Australia

FedEx expands its Australian footprint with takeover of Manton Air-Sea

FedEx is targeting more Australian business after acquiring Sydney-headquartered logistics operator Manton Air-Sea.
Pending regulatory approval, the purchase of the forwarder and customs brokerage specialist is expected to be completed before the end of the year.
Chief executive of FedEx Trade Networks Richard Smith said: “Adding Manton will open up opportunities to expand in Australia with [its] strong GDP and significant Asia Pacific market.
“We are delighted to add the Manton team members to...

https://theloadstar.co.uk/fedex-expands-australian-footprint-takeover-manton-air-sea/

Australia to relax again welfare standards for livestock carriers

Only months after the introduction of animal welfare standards onboard, the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources confirmed that, as of 1 November, stocking density reductions for sheep would be relaxed by 37.5% from the restrictions put in place in July this year. The RSPCA slammed the decision by the Government.

This decision means it’s back to business as usual for the live sheep trade. It’s a slap in the face for hundreds of thousands of concerned Australians who have...

https://safety4sea.com/australia-to-relax-again-welfare-standards-for-livestock-carriers/

AAL gets to grips with vaculift technology, in Australian first!

AAL Bangkok

October 12, 2018 – AAL, one of the world’s leading breakbulk and heavy lift operators, has announced the successful deployment – for the first time in Australia – of multi-lift vacuum units used in the discharge of pipes with its partner Qube. The cargo, which comprised 24,996 steel coated pipes units (18m in length each and weighing a total of 13,386t), was loaded in Baoshan China and discharged in Darwin, via AAL’s global tramp and chartering service and its S-Class multipurpose...

http://www.allaboutshipping.co.uk/2018/10/12/aal-gets-to-grips-with-vaculift-technology-in-australian-first/

Australia plans to block shark drumlines photography

As part of its Shark Control program, Australia’s government of Queensland is set to implement legislation to criminalise close proximity to shark control equipment, to prevent any photography of lethal drumlines and shark nets.

As part of a suite of amendments to the QLD Fisheries Act, the Government is proposing implementing exclusion zones of 20 metres around shark control equipment, making it almost impossible to independently capture photography and videos of sharks and other marine...

https://safety4sea.com/australia-plans-to-block-shark-drumlines-photography/

New Report Suggests Closer Integration With Japan, Including Addition to ‘5 Eyes’ Intel Sharing

A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon assigned to the Mad Foxes of Patrol Squadron (VP) 5 is on display next to the newest maritime patrol asset of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, the Kawasaki P-1, in November 2014. VP-5 is forward deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility conducting theater anti-submarine warfare operations and joint interoperability efforts with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. US Navy photo.

Japan should be added to the “Five Eyes” intelligence-sharing network...

https://news.usni.org/2018/10/03/new-report-suggests-closer-integration-with-japan-including-addition-to-5-eyes-intel-sharing

First condensate cargo from Ichthys LNG project departs

Japanese INPEX Corporation announced the departure of its first shipment of condensate from the INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG Project. The cargo departed on 1st October from the Project’s massive offshore floating production, storage and offloading facility -the Ichthys Venturer- moored in the Browse Basin, 136 miles off the northwest coast of Western Australia.

Departure of the first condensate cargo from the INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG Project demonstrates our commitment to be a reliable, global...

https://safety4sea.com/first-condensate-cargo-from-ichthys-lng-project-departs/

Master, owners to be charged over large oil spill in Darwin Harbour

Australia’s Northern Territory Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has commenced legal proceedings against the master and owners of a ship responsible for a large oil spill in Darwin Harbour on 19 August 2016. The legal proceedings follow a complex, two year investigation by DENR and the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) into the oil spill.

According to DENR Director Environmental Operations, Mr Peter Vasel, the master of the multi-purpose general...

https://safety4sea.com/master-owners-to-be-charged-over-large-oil-spill-in-darwin-harbour/

+ More