Multi Interest Service Corp

Multi Interest Service Corp We are packing experts! We custom fabricate skids and crates for both domestic and international (IPPC Compliant) shipping. We primarily serve Central Virginia.

We can also assist with shipping services. We are a customs bonded warehouse handling LCL (less than container ocean freight). Upon clearance of the import freight, we can provide door delivery service. We offer packing service for domestic and international freight. We specialize in fabricating IPPC (export) compliant skids and crates. We work with both residential and commercial customers. Our s

ervices are ala carte. We can provide door to door service. We can do on-site packing and crating. We can guide you on the documentation requirements for exports. We have a great transport network and can move your consignment domestically. We are certified for hazmat packing by air, sea or land. We provide milspec packing for customers shipping to the US govt.

06/24/2021

We have been busy building crates ... sorry for the absence. The pandemic has certainly made a mess in ways we would never have expected. (Obviously, lives directly impacted by Covid caused far greater harm than the business effects of the pandemic, nonetheless, while the health issues look to be improving, we are still in the midst of other effects.)

First, people stopped flying, and there is lots of cargo that rides in the bellies of passenger planes, so there was an immediate shortage of capacity for air freight. There has been a general increase in consumer demand, which more slowly led to a shortage of sea containers and snarled ports world-wide. Meanwhile, several years ago, there was too much trucking capacity in the US, so some businesses shutdown, others curtailed staff. The onset of the pandemic led some older drivers to retire early. Reduced capacity and increasing demand led to increased costs and challenges in trucking.

Meanwhile, in our primary business of building skids and crates, lumber prices went crazy - to the tune of 500% increase in cost for some materials, and at least 200% across the board price increases. The Federal Reserve (who generally seldom deals in lumber), has used lumber pricing as a example and suggests the inflationary pressures are short term and that lumber prices are coming down. This is good news, though have not seen prices drop in our local market, hopefully it is coming!

08/07/2017

Large Container Ships

The largest container ship to ever call on the US east coast began regular service in May of this year. The COSCO Development has a capacity for 13,092 TEU (Twenty foot container equivalents). Norfolk is one of 4 ports on the East Coast presently capable of handling this size ship. The COSCO Development moves regularly between Asia and the East Coast ports. She was built in 2011 and is classified as an Ultra Large Container Vessel (ULCV). When she does move through Norfolk port, the Captain of the Port must restrict other container ship traffic in the channel to ensure safe transit in and out of the port.

In June 2016, the Panama Canal opened new locks to enable larger ships to pass thru the canal. The new limitation is approximately 13,000 TEU and the limitation is referred to New Panamax (ship) sizes. The COSCO Development is the largest ship to have passed through the canal.

New ships built over the past year have significantly eclipsed the size of the COSCO Development. The ships sizes are referred to as Post New Panamax (they cannot pass through the Panama Canal). “In May 2017, at Samsung Heavy Industries in Geoje, South Korea, Hong-Kong-based Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) christened the world’s largest container vessel, the OOCL Hong Kong." The ULCV class OOCL Hong Kong has a carrying capacity of 21,413 TEUs.

“The OOCL Hong Kong measures 399.87 meters in length and 58.8 meters in breadth, ranking it among the largest ULCVs in operation today by dimensions. The OOCL Hong Kong will be serving the Asia-Europe trade lane on the LL1 service with stops in Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Yantian, and Singapore, and via Suez Canal to Felixstowe in Suffolk, UK, Rotterdam, Gdansk, and Wilhelmshaven.” Per Cory Levins, Air-Sea Container Blog, August 3, 2017

We had a request to fabricate saddles to facilitate the transport an antique missile. The missile is 33' long and weigh...
04/28/2017

We had a request to fabricate saddles to facilitate the transport an antique missile. The missile is 33' long and weighs over 10,000 lbs. Our role was to supply the saddles, did not actually handle the missile, but from the picture, I would guess the missile was at least 50 years old.

