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Global supply chain disruptions, industrial unrest, labour shortages, landside logistics delays, and tough customer expectations ... the container logistics chain sure knows how Santa feels!!
CTAA wishes everyone a safe and Merry Christmas and New Year!
| | | | STOP PRESS!!
Federal Government Agrees with Incitec Pivot Re AdBlue Supply | | 
| | | Federal Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister, Angus Taylor, has announced a Federal Government agreement with fertiliser manufacturer Incitec Pivot to secure local production of refined urea for the supply of diesel exhaust fluid (AdBlue) in Australia.
The heavy vehicle sector had been concerned about dwindling supplies of AdBlue, and the rising costs as demand outstripped supply due to a reduction of the import of urea.
It's a great example of the Government listening to industry's concerns and acting quickly to assist in securing onshore supply.
Hopefully this is just one less hassle that heavy vehicle operators need to think about heading into next year.
Read the Minister's Media Statement: HERE | | | | Important Inquiries to Proceed in 2022!
Productivity Commission - Australia's Maritime Logistics System:
After sustained lobbying by numerous organisations, advocacy groups, and companies impacted by global and local supply chain impediments, inefficiencies and rising costs, the Federal Government has commissioned the Productivity Commission (PC) to examine the structural issues affecting the productivity of Australia's maritime logistics system.
Long-term trends in system performance will be analysed, and industrial relations, infrastructure constraints and technology uptake will be among the inquiry's areas of focus.
The Productivity Commission will begin consultation in January 2022 and provide a final report to the Federal Government in August 2022.
CTAA welcomes the inquiry, which will provide an opportunity to submit views and information on issues impacting landside container logistics operations & costs.
Key amongst these issues will be the "reasonableness" of the container detention fee policies and practices of foreign container shipping lines, as well as structural issues associated with the landside stevedore terminal and empty container park interfaces, and gaps in technology and information exchange applications and integrations.
Read more information about the PC inquiry, and its Terms of Reference: HERE
NSW Independent Review of PAMA Act and PBLIS regulations:
In November, the NSW Government announced a comprehensive review of the NSW Ports and Maritime Administration Act 1995 and the Port Botany Landside Improvement Strategy (PBLIS).
The work will be undertaken by an Independent Reviewer, Ed Willett, and an initial Discussion Paper was released on 15 December 2021.
The PBLIS arrangements primarily regulate the performance of stevedores and road carriers at the Port Botany container terminals.
Introduced following the 2008 Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal findings about inefficiencies with container movements at Port Botany, the NSW Government believes it is appropriate that these arrangements be reviewed to assess the outcomes of the strategy and ensure it is meeting its objectives.
The review will cover the sections of the Ports and Maritime Administration Regulation 2021 (the Regulation) that are relevant to PBLIS and the Mandatory Standards.
Formal consultation on the Review will commence in early 2022 - CTAA intends to submit views on behalf of Alliance companies, and will work closely with the Independent Reviewer to ensure opportunities for him and the review team to visit key landside stakeholder facilities and meet with relevant parties.
READ MORE
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| | NSW:
With 93 percent of people over 16 in NSW now vaccinated, the NSW Government eased COVID restrictions from Wednesday 15 December, including Directions related to density limits, QR check-in requirements and proof of vaccination, COVID safety plans and isolation requirements for fully vaccinated close contacts.
COVID-19 booster vaccinations are also now available in NSW.
READ MORE Victoria:
Pandemic orders were altered in Victoria from 11.59pm, 15 December, including that workplaces exposed to a positive COVID-19 case no longer need to be deep cleaned; transport operators do not need to clean equipment between users, workplaces still need to maintain their COVIDsafe Plan, and what businesses need to do if they have a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the workplace.
READ MORE Western Australia:
CTAA collaborated with FTA/APSA to promote a Webinar delivered on 15 December by Alexander Millman, Senior Associate - Workplace Relations, Employment and Safety at law firm Mills Oakley. Participants were also invited through the WA Port Operations Taskforce (WAPOTF).
The Webinar dealt comprehensively with the vaccination requirements mandated for some freight & logistics workers in WA through various Government Directions, mainly the Public and Commercial Transport Workers (Restrictions on Access) Directions, or the Port Worker and Exposed Port Worker (Restrictions on Access) Directions (No.2).
A Recording of the Webinar can be accessed: HERE
Queensland:
From 1am AEST Saturday, 18 December, Queensland increased face mask requirements. | | | Patrick Enterprise Agreement Update
In late October, Patrick Terminals Patrick Terminals lodged an application with the Australian Fair Work Commission (FWC) seeking to terminate its Enterprise Agreement (EA) with the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA). | | | | Subsequently in November, Patrick applied to the FWC seeking to terminate industrial action being undertaken by the MUA citing significant economic harm arising from the industrial actions.
Following lengthy conciliation discussions in the FWC, the MUA agreed to withdraw ongoing protected industrial actions. That commitment ended on 10 December 2021.
