WAPOTF - peak season notice #1

The Peak Season Group, a sub committee of the West Australian Port Operations Taskforce (WAPOTF) is being re convened to discuss planning for the coming peak season.

In advance of the first meeting the below notice has been released - we recommend members start planning now for the Christmas  / New Year period.


                                        Peak season already on its way
 
It is timely to remind everyone in the logistics chain that planning and communication play a vital role in ensuring your cargo moves with minimal impediments during peak season.
 
Although full import TEU volumes have been lower than preferred in some months this year, emerging trends are staring to mirror last year's experience, indicating  that imports will continue to grow. The provisional July figures put us back on track with volumes similar to last year's numbers where the bulk of traffic was  received in August through to October and November leading into the Christmas period.

What can you do to prepare?

* Consider Staging – have you considered staging your own containers or maybe working with one of the on-port depots to source your containers overnight, making them ready for delivery to your clients as early as the next day? You can then space out delivery during the day to meet their requirements, without any need for delayed timeslot bookings.

* Client Access – liaise with you clients for after hours access to their receival yards.

* Afterhours Access – are you able to make use of the later shifts available at the Terminals and ECPs?  Maybe you can utilise a stack run? In most cases the terminals and parks are prepared to work with you. Communication is the key.

* Triangulation - another option is to triangulate. Triangulation of containers occurs where an empty import container is reused for an export without the need to transport it to an ECP for traditional dehire. 
There are two scenarios in which triangulation can occur, including:

• A distribution centre, transport operator, or combined importer/exporter reusing the container within their own facility; and 
• Once an import container is unpacked, the empty container is transferred to an export operation where the container is packed.

Triangulation may save you an entire transport leg, and can be arranged directly through your shipping line or through services such as 1-Stop's Container Control or Matchbox Exchange. Further details of triangulation and the abovementioned services can be found on the attached links.

Peak Season Guide -
1-Stop Container Control 
Matchbox Triangulation Service
 
John Park
Chairman - Peak Season Working Group

 
 
John Park – FTA / APSA