News

Fracht Australia Logistics News - October 2024

1/10/2024

BMSB SEASON 2024/25

• THE SEASONAL MEASURES FOR BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG (BMSB) have officially commenced 1^st September 2024 and will be in effect until 30^th April inclusive. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) requires all targeted goods manufactured in or shipped from target risk countries to be treated by approved treatment providers. It is important to note that all cargo shipped as Break Bulk MUST BE TREATED OFFSHORE, prior to arrival into Australia.

• Break bulk includes those goods shipped on flat racks and in open top containers.

• Untreated break bulk will be denied discharge or directed for export.

• Onshore treatment is not permitted.

• FCL containers that have been modified, such as those used to house in-built power generators, filtration plants, portable accommodation etc. are no longer sealed six hard sided containers and are considered break bulk cargo.

Further information can be found HERE.

AROUND THE WORLD

• NEW FRACHT OFFICE IN PUNTA ARENAS (CHILE). As a consequence of strategic investments in the Energy sector for Hydrogen Production, as well as infrastructure expansion and investment projects in the Punto Arenas Magallanes Region, Fracht Group Chile has set up a commercial and operational presence to offer innovative logistics solutions in this growing market. For further details, please contact our Sales and Customer Service Teams.

• NEW GERMAN BORDER CONTROLS COULD COST ‘TENS OF MILLIONS’ IN DELAYS, as supply chain leaders are urging German regulators to rethink an expansion of stricter border controls which came into effect on 16^th September, and described my many as the “end of [border free] Schengen area”. Responding to the news, Dutch shippers and forwarders association, Evofenedex, said in a statement that “there is a risk of long waiting times that disrupt chains, and fresh products such as flowers arriving late”.

• UK FREE TRADE AGREEMENT LEADS TO RET MEAT SUCCESS. With the ban on live sheep exports still fresh in the minds of Western Australian farmers, the state government has announced the success of a ‘red meat’ mission to the UK. Agricultural exports of lamb and mutton have grown to $22 million in 2023-24 with total agricultural exports hitting a record $41.3 million. The UK is already the State’s most valuable export market for wine, accounting for 36% of total wine exports, with demand continuing to build. Australian Rare honey is also building UK market share, with its luxury honey collection available exclusively at high-end retailer Harrods.

• BOXSHIP BREAKS CAPACITY RECORD IN PANAMA CANAL. Containership MSC Marie broke a record in the Panama Canal this past week, becoming the largest vessel by TEU capacity ever to transit the waterway. Liberian-flagged MSC Marie transited the canal’s locks on 30 August. The ship is 366 metres long, 51 meters wide and has a maximum capacity of 17,640 TEU. The record was previously held by Ever Max, which transited with a capacity of 17,312 TEU in August last year.

SEAFREIGHT NEWS

• MAERSK INTRODUCES A RAFT OF NEW LOCAL SURCHARGES. Announced from Europe, there are new infrastructure fees, new inland equipment positioning charges, new vehicle booking service fees and increased origin- and destination terminal handling charges, plus variations to various fuel surcharges. The only explanation offered in any of the notifications was that these new fees and charges were introduced “to continue offering our broad portfolio of services and high-level reliability…”.

• INSURANCE CLAIMS ON THE RISE WITH BOX SHIPS FORCED TO BRAVE CAPE WEATHER. There has been a prolific rise in weather-related cargo loss and insurance claims since carriers have been forced to brave the extreme conditions round the Cape of Good Hope to escape Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. Conventional wisdom has it that ships should avoid heavy storms where possible to minimise the risk of container loss, but the past 270-or so days of re-routing have seen vessels exposed to extreme weather off southern Africa.

• MAERSK LINE AND HAPAG-LLOYD HAVE BEEN QUICK TO UNVEIL EAST-WEST SERVICE PLANS for their Gemini Cooperation, which officially begins on 1 February 2025 and supersedes the existing Maersk / MSC 2M. Maersk refers to its new ‘product’ as the Network of the Future, which it says will represent roughly half of its global Ocean network scope, covering the Asia / USWest Coast, Asia / US East Coast, Asia / Middle East, Asia / Mediterranean, Asia / North Europe, Middle East– India / Europe and Transatlantic trade scopes.

