NSW / VIC port related regulatory reviews

Victorian Essential Services Commission (ESC) Following member feedback, Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) made a submission to the Inquiry into Port of Melbourne compliance with the pricing order 2021 focussing on the increase of the tariff introduced on 1 June 2020 in the form of a fee per TEU on full import containers, designed to underpin the Port Rail Transformation Project (PRTP).   Submission available HERE (FTA/APSA MEMBER LOGIN REQUIRED)   Voluntary Pricing Protocol - Weight Amendment Fee at Patrick ESD Last week FTA/ APSA received a Voluntary Pricing Protocol notice from Freight Victoria in terms of the proposed introduction of a Weight Amendment Fee at Patrick ESD effective 4 October 2021. FTA/APSA wrote to Patrick executive referencing examples of overseas exporters providing accurate weights to the shipping line with this data reflected on the Bill of Lading yet this detail is not accurately reflected on the EDO that is made available to the stevedore. The result being penalties issued by Patrick against the Australian transport operator. In such circumstances, FTA/APSA suggested the stevedore issue a penalty against the shipping line to incentivise accuracy of reporting and to address safety concerns.  Extract of correspondence available HERE (FTA/APSA MEMBER LOGIN REQUIRED)   NSW Regulatory Review Road carriers and stevedores servicing Port Botany are subject to mandatory performance standards that regulate road freight movements to and from the port. The standards are embedded in the Ports and Maritime Administration Regulation 2021. They came into force in 2010 and were last updated in September 2021 Port Botany Landside Operations Mandatory standards under Part 6 of the Ports and Maritime Administration Regulation 2021 Summary of changes made to standards in 2021 Order issuing new mandatory standards 2021 Mandatory Standards effective 1 September 2021 compared to standards effective from 18 December 2015 Mandatory standards were introduced under the Port Botany Landside Improvement Strategy (PBLIS) following a 2008 Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) finding that: Bottlenecks at the port caused congestion on the wider Sydney road network Waiting times for trucks were often unreasonably long Stevedores were unable to service trucks within the timeslot booked due to a lack of clear rules around terminal delays Ineffective working relationships between stevedores and truck drivers were hurting supply chain operations There was no performance data available about landside operations. In a recent meeting between FTA, APSA and Transport for NSW executives, advice was provided that a comprehensive review of the Ports and Maritime Administration Act 1995 and PBLIS will commence this year and will include detailed consultation with stakeholders. We will keep members up to date on this review process and will seek feedback for incorporation into our formal submission.

NSW Empty Container Parks

The Empty Container Working Group (ECWG) held its 22nd meeting on Thursday 26 August - communique available HERE

NSW Rail Freight Strategy In response to a request from APSA for closer involvement in rail reforms, representatives have been  invited to attend a virtual workshop hosted by Transport for NSW on 16 September 2021 to support the development of a Rail Freight Strategy, with an initial focus on the movement of containers to and from Port Botany and the related supply chain across Greater Sydney and regional NSW. For further detail or input into any of the above matters, please contact Tony Vinson, Head of International Freight & Logistics – FTA / APSA at avinson@FTAlliance.com.au Paul Zalai - Director FTA | Secretariat APSA | Director GSF