Africa.

"We established the BDP Global Network in response to market demand for more intensive customer service. The move followed an unprecedented period of consolidation in the logistics industry, which saw its largest players acquire many smaller firms. The sheer size of these heavily asset-based mega-forwarders has a way of treating customers like commodities, running contrary to the demand among international shippers for more hands-on, customer-intimate service following the severe economic recession of 2008 / 2009."

Conrad Cochrane-Murray, managing director of Turners Shipping (Pty) Ltd, said his company will benefit from the strong brand power of BDP as well as having access to the technology platforms that underpin the modern logistics industry.

"BDP's Global Network allows us to offer our customers the reach of a multi-national firm but with the understanding and flexibility only a local firm can provide," said Cochrane-Murray.

Both BDP International and Turners Shipping have very experienced project freight departments which have shipped many large and unusual cargoes.