Breakbulk trades neglected in Oz

Australian ICT provider 1-Stop Connections has unveiled a new web-based application that it claims has the potential to improve shipping line and road transport operator efficiencies by cutting empty box movements by up to 30%.

Protest marches in major Australian ports at the end of October appear to have done little to convince shipowners and stevedores to embrace the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA)’s version of a National Stevedoring Code of Practice (NSCOP).

Port users are up in arms about a new Port Licence Fee (PLF), due to come into effect on 1 July, which will see almost all sea and shoreside charges in the port of Melbourne rise by as much as 50%.

Shipping lines are becoming resigned to seemingly insuperable berth congestion at the existing Port Botany container terminals ahead of Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH)’s debut as the third terminal operator in late 2012/early 2013.

New South Wales Treasurer and Ports Minister Eric Roozendaal has announced that the longthreatened regulation of landside operations at Port Botany terminals will be rolled out immediately as par t of the Port Botany Landside Improvement Strategy (PBLIS).

Almost a month after DP World was forced to close its Port Botany terminal to all shipping for 24 hours in an attempt to clear onground container gridlock, shipping lines report little measurable improvement.