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Please note that China will be on their Dragon Boat Festival holidays between the 10-June to the 12-June.
Freight Forwaders in China will be closed during this period.
The last working day before holiday is the 9-June and they will return to office on the 13-June.
If you require information on sailings and cut off dates, please contact our office for more information
Posted in Uncategorized by .
Double B road trains to gain further access to Victorian roads
Higher Productivity Freight Vehicles (HPFVs) have been granted increased access to Victoria’s road network.
Terry Mulder (Transport Minister) has stated that HPFVs could travel from Port Melbourne through West Gate to Princes Highway west to Geelong on sectors of the Western, Calder and Hume Freeways and sectors of the Westernport and Princes Highways.
30m B-doubles will be granted access to the Monash and West Gate Freeways including CityLink and EastLink. Restrictions such as a 90km/h speed limit, GPS tracking and 68.5 tonne weight limit will be enforced.
Importantly, a 30m B-double can transport two 40 foot containers. This additional capacity is anticipated to reduce road congestion and truck crashes while unlocking road freight productivity on Victorian roads.
Neil Chambers, CEO for the Victorian Transport Association (VTA) said, “Not only will this decision lower distribution costs, it will have a positive economic and job creation effect in the trailer and component manufacturing sector which is strong in Victoria.”
The Cubic Freight Network will consist of identified divided highways in regional areas and the B-double network in metropolitan Melbourne. HPFVs will have access to these routes.
VicRoads and transport operators will work collaboratively on “last mile” permit access on local roads with Local Governments.
“In meeting the Performance Based Standards (PBS), these vehicles will be among the safest on our roads with an anti-lock braking system (ABS) on all axles, roll stability control, low-speed turning capability, superior on-road tracking behaviour, as well as front, side and rear under-run protection”, added Mr Chambers.
Please find below an abridged version of correspondence received from Zaman Sagar – Managing Director of Concord Express.
Dear all concerned,
With deep regret I wish to inform you that all garment industries in Bangladesh will be closed for the next two days Saturday, 27th April and Sunday 28th April 2013 in order to ease the massive agitation of garment workers all over the country, caused by the complete collapse of a nine storied commercial building situated in the Savar area out of Dhaka city. The building collapsed suddenly at around 9.30 am on Thursday, 25th April 2013. The building contained garment manufacturing businesses. More than 6000 workers were in and around the building at the time.
A rescue operation commenced with different agencies including Bangladesh Armed Forces, Civil Defense and Fire Brigade, Red Crescent and many people willing with every effort to help. At the time of writing, 11.15 pm on 26/04/2013 around 2400 people have been rescued though many with severe injuries and 310 people have lost their lives. The rescue effort is still ongoing, giving priority to rescuing people trapped in the debris. This process is time consuming and dangerous due to the nature of the building’s collapse. According to the rescue authority source, thousands of workers are still trapped and need to be rescued with immediate effect.
It is pleasing to report that more than 100 bodies have been rescued today (Friday) on the third day rescue operations.
Though some heavy lifting equipment has been delivered to the damaged site by the rescue authority, it is still unsafe to use this equipment while people remain trapped.
Due to this tragic incident, most of the garment workers in the country have come out onto the streets, to hold demonstrations, unfortunately, anger has provoked the vandalization of hundreds of vehicles all over the city. This has caused a serious situation all over Dhaka city and its nearby areas resulting in gridlock throughout the city.
All concerned authorities are trying hard to ease the situation all over the country especially in Dhaka city and its nearby areas and as a pre-caution and to control the agitated situation, Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers Association (BGMEA) has called all Garment Industries to be closed for the next two days as stated above.
We are anxious that the situation may hamper some regular and urgent shipments by air or by sea as planned, since the situation is totally beyond our control, we are trying our best to serve our valued customers during this devastating situation.
Please convey the same to all concerned parties involved for their kind understanding and patience.
We ask that you join us in our sincere hope for the early recovery of hundreds of severely injured people and the salvation of the departed souls during this devastating incident In Dhaka.
We are closely monitoring the situation and will keep you posted.
Zaman SAGAR
MD., Concord Express – BD.
