This week the Australian Border Force (ABF) issued a statement regarding comments that have been made on their officers’ workloads. While admitting there has been a reduction in international passenger movements, they insist that the number of ABF officers required to process international passengers remains high due to the requirements associated with COVID-19 protocols. Officers […]
Last week we reported on shipping delays, taking note particularly of the situation for cargo imported and exported through Sydney. The congestion and delays there have already caused a number of vessels to omit the port from their schedule and discharge containers elsewhere. Now, as we anticipated, shipping lines are imposing surcharges on importers and […]
Clients should be aware of considerable delays on seafreight imports, particularly those originating from, or transhipping through, Asia. This has been caused in part by several typhoons that have hit Asian ports, and exacerbated by industrial action here in Australia. Currently cargo carriers are experiencing delays and congestion of up to 12 days berthing at […]
Smart Ships South Korean shipping company HMM has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with compatriot shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) on smart ship technology. Under the MoU, they plan to collaborate in the research, development and innovation in the field of smart ship solutions. It covers the development of eco-friendly technologies applicable for smart […]
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) has issued Industry Advice Notice IAN 136-2020 – “Commencement of the 2020-2021 Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) Risk Season- 1 September 2020†It is directed to: stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including Master Consolidators, vessel masters, freight forwarders, treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs […]
Danish container shipping major A.P. Moller – Maersk has unveiled its investment in Australian tech startup Ofload (formerly called Loadsmile). Through its venture arm Maersk Growth it has, together with Germany’s Global Founders Capital (GFC), provided A$2.8 million in seed funding to Ofload. This joins Ofload’s pre-seed investor, Flash Ventures. The international container shipping company Maersk Line, founded […]
Overseas, khapra beetle(Trogoderma granarium) is a serious pest of stored grains, rice, oilseeds and dried foodstuffs. In hot conditions, populations build up swiftly, causing significant losses to produce held in stores such as grain in silos. The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) has issued Industry Advice Notice (IAN) 127-2020: Notification of planned […]
The Victorian Government has announced that on-site business activity across Melbourne is now limited to permitted industries under Stage 4 restrictions, to reduce movement across the city and slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). These restrictions impose workforce reductions on certain businesses including warehousing and distribution. Trucking movements and other freight activities are not tied […]
A media release from the office of the Federal Trade Minister, dated 04 August 2020, has announced that Australia has recorded its largest financial year trade surplus in 2019-20, off the back of booming goods exports. Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that, despite the undeniable global economic shocks wrought by COVID-19, […]
Ports around Australia receive roughly 6,000 calls from container vessels each year, and many more thousands of general cargo ships. Â A report released by the ABC today shows that an estimated 300,000 seafarers around the world have not been able to leave ships and return when their contracts ended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Quarantine […]
