Delivering time-sensitive PPE cargo

The background

With an urgent requirement for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, our client had a crucial need to deliver PPE to their frontline staff as they underwent a battle to provide care and treatment for the overwhelming influx of new patients. As one of the largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations in the US, on-time delivery and impeccable execution were absolute requirements..

The challenge

In March 2020, Covid-19 was spreading and borders were closed to air travel, resulting in the cancellation of thousands of passenger flights daily. Cargo capacity was restricted and demand for any available cargo aircraft skyrocketed, throwing the market into chaos. Our client needed PPE delivered within a week, or they ran the risk of either a shutdown of their facilities or of exposing their employees to harmful, and possibly lethal conditions.

The solution

Desperate for a way to accelerate their supply chain and avoid a PPE shortage, our client turned to us for assistance. In short order, we were able to secure a 747-freighter aircraft from Shanghai to Chicago to accommodate 20,000 cartons of masks, gowns, and goggles. We provided uplift within 5 days of being contacted and successfully delivered PPE to a very appreciative customer the day after the plane arrived in Wisconsin.

The result

Our ability to skillfully and speedily handle these important shipments with grace and care was noticed by a grateful healthcare customer who commented, “Thank you, your efforts have been tremendous,” and “awesome job Maersk team – if you ever need recommendations, you have mine!” During the next several months, our Maersk Air and Ocean teams provided additional support to this client in their battle against Covid-19, ensuring they always had the necessary tools to safely do their jobs during the ongoing pandemic.