Empty containers set to become the year's greatest supply chain challenge
Over recent months, the Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia Inc. (CBFCA) has noted with increased concern comments from road transport operators and their representative associations that there is growing logistical congestion at empty container parks in Melbourne, Sydney and Fremantle ports.
The CBFCA noted in particular the impact of this congestion manifesting itself in the disruption on transport logistics with regular redirections to alternate sites for container de-hire and extensive truck waiting times at nominated sites.
Paul Zalai, CBFCA’s manager of freight and business operations, said: “The situation has now reached the point where in Melbourne a major shipping line has been unable to nominate an empty container park for de-hire, and the industry has been required to find alternate interim holding yards. This then incurs additional transport lifts and storage, with costs related to these activities being passed on to importers and exporters through higher transport rates, demurrage charges or other levies.
“These additional costs in a time of competitive global markets disadvantages Australian traders and consumers. The failure of shipping lines to work towards an equitable resolution to a problem not of the trading sector’s making is not appropriate,” said Mr Zalai.
Mr Zalai also expressed concern over an apparent change in policy and precedent by Hapag-Lloyd. The shipping line is scheduled to implement from 1 March 2010 a container detention calculation method that will see the shortening of the period to return empty containers, which will exacerbate existing container de-hire difficulties and costs.
In a recent commentary to its members, the CBFCA said that it had formally raised these concerns with Shipping Australia Ltd and will be addressing associated issues with state-based taskforces, port ministers, port corporations and the Federal Minister for Transport.
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