Author: GPSM

First it was Covid, then it was Sea and Air space shortages, blank sailings and Freight rates ever increasing . Now Shippers have to contend with Typhoons hitting Southern China

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202107/1229179.shtml

Below is a snapshot of the current global shipping status to Australia and New Zealand:

 

From North Europe/UK:

Extensive backlogs of cargo in most Northern European/UK ports with most shipping lines fully booked in advance, rates on all services again increased for July/August shipment as a result of strong demand for space.

Hamburg port is the most severely affected with congestion and delays and lack of available space at this time.

 

Indian Sub Continent:

Heavily backlogged in all Indian Sub-Continent ports, many shipping lines not accepting bookings to Australia and all lines booked up to 4-6 weeks in advance.

 

USA/Canada:

Severe backlogs at all ports and rail hubs, shortage of empty equipment and trucking services at a premium.

Lengthy delays in San Francisco port with vessels waiting up to 15-20 days to gain access to a berth. Los Angeles/Long Beach port working at over capacity, volumes up by 20% over 2020. Vessels waiting at anchorage 10-15 days for berth access.

Houston port volumes have increased by39% over 2020 with truck and chassis availability remaining limited.

New York port also showing double digit volume increases over 2020, Philadelphia and Savannah port both extremely busy and showing large growth in volumes of containers handled.

Extensive delays in receiving bookings from all USA shipping lines, direct services to Australia booked for next 4-6 weeks, many transhipment services via Asia now not accepting any bookings until such time as the backlog in USA and Asia is cleared.

 

Toronto and Montreal ports heavily backlogged and bookings “challenging” to obtain, Vancouver port heavily impacted by recent wild fires in British Colombia that has cut one rail line from East Coast Canada and is delaying all containers on the rail service.

 

South East Asia:

Again, all services heavily booked, some lines avoiding Jakarta port calls due to backlog, Vietnam ports also showing heavy congestion and further disruption expected as Vietnam deals with a serious outbreak on COVID virus again over the past week.

Malaysian transhipment hub at Port Klang extremely heavily backlogged with transhipment delays of up to 4-5 weeks being experienced.

Singapore transhipment hub now experiencing up to 6 weeks delays due to the massive volume of cargo backlogged and continuing to arrive.

Services from Thailand heavily booked on all shipping lines.

 

North East Asia:

China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan ports are handling the highest volumes of containers ever seen but still managing to move most containers, albeit with some delays in the higher volume ports. Space on all carriers remains at a premium, all vessels departing NE Asian ports loaded to capacity.

The recent closure of Yantian port due to an outbreak of COVID virus has certainly added to the delays in Shenzhen and Pearl River Delta ports, with many of those ports now only using Hong Kong (instead of Shenzhen) as there connection hub to ocean vessels to Australia.

 

New Zealand:

Auckland port remains a bottleneck of cargo, many lines now avoiding calls in Auckland until the situation improve

Documentary requirements for fumigation certificates for imported goods

The current policy differentiates statements required to be made on fumigation certificates with respect to impervious surfaces, wrappings and timber thickness depending on whether the treatment provider issuing the certificate is registered with the department

Current Policy Requirements

Treatment providers other than those undertaking a treatment under one of the department’s recognized schemes (AFAS, BMSB) or to address the risk of Khapra Beetle are required to make a statement related to plastic wrapping of the goods only.

The current policy enables one of the following statements to be made:

• ‘plastic wrapping has not