• GRIMALDI CLIMBS HOEGH SHARE REGISTER as Italian ferry, ro-ro and PCTC giant Emanuele Grimaldi has raised his stake in Höegh Autoliners to almost 10% after first buying into the PCTC specialist in April. Mr Grimaldi is now the second largest shareholder in the Norwegian company, behind the Höegh family, after initially taking a 5.12% stake. The Naples-headquartered Grimaldi Group is Italy’s largest shipowner/ operator with 130 vessels and is also involved in terminals and logistics. It operates a monthly Europe-ANZ ro-ro/PCTC service.

  

AIRFREIGHT NEWS

• TEMPORARY RESTRICTIONS FOR AIR FREIGHT SHIPMENTS INTO AUSTRALIA that have originated in selected European countries. The Australian Government has mandated temporary restrictions on all airlines operating to Australia, for certain items originating in 55 European countries, including at all tranship locations. These restrictions are effective immediately and will remain in place until further notice. The following shipments must not be accepted for uplift and are prohibited from entry into Australia:  

• Cargo weighing more than 500g booked by an unknown shipper.

• Unless tendered by a Known Consignor, shipments that contain liquids, aerosols or gels and are packaged in the same consignment as battery-operated, electrical or electronic items, batteries, or analogue or electronic devices.

Further information and a complete list of the 55 European Countries is available HERE.

• CATHAY PACIFIC SET TO RESUME FULL A350 OPERATIONS as soon as their engineering team thoroughly inspects their fleet of operational A350 aircrafts. Cathay Pacific has discovered that 15 engines on its A350 fleet have components which needed replacing.

• GENERAL CARGO SHIPPERS, FIGHTING FOR SPACE AGAINST ECOMMERCE GIANTS, should “brace for impact” as the industry heads towards “one of the highest peaks ever in the industry of air cargo”, with a shortage of capacity likely to see airlines prioritizing profits.

• THIRD RUNWAY AT MELBOURNE AIRPORT TO SUPPORT FREIGHT ACCESS. The federal government has given the all-clear for construction of a third runway at Melbourne Airport, with anticipated benefits for the air freight sector. The development plan was approved on Friday (13 September) by federal minister for infrastructure and transport Catherine King, who has imposed certain noise-related conditions that need to be met for the runway to proceed. The 3000-metre-long runway is expected to open in 2031, increasing the airport’s capacity by allowing for simultaneous take-offs and landings.

   

  

OCEANIA PORTS AND TERMINALS

• VICTORIA SEES RECORD EXPORTS. Victoria’s government has announced the state’s exports have grown by more than $2 billion in the past 12 months, claiming it as the largest increase in exports across Australia. Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that Victoria’s exports increased by 3.6% in the June quarter to $17.6billion, which the state government is calling a record.

• A FLOATING WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER is ready to be deployed in Albany’s outer harbour. The M4 converter, the focus of a Western Australian research project, is designed to harness renewable energy from the ocean. The Albany M4 Wave Energy Demonstration Project will deploy the device in the waters of King George Sound to test the potential for the region’s high wave energy density and reliable swells to be used as a renewable energy source.

• CEFC COMMITS $70M TO ELECTRIFYING FLINDERS PORT. CEFC, which is owned by the Australian government, said the investment is the first-ever green financing of container stevedoring operations in Australia, and the corporation’s first direct finance in the maritime sector. The investment would support investigations into transition from hybrid straddle carriers to an electric Automated Rubber Tyre Gantry crane at the Flinders Adelaide Container Terminal (an Australian-first, according to CEFC), and also the potential for shore power. It also aims to support a range of initiatives at all seven FPH ports, including installation of solar systems and replacing internal combustion light vehicles with EVs.

• PILBARA PORTS SEES AUGUST THROUGHPUT INCREASE and reported a total monthly throughput of 65.8 million tonnes in August 2024. This sees a 5% increase when compared to the total monthly throughput handled in August 2023. The Port of Port Hedland reported a monthly throughput of 48.6 million tonnes, of which 47.9million tonnes was iron ore exports. Imports through the Port of Dampier totalled 95,232 tonnes, an increase of 23 percent from August 2023.

• GEELONGPORT PROGRESSES OFFSHORE WIND-FARM TERMINAL ASPIRATIONS and has thrown its hat in the ring to become Victoria’s next offshore wind hub, to support the state’s growing renewable energy industry. The port authority says it is aiming to develop up to 25 hectares of land at its Oyster Cove site and build a new offshore wind farm terminal to support the renewables industry in the Gippsland and Southern Ocean zones.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

If you would like further information about any of the above items, please contact one of our friendly Fracht Team members at fracht@frachtsyd.com.au