Daily Cargo News - MORE MUA PIA, DPW CALLS FOR GOVT INTERVENTION

Daily Cargo News - MORE MUA PIA, DPW CALLS FOR GOVT INTERVENTION

... the lack of predictability of shipping schedule is seeing many exporters who rail from regional centres direct to the wharves now moving and storing their loaded containers at nearby port facilities. This is adding transit delays, double-handling costs and additional truck movements.

"Trains often operate on a take or pay method, meaning you either use the slot or pay for it anyway even if the slot remains empty. The decision for our regional exporters then becomes whether to double handle the container at the port and pay for storage or pay for the empty train slot and rail it again the following week. Between three of our exporter members, data revealed more than $2 million in double handling and staging costs was paid over the last three month period," Mr Zalai said.

According to Mr Zalai, compounding the industrial action has been the extreme weather events and machinery failures at DP World in Brisbane and road works in Melbourne resulting in trucking scheduling difficulties, futile trips, extended wait times and transport operators implementing higher fees to recover costs.

As an indication of the severity of the problems, the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning has declared the situation an official "Disruption Event" bringing stakeholders together to structure communications and implement strategies with the intent of minimising adverse impacts.