We recently crated these two custom bikes for airshipment to Dubai
04/13/2017

We recently crated these two custom bikes for airshipment to Dubai

11/14/2016

Updated the list of countries requiring ISPM 15 compliance. Also included a number of countries that have implemented ISPM 15 requirements, but not officially signed on to IPPC. So, despite not being officially listed on the IPPC website, you would run a risk to send non-compliant packaging items to those countries. It took a moderate amount of research to generate a good list. Call or email with questions.

One of our customers is developing new product that requires the equipment to be secured to heavy duty headers on a skid...
06/01/2016

One of our customers is developing new product that requires the equipment to be secured to heavy duty headers on a skid. The customer requested that we bore the headers for the equipment mounting. The headers are generally 4"x8" oak - bored 8" deep. Attempts to bore by hand (with an electrical drill) proved to not be straight or accurate enough. We could not find any commercially available equipment to aid this process, so we built one. We were able to obtain an old DeWalt core drill at a local auction and with a little modification it now serves as an industrial drill press. Going through 8" of oak - there can still be some deflection, but the results were much better. Not to mention that the hand drill had a nasty habit of throwing the operator across the room if the bit caught a knot in the wood.

05/17/2016

There are new regulations that will soon become effective that will impact all outgoing ocean freight. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) amended the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) to require that a packed container has a VGM (Verified Gross Mass) in order to be loaded onto a ship for export. The SOLAS amendments were adopted in November 2014 and become mandatory on July 1, 2016. After that date, it would be a violation of SOLAS to load a packed container onto a vessel if the vessel operator and marine terminal operator do not have a verified container weight.

As we approach the effective date, the volume of discussion has increased, though clear methods to satisfy the requirement had not yet become clear. Fortunately, the most recent announcements suggest that the Virginia Ports may take internal actions to ensure compliance. While I am sure there will be a cost associated with compliance, the alternatives had both logistic and technical concerns (while not clearly stated, I am sure that scales used would have to be "certified" which, if spread among the multitude of shippers would have created its own nightmare.)

At this point, we still do not have a clear resolution to the mandate, but we do appear to be moving towards the most effective process. Stay tuned.

03/03/2016

An upcoming change to IATA Hazardous Materials regulations will further restrict shipment of lithium batteries on passenger planes. (The new rules do not affect carry-on luggage.) Over the past 5 years, there have been increasing restrictions on lithium batteries due to the risk of spontaneous fire. The newest rules will essentially eliminate shipment of bulk lithium batteries on passenger flights. The rule change is occuring on April 1, 2016. A mid-year change further suggests the urgency of the issue. The rules for cargo planes is not being changed at this time, so there will be limited effect on Fedex and UPS packaged shipments.

One of the facts of life about being a small business is that you end up on the call list for many charities. We averag...
02/22/2016

One of the facts of life about being a small business is that you end up on the call list for many charities. We average 10 calls per week, every week of the year, for folks requesting our contributions. Obviously, we cannot contribute to all. Jill establishes a budget and some favored causes and we contribute to about 20 organizations. Last year's results were better than most, so we included a contribution to a food pantry in our neighborhood. Every Wednesday, there are long lines at the pantry. While our contribution was modest relative to the need, the Food Pantry was very appreciative of our help.

We have built 6 tractor trailer loads of long crates for a local customer. These crates range in size from 6' long to 2...
02/05/2016

We have built 6 tractor trailer loads of long crates for a local customer. These crates range in size from 6' long to 20 foot long, with the majority of the crates on the higher end of the range.

Not necessarily pretty, but we have both dock and ramp access open.
01/26/2016

Not necessarily pretty, but we have both dock and ramp access open.

Address

3901 Castlewood Road
Richmond, VA
23234

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 5pm
Tuesday 7am - 5pm
Wednesday 7am - 5pm
Thursday 7am - 5pm
Friday 7am - 12pm

Telephone

+18042711572

Website

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