This CTAA e-News is sponsored by CTAA Alliance Partner: Compliant Business Processing
In these tough economic times, you might want to consider the outsourcing services offered by CBP - more than 60 administrative tasks are provided to clients, including importers, exporters, forwarders, and importanly to road transport operators as well.
See More Here |
|
|
 | COVID-19 Coronavirus Crisis - Cash Flow ConcernsThe ongoing lull in container trade across Australian ports due to the COVID-19 crisis is having a significant impact on cash-flow for container transport operators.
Acting on concerns from our Alliance members, CTAA has approached the stevedore companies and empty container depots (through Containerchain) to seek payment terms relief.
We are also concerned to ensure that stakeholders in the chain are sympathetic to the plight of many operators who's equipment and staff are far more idle than is normal, yet who must deal with large overheads, fixed operating expenses and the upfront payment of particular fees & charges.
See more information: HereCTAA also appeared on ABC News on Monday, 9 March and the ABC program The Business to discuss the impacts - view the story Here (at approx. the 6 minute mark in the program).
CTAA has received positive feedback from Containerchain that they will be extending payment terms to 21 days (from invoice date) for three months, starting in March. We are developing a joint statement with further information for industry.
The CFO of Hutchison Ports Australia, Chee Keong Chan, has also responded positively, agreeing to extend payment terms to 30 days until the end of this Financial Year. The Federal Government is due to announce economic stimulus measures - hopefully some of which will be useful for container transport operators.
Transport operators are urged to continue to provide feedback to CTAA about the impacts that the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus spread is having on business. Email neil.chambers@ctaction.com.au. |
|
COVID-19: Return of Shipping Trade - Update While it's difficult to analyse the full picture, shipping lines are starting to forecast a return of business activity in mainland China. |
|
|
ANL has announced that manufacturing activities are gradually picking up, more port workers and truck drivers are returning to their posts, and cargo flow is easing up at the major coastal ports. ANL believes that business operations have now entered the recovery phase. The view from South Korea is that at present terminals are operating at normal productivity, and trucking and depot activities remain unaffected. A few factories serving the local market have ceased operations, but there has been no impact on exports.
OOCL reports similarly that many terminals and depots in China are returning back to normal operations. The reefer plug shortage issue in Shanghai, Tianjin and Ningbo has gradually improved, while more trucking services have resumed. In relation to Korea, Japan, Singapore, Italy and the UAE, they report not observing any significant terminal or trucking service issues at the ports where they operate in these regions.
CTAA has sourced a useful graph from digital technology company Cargometrics showing the five-year average (2012-2019) for Chinese exports after a typical Chinese Lunar New Year, and what has happened in 2020 with the COVID-19 impacts. A picture paints a 1000 words!
See the Cargometrics' graph: Here |
|
BMSB Season: "Have Your Say" Survey The 'Have Your Say' survey for the 2019-20 Brown marmorated stink bug season closes 15 March 2020. Interested parties are urged to respond. |
|
|
 | ACFS Port Logistics Melbourne - Class 4.7 Accreditation
ACFS Port Logistics has announced accrediation in Melbourne for Class 4.7 - Secure unpack for the treatment of seasonal hitchhiker biosecurity pests.
Read the ACFS Flyer: Here |
|
Lawson Container Park & Intermodal Terminal, Somerton CTAA Alliance company, Lawson Sideloader Services, is expanding, with the imminent opening of a new Empty Container Park in Somerton, and eventually an intermodal operation, including Quarantine wash facilities, tailgates, and full container under-bond operations.
Pictured at the entrance to the site in the Austrak industrial business park in Somerton, north of Melbourne, is Lawson's owners, David and Elle Eroglu.
|
|
|
NSW Freight & Logistics Advisory Council:
CTAA Director, Neil Chambers, has been honoured to be invited by the NSW Minister for Regional Transport & Roads, Paul O'Toole, MP, to be a member of the NSW Freight and Logistics Advisory Council (FLAC). This will afford CTAA even more opportunity to represent the interests of the container transport logistics sector on an important government advisory forum.
Port of Brisbane - Landside Logistics Forum (LLF):
CTAA represented Alliance company interests at a meeting of the Port of Brisbane Landside Logistics Forum held on 27 February 2020.
There was a great turnout of industry and government stakeholders, with good discussions on important agenda items such as the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus on container trade, proposed upgrades to the Patrick Truck Mashalling Area (TMA), Chain of Responsibility issues, including examples of poorly loaded export containers, the lack of electronic data from shipping lines to empty container parks, and the proposed expansion of the Port Freight Precinct to include the industrial areas between the Port and the Gateway Bridge - i.e. Lytton and Hemmant.
AAT Brisbane Terminal:
CTAA held a constructive meeting with AAT Brisbane Terminal Manager, Steve Jorgensen, and his operational team members, to discuss container receival & delivery (R&D) performance, including truck turnaround times.
AAT is taking delivery of two new reach stackers to improve equipment reliability, and is instigating operational changes to address peak congestion issues, particularly on cut-off days for export recievals for the PNG / Islands trades. |
|
CTAA Port Botany Supply Chain Awareness Workshop
1 April 2020 |
|
|
Places are still available for the CTAA Port Botany Supply Chain Awareness Workshop scheduled for Wednesday, 1 April 2020.
Ideal for those who would value a greater understanding of how the container transport logistics chain really works in practice. Includes morning tea / lunch, and a unique tour of container logistics facilities associated with trade through Port Botany.
Join the many dozens of people who have enjoyed previous Workshops, and taken a lot away from the experience.
More information & to book, click: Here |
|
 Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA) is strong Alliance of leading businesses engaged in the container transport logistics industry.
CTAA Alliance companies account for the majority of containerised freight handled in capital city ports in Australia.
Visit our website: Here or consider joining? - ask us Here |
|
|
|
|