The MUA has not issued any notifications of the resumption of Protected Industrial Actions (PIAs) at this time. CTAA understands that a further hearing in the FWC on the matters is set down for Monday, 17 January 2021.
We hope that industrial peace continues into the New Year ahead of the hearing date. | | | | Notification Fee Increases at Empty Container Parks from 1 January 2022
There have been a swath of announced increases in Empty Container Park Notification (access) Fees from January 2022 (all +GST): | | | | In most instances the Fees have increased by over 33%, with some ECPs adjusting their Fees less than six months since their previous increase. In many cases too there has been no productivity offset for transport operators through longer hours of operation or increased gate-in and/or facility capacity and processes.
Many ECPs continue to require emailed copies of Electronic Import Delivery Orders (eIDOs) from transport operators and/or verification by the truck driver at the gate of the de-hire location because not all shipping lines provide the necessary electronic data to the ECPs for seamless integration into the truck / container arrival Notification system. This simply adds to transport costs, delays, slower truck turn times and the possibilities for errors.
Surely 2022 is the year in which we can finally progress lasting solutions to this problem, and increase the velocity of truck turnarounds at ECPs across Australia? It will certainly feature heavily in CTAA's submissions to the Federal and State reviews outlined at the beginning of this eNews.
The increases announced include:
Sydney: - DP World Logistics Parks 1 & 2, increased to $90.77 per Notification (with the Peak Traffic Surcharge also continuing to apply between 0500 and 1600, Monday to Friday)
Melbourne: - Victoria Container Management (VCM), increased to $53 per Notification - VCM also still only maintains gate opening hours of 5.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday despite the move to the new location in Doherty's Road, Laverton North.
- DP World Melbourne Logistics Park, increased to $60.15 per Notification.
- Medlog Melbourne, increased to $52 per Notification.
- Melbourne Container Park (MCP), increased to $52 per Notification.
Brisbane: - Gateway Container Park, increased to $52.60 per Notification
Adelaide: - SA Container Park - increased to $35 per Notification
CTAA Alliance companies (members only) can request the latest National List of Empty Container Park (ECP) Notification Fees by emailing neil.chambers@ctaction.com.au. | | | | NHVR Advice - Managing Risks of Transporting Freight In Shipping Containers
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has issued new regulatory advice on managing the risk of transporting freight in shipping containers. | | | | The advice covers the dangers inherent in unbalanced loading and inadequate load restraint of the cargo inside shipping containers, as well as the safety risks for loaders and unloaders of shipping containers.
The advice is applicable to all parties in the container logistics supply chain, including importers & exporters, freight forwarders, packers / unloaders, container terminals, transport operators and others in the chain of responsibility.
CTAA welcomes the advice, which builds on the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI) campaign delivered by CTAA earlier this year, in conjunction with Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA), the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA), ICHCA Australia, Thomas Miller (TT Club), Wise Tech Academy and others.
The NHVR Regulatory Advice can be viewed on the NHVR's website: HERE
The CTAA/FTA/APSA "Safe Loads / Safe Roads" campaign resources can be accessed: HERE | | | | Container Packing Checklist
A unique resource produced through the CTAA/FTA/APSA "Safe Loads / Safe Roads" Campaign was the adoption and distribution in Australia of a comprehensive Container Packing Checklist produced by leading international organisations.
The Checklist is designed to assist container packers to meet best practice packing standards set out in the international IMO Code of Practice for Packing Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code).
Australian importers and exporters are encouraged to share the Checklist with their packers and supply chain partners - see: HERE | | | | 
| | APSA Conference - Wagga Wagga NSW, 22 & 23 February 2022
CTAA alliance companies are encouraged to attend this conference being staged by the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) in Wagga Wagga, NSW on 22 & 23 February 2022.
CTAA members can enjoy a discounted registration rate, and you'll be able to network with leading export companies, freight forwarders, other industry peers and government representatives.
See you there!
To book, click: HERE
| | | CTAA Port Botany Supply Chain Awareness Workshop
for TfNSW Freight Branch | | 
| | | CTAA was pleased to be asked to deliver a Port Supply Chain Awareness Workshop for the Transport for NSW Freight Branch team in Port Botany on 7 December.
It was great for the TfNSW team to get a broader appreciation of how the container transport logistics chain really works in practice. It's always good to know that the people advising government on freight logistics policies and regulations have a good grasp of the issues influencing operations.
CTAA thanks DP World Logistics, Mondiale VGL, Banksmeadow, and DP World Sydney Container Terminal for the opportunity to tour their facilities to see the action up close!
Now that interstate borders are beginning to reopen, and COVID restrictions are easing, stay tuned for more information and dates for CTAA Port Supply Chain Awareness Workshops in each capital city container port in Australia in 2022.
If you want to register your interest in receiving more information about these Workshops dates and details please email: neil.chambers@ctaction.com.au | | | | Servicing a Strong Alliance 
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