Policy Council

Merchant Navy Day: in remembrance of seafarers

Photo: Mortiz320 from Pixabay

September 3rd is Merchant Navy Day.

On September 3rd, 1939, the transatlantic passenger liner, Athenia, was torpedoed and sank just hours after World War II was declared.

So September 3rd is the day chosen to honour all those seafarers who sailed, and died, in commercial vessels in times of war.

In the extremes of temperatures, they laboured. In terrible sea conditions, they laboured. Under the fearful gaze of the enemy, they laboured.

They laboured so we could...

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/merchant-navy-day-in-remembrance-of-seafarers/

Shipping Australia welcomes new director Captain Sunil Dhowan

Pictured: Captain Sunil Dhowan; photo supplied by Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean

Captain Sunil Dhowan has been appointed as a new director of Shipping Australia.

Sunil, who is the Head of Port & Cargo Operations, Oceania – Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean, began his sea-going career in 1978. He has experience of crewing general cargo, bulk, container, and ro-ro ships. He has visited almost all ports in Australia during his sailing days and he earned his Master Class 1 and Class 4 from Sydney, before...

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/shipping-australia-welcomes-new-director-captain-sunil-dhowan/

For the sake of Australian families, the MUA must stop its waterfront industrial action

The MUA is carrying out a nationally-coordinated protected industrial action campaign to bring the Australian waterfront to a complete stop. Australian families could suffer. Picture: Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay

The Maritime Union of Australia is carrying out a nationally coordinated protected industrial action campaign on the Australian waterfront.

It has been targeting international shipping and container terminals in Australia. Now it is targeting the towage sector with an extensive series...

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/for-the-sake-of-australian-families-mua-must-stop-its-waterfront-industrial-action/

EVENING NEWS & OPINION: dark clouds and a ray of hope

Prospects for smooth operations on the Australian waterfront have taken a stormy turn.

The Maritime Union of Australia has given notice of its intent to take extensive protected industrial action at Patrick Terminals. This coordinated national industrial action was made public earlier today (Friday 28 August).

Bans, bans, bans

The nationwide industrial action includes bans on the performance or work in higher levels, a series of one hour stoppages, four hour stoppages, some eight hour stoppages,...

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/evening-news-opinion-dark-clouds-and-a-ray-of-hope/

Swire Shipping introduces new ship for the PNG-Pacific Islands trade

Pictured: the Chefoo (IMO 9848766); Photo: Swire Shipping

A new 2,400 TEU vessel, the Chefoo, has been introduced into the Swire Shipping fleet and it will be deployed on the on Swire’s South East Asia service, which connects South East Asia to Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

The South East Asia service is part of Swire Shipping’s network focused on connecting global supply chains to the communities of Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands

“We recognise that our key markets rely on...

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/swire-shipping-introduces-new-ship-for-the-png-pacific-islands-trade/

Unfair: one port call, two sets of charges!

Pictured: Australian 100 dollar bills; the 3D Animation Production Company from Pixabay

Most businesses provide incentives for returning customers. But not in New South Wales. Here, in a recent change to a long-standing practice, the relevant port authority much prefers to penalise their customers by double-charging them.

A Navigation Service Charge is a statutory charge levied by port authorities on ships that enter a port. It is intended to recover the costs of maintaining safe navigation in...

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/unfair-one-port-call-two-sets-of-charges/

Opinion: industrial action will reduce shipping services to the detriment of Australian families and businesses

Shipping Australia is very concerned about the adverse effects on Australian families that will be caused by coordinated protected industrial action on the Australian waterfront.

About 99% of Australia’s imports and exports by volume, and about 79% by value, are transported by ocean-going ships. This includes the everyday goods, foodstuffs, and medical supplies upon which Australian families rely.

Bear in mind too that about 9% to 10% of Australia’s workforce is employed in the logistics sector....

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/opinion-industrial-action-will-reduce-shipping-services-to-the-detriment-of-australian-families-and-businesses/

Western Australia endorses plan for new box port

The Government of Western Australia has endorsed a plan to build a new 4.5 million TEU capacity box port at Kwinana and transfer business from Fremantle.

The rational for moving the business of the port to a new location is to cater to Western Australia’s future freight needs. The Westport Taskforce last year found that, even with billions of dollars’ worth of upgrades, the transport network around Fremantle Inner Harbour would reach capacity by the mid 2030s.

According to economic modelling,...

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/western-australia-endorses-plan-for-new-box-port/

Green light for fast-tracked Port Botany-related freight rail plans

New detailed plans for two freight rail projects, that will boost land-side freight capacity around Port Botany, have been approved by the NSW Government.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said that the fast-tracked assessment will enable construction works to begin within the next six months.

The current single freight rail track between Mascot and Botany will be duplicated and a new passing loop will be added to the freight line between Cabramatta and Warwick Farm stations,...

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/green-light-for-fast-tracked-botany-and-cabramatta-freight-rail-plans/

Commitment to negotiate on Port of Newcastle long term deed, and delay to 33 per cent fee increase for ship owners and agents

On 16 December Port of Newcastle stunned Shipping Australia’s members with an announcement of 33 per cent increase in coal ship navigation service charges from 01 January 2020. This new fee would apply unless the port user signed a 10 year deed which waives the right to object to matters detailed in the deed such as:

  • The initial NSC rate of $0.8121 per GT
  • The initial wharfage rate of $.0802 per RT
  • The annual increase of 4% on both of the above, and
  • An unknown additional amount attributable to...

https://shippingaustralia.com.au/commitment-to-negotiate-on-port-of-newcastle-long-term-deed-and-delay-to-33-per-cent-fee-increase-for-ship-owners-and-agents/

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