Eight weeks ago, we reported on the toll taken on the shipping industry during the COVID pandemic, not the least of which is the enormous challenge facing crews on cargo vessels. Yesterday (26 January 2021) it was reported that 327 maritime industry and human rights leaders have signed a new global pledge urging for industry […]
The Australian Border Force (ABF) has issued its first Australian Customs Notice (ACN) for 2021. It is numbered 2021/01 with the title: Definition of ‘consignment’ for the purposes of section 68 of the Customs Act 1901. (It is to be noted that this advice supersedes ACN 2006/59). Importers are advised that they should take steps […]
Almost 25 million people in the Asia-Pacific Region alone are estimated to be enslaved in global supply chains.  Credit: Bloomberg Australia’s world-leading attempts to tackle modern slavery around the globe will be empowered with a $10.6 million national action plan which was funded in the last budget. The funding is also designed to help equip […]
Global Marine Traffic (Source: marinetraffic.com) More than 90,000 commercial ships make up the world’s commercial fleet. International cargo vessel operators faced some significant challenges last year, beginning with IMO2020 – the greatest historical change in fuel regulation – and ending by still trying to come to grips with the effects of Covid-19, especially crew changes. […]
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) has this week issued Market Access Advice 2020-16: United Kingdom: Multiple Commodities: BREXIT changes from 1 Jan 2021 affecting Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It provides information on changes to trade with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) following the Brexit transition […]
The Australian Border Force (ABF) has issued notices ACN2020/53 and 2020/54 about important changes to duty rates which will take effect from 01 January 2021. Scheduled Reduction of Preferential Rates of Customs Duty: From 01 January 2021, the preferential rates of customs duty for certain originating goods will be reduced in accordance with the schedules […]
The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus – or PACER Plus – entered into force on 13 December. It is a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) covering goods, services and investment and is a milestone for Pacific regional development. As a regional development-centred trade agreement, PACER Plus provides a new platform to support economic […]
The bill of lading (B/L) is said to be the most important transport document in international trade: a mainstay of the global supply chain that’s present from origin to destination. But for as much as shipping has changed over the decades, not much about the B/L has. Today, it’s still the same paper, time-consuming document […]
Container shipping companies report that vessel operating costs have risen at their fastest pace in over a decade this year, on the back of higher insurance cover premiums and COVID-19 related expenses. Average daily operating costs jumped 4.5% in 2020, compared to underlying increases of 2% and 2.5% respectively in the previous two years. Manning […]
Leading Australian stevedore, Patrick Terminals, has announced the implementation of their weighing device, called the Pondus Stand, to check the weight of shipping containers and they will impose a penalty if they identify discrepancies of plus or minus one tonne (+/- 1t). The fine, called a Weight Amendment Fee for Import Containers, means that a […]