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April 2013 delays explained
DP World Melbourne has been operating on a new Terminal Operating System, Navis Sparcs SN4 for the last four weeks. Delays have been experienced at both West Swanson Terminals:
West Swanson Intermodal Terminal (WSIT)
WSIT has been experiencing delays arising from the booking and manifesting of containers by carriers. As a result only 50% of manifests were capable of being processed through the auto gate. This has necessitated a manual processing of the inbound trucks resulting in delays. The system has been modified resulting in 99% of trucks now being processed via the auto gate.
On 9 April 2013, DP World communicated to the industry via 1-Stop, that trucks without manifests or appointments to WSIT or WST would be turned away. A small number of trucks have continued to arrive at the gate without proper appointments or manifests and consequently are being turned away.
West Swanson Terminal (WST)
Systems updates for recent delays were applied at 1430 on Thursday 4th April and landside performance has since been stable.
Due to the large number of slots released to cater for the short week following the Easter weekend, all VBS access systems (General Slots, Stack run ins, SRO Stack run outs, XRAY slots) have been opened to maximum levels to support the current demand until this coming Sunday 7thApril.
We have been experiencing truck queues during the last two or three days. This delay factor has reduced by 50% and is now currently up to two time zones (two hours).
We expect to return to normal operating levels by Monday next week.
As earlier communicated, penalties and storage charges on account of delays, will be waived as appropriate.
We regret any inconvenience to our customers. Should you need any assistance or further clarification please do not hesitate to contact Sean Bradley, Landside Superintendent on (03) 96800830.
Port of Melbourne Corporation international trade information via Magellan Logistics
On 2nd April 2013, the Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC) released the downward trending container trade figures for February 2013.
Decreases were recorded for 2 out of the 5 measured indicators. The positive indicators demonstrating an increase were, full overseas container imports (4.5%), full overseas container exports (0.5%) and empty overseas container imports (15.3%). The increases are small but nonetheless are heading into positive territory.
The key take-aways from the PoMC report for February are:
Total overseas container throughput (full + empty) for February was 162,615 TEU, this was a decrease of 1.9% over the equivalent period last year and down 2.3% for the financial year to date.
Total (full + empty) container imports for the month were up 5.1% while total (full + empty) container exports decreased by 8.4%.
Full overseas container imports increased 4.5% over February last year to be down 3.2% on a year to date basis.
Commodities with the most notable gains were furniture, clothing, aluminium, toys and sporting goods.
Vehicle parts, rubber manufacturers, raw plastics and machinery returned the most notable declines, whilst exports of cotton, pulp and waste paper, rice, newsprint and dairy recorded the most significant increases for the month.
Empty overseas container movements for February decreased 19.5% over the same period last year to 28,412 TEU to be down 2.3% on a year to date basis. Empty overseas exports decreased 24.3% for the month while imports were up 15.3%.
Miscellaneous manufactures remains steady at the top of the import tally comprising 9.3% of imports while textiles remain the bottom dwellers with 1.5%.
Exports of paperboard and manufactured paper products lead with 7.0% with raw plastics sitting at 1.8% of total exports for Feb 13.
Imports are arriving from East Asia (40,008 containers) accordingly, East Asia is also the destination for most of our export containers (30,891 containers).
To read the full report from the PoMC – www.portofmelbourne.com
Posted in Announcements Customs by .
international sea freight containers – both import and export
On 5 Feb 2013, the Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC) released the disappointing container trade figures for December 2012.
Decreases were recorded for 4 out of the 5 measured indicators. The only indicator to demonstrate an increase, full overseas container exports, did so by only 0.8% but this is down 0.1% on a year to date basis.
The key take-aways from the PoMC report for December are:
Total overseas container throughput (full + empty) for December was 178,355 TEU, this was a decrease of 4.1% over the equivalent period last year and down 1.4% for the financial year to date.
Total (full + empty) container imports for the month were down 5.6% while total (full + empty) container exports decreased by 2.6%.
Full overseas container imports declined 5.5% over December last year to be down 3.3% on a year to date basis.
Commodities with the most notable declines were furniture, metal manufactures, domestic appliances and machinery.
Cotton, dairy products, pulp and waste paper, paperboards and scrap metal returned the most notable increases, whilst exports of wheat, metal manufactures, wood manufactures, and wine recorded the most significant declines for the month.
