CTAA

Omicron outbreak in Australia wreaking havoc with supply chains

Australia’s Omicron wave has skyrocketed staff shortages in container logistics, putting the sector under “enormous strain”.
This week, local media reported bare supermarket shelves across the country, due to “up to half” of all truck drivers being absent from work, thanks to either a positive test result or isolation rules.
Industry sources say the country’s testing rules, combined with a lack of test kits for transport workers, is at the root of …

The post Omicron outbreak in Australia...

https://theloadstar.com/omicron-outbreak-in-australia-wreaking-havoc-with-supply-chains/

Anger in Australia as container detention fees climb

Australia’s ongoing port congestion has left transport operators fuming over mounting container detention charges.
According to the Container Transport Alliance of Australia (CTAA), the current bottlenecks are caused by high peak season volumes, Covid-related labour shortages, terminal equipment malfunctions and lingering industrial relations disruptions.
CTAA director Neil Chambers told The Loadstar: “The biggest delays have been occurring at the port of Melbourne, where all three container...

https://theloadstar.com/anger-in-australia-as-container-detention-fees-climb/

Against the odds: On the waterfront

Don’t be silly, of course, the shipping lines are not a cartel.
And then the central governments and the stevedores are the nice guys in our supply chain plot, fully supportive of a shipper’s business.
Although this is a really Australian-centric story, the narrative is strikingly similar all around the world. Hint: I can feel a shipping line congestion charge coming on, just in time for the American summer…
On the Waterfront
The 1954 Academy …

The post Against the odds: On the waterfront...

https://theloadstar.com/against-the-odds-on-the-waterfront/

Fury among Australian transport operators at Patrick’s new long-vehicle fee

Transport operators in Australia have warned of a coming “bloodbath” over spiralling fees levied by the country’s stevedores.
In addition to rapidly escalating terminal access fees, previously known as infrastructure surcharges, a newly created “long-vehicle fee” by Patrick Terminals has been slammed as “a tax on productivity”.
Introduced at Patrick’s Sydney and Brisbane terminals this month, the A$50 (US$38.80) levy applies to entry by HGVs over 26 metres in length.
According to the …

The post F...

https://theloadstar.com/fury-among-australian-transport-operators-at-patricks-new-long-vehicle-fee/

Melbourne port strike suspended, while DP World ends lengthy dispute with union

The industrial action at Melbourne’s Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) has been suspended.
And, in a rare double-header of good news for delay-hit Aussie shippers, DP World has finally ended its protracted dispute with the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA).
The union began a strike at ICTSI’s VICT on Friday, but the Fair Work Commission (FWC) issued an interim-order suspending the action early Saturday morning.
The Container Transport Alliance of Australia (CTAA) said: “CTAA …

The...

https://theloadstar.com/melbourne-port-strike-suspended-while-dp-world-ends-lengthy-dispute-with-union/

MUA strike action at port of Melbourne under fire for its ‘bad timing’

In a new blow to Australia’s buckling container supply chains, industrial action at Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) in Melbourne began today.
The action by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) includes a series of 12-hour work stoppages at the ICTSI-operated facility.
Situated at Melbourne’s Webb Dock, VICT handles around 1m teu a year – a third of the port’s throughput – and is Australia’s only fully automated container terminal.
The MUA said …

The post MUA strike action at...

https://theloadstar.com/mua-strike-action-at-port-of-melbourne-under-fire-for-its-bad-timing/

Australia calls on carriers for sweeper vessels to clear empty-box logjam

Transport operators in Australia have called on shipping lines for more ‘sweeper’ vessels to alleviate the country’s empty-container logjam – a mess “they created”.
Arthur Tzaneros, CEO of ‎ACFS Port Logistics, said container park congestion was the biggest challenge currently facing the industry.
“Empty-container parks can’t operate effectively when they’re running at over 100% capacity,” he said on a Freight & Trade Alliance podcast.
“This is a very real situation that’s been going …

The post A...

https://theloadstar.com/australia-calls-on-carriers-for-sweeper-vessels-to-clear-empty-box-logjam/

New round of industrial action to hit DP World Freemantle on Xmas Day

A torrid year for Australia’s ports and shipping will be capped by a futher round of industrial action at DP World Fremantle – beginning on Christmas Day.
The action, by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), includes a range of work restrictions and a ban on overtime until 2 January.
DP World Australia said it “regretted the impact it would have on customers’ businesses”, and remains “committed to reaching a new enterprise …

The post New round of industrial action to hit DP World Freemantle on...

https://theloadstar.com/new-round-of-industrial-action-to-hit-dp-world-freemantle-on-xmas-day/

Australian stevedores getting richer, but customers seeing poorer service

Controversial terminal access charges have again helped Australia’s stevedores to increase revenue and profit margins, despite the largest volume drop in a decade.
The country’s four major terminal operators handled 7.57m teu during the financial year ending 30 June, down 4%, according to the Container stevedoring monitoring report 2019-20, published today by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
However, the report found industry revenue increased 2.8%, to A$1.42bn...

https://theloadstar.com/australian-stevedores-getting-richer-but-customers-seeing-poorer-service/

Despite peace talks at Port Botany, container congestion remains critical

Box congestion at Sydney’s port Botany remains “critical”, with the continuing surplus of empty containers costing transport operators millions in extra logistics.
While industrial action is currently on hold pending negotiations between the country’s three major stevedores and the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), the bottleneck created last month could take months to clear.
Neil Chambers, director of the Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA), said: “Empty container parks are still...

https://theloadstar.com/despite-peace-talks-at-port-botany-container-congestion-remains-critical/

+ More