CONTAINER TRANSPORT ALLIANCE (CTAA) MEMBER NOTICE
Container transport operators are experiencing significant delays and disruptions at DP World's Brisbane Terminal due to equipment and IT outages on top of notified Protected Industrial Actions (PIA).
During the period between Christmas and New Year, DP World Brisbane has suffered from equipment outages and maintenance of their Automated Stacking Cranes (ASCs) used to load and unload trucks within the Terminal.
As of 29 December, 3 of the total of 8 ASC "Modules" were out of action, and another was experiencing difficulties in manifesting B-doubles or Higher Productivity Freight Vehicles (HPFVs - i.e. A-doubles or Super B-doubles) as the Module was only able to load the rear trailer of these combinations.
The Brisbane Terminal also experienced a systems outage in the early hours of 29 December ceasing all operations.
On top of these equipment & systems' issues, the notified Protected Industrial Actions (PIA) continue with work stoppages of 2 hours' duration at 0500hr, and a ban on loading and unloading trucks looming in the "Old Yard" area (away from the ASCs) for 24 hours from 2 to 3 January 2024.
The current industrial actions have seen some truck turnaround times at DP World Brisbane blowing out to over 5 hours in duration.
These disruptions mean that transport operators will need to roster on more drivers for operations over the long weekend leading into New Year at greater labour expense to them. This is provided that DP World Brisbane can allocate addition VBS slots which aren't available in the slot exchange.
Many transport operators have implemented congestion surcharges for operations into DP World's Terminals across Australia, including in Brisbane. Some are also charging truck waiting time or futile truck trip costs to their customers given the levels of disruption being experienced.
The implementation of such surcharges is a commercial matter between transport operators and their customers.
However, it must be appreciated that transport operators are suffering significant additional operating costs to be able to complete the import and export freight demand.
Transport operators are also seeking extensions of available free time for some full imports on behalf of their customers and are juggling export receival windows that change constantly due to vessel berthing delays, port rotations or port omissions.
Operational conditions at all DP World Terminals remain very challenging as we rush into 2024.