Empty overseas container movements for December decreased 2.5% over the same period last year to 37,880 TEU to be up 1.7% on a year to date basis. Empty overseas exports decreased 7.9% for the month while imports were down 6.1%.
Miscellaneous manufactures leads the import tally comprising 9.1% of imports while textiles are the bottom dwellers with 1.2%/
Exports of paperboard and manufactured paper products leads with 6.1% with malt sitting at 2% of total exports for Dec 12.
Imports are arriving from East Asia (40,707 containers) accordingly, East Asia is also the destination for most of our export containers (38,948 containers).
To read the full report from the PoMC – www.portofmelbourne.com
Posted in Announcements Customs Trade Stats by .
The Festive Season break in Australia sees many families head to the beach to enjoy the traditional sun, surf and swim that is holiday time.
Parent volunteers at the Nipper
Program, Fairhaven SLSC Jan 2013 – safety vests sponsored by Magellan Logistics
Founder and Managing Director of Magellan Logistics, David Thatcher enjoys the New Year holidays with his family on the Victorian coast near Fairhaven. Many people know of this nook in the Great Ocean Road as the place with “The Pole House” – a pedestal house built in the late 1970s by Frank Dixon.
David’s family chooses to lend their support to another Victorian icon, the Nipper program. Run by the Fairhaven Life Saving Club, Nippers has 500 under 14 year olds who train for water and beach competitions, water and surf safety certificates. Parents and teenage members of the Club watch over Nippers as they perform ocean swims or learn board technique.
The hands on participation in the surf with the Nippers program is a world away from the freight forwarding and customs clearance issues that keep David busy with Magellan Logistics for most of the year.
Although the Fairhaven Surf Lifesaving Club did make news in early January as a spotlight was shone on its efforts to run the Nippers program and provide the community with surf patrols without a club house.
“Lending a hand to the vital surf lifesaving work done by the Fairhaven Club is always pleasure,” says David. “Organising my family’s commitment to Nippers, with my children as participants and my wife and I as volunteers is almost as much work as guaranteeing my clients’ international air freight arrives on time.”
Teenage volunteers for the Fairhaven SLSC wearing safety vests sponsored by Magellan Logistics
In addition to David’s family participating in the Nippers program, Magellan Logistics were proud to support Fairhaven’s volunteer team with water safety rash vests.
Magellan Logistics are a privately owned company based in Melbourne, Australia. Magellan specialise in freight forwarding and customs clearance with specific expertise for the fashion and retail sectors.
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Further to the advice of a side loader levy being introduced on 1st Feb 2013 by DP World, we wish to advise that Sydney Ports has alerted us that Patrick stevedores will also be introducing a fee.
DP World and Patrick applied to Sydney Ports (SPC) to introduce side loader levies. Additional costs incurred due to safe loading practices have been cited as the rationale for the fee. SPC believes these levies are legitimate terminal handling charges and should be paid by shipping lines rather than passed down the line to carriers.
The application of this fee is outside the remit of PBLIS financial penalties. Accordingly, SPC cannot have this application by the stevedores set aside.
DP World have published their fee structure ($54+GST for sideloaders per import container lift as of 1/2/13), Patrick will advise their fee structure in the near future.
We have been advised by DP World Port Botany, of the following:
Issue: IMPORTANT INFORMATION – SIDELOADER SURCHARGE
Short Description: ATTENTION CARRIERS
DP World Port Botany wish to advise all carriers that effective 1st February 2013 the sideloader surcharge of $54 + GST will be introduced and applicable per sideloader for import container lifts.
Priority: Urgent
Notification Date: 02/01/2013 15:16
Current for: 30 Day(s)
On 15/01/13, we were advised by the CEO of PoMC that for the period 1 July – 31 Dec 2012, $36.5 million was recovered in PLF representing 95% of the total estimated amount. Trade growth has slowed in the eastern states, resulting in container trade figures lower than for the same time last year.
This 5% variance is not unexpected. In line with PoMC’s stakeholder engagement strategy, industry will be provided with price adjustments for the 2013-2014 financial year in April/May 2013.
Should there continue to be lower than expected recovery of PLF, these fees may be increased in July 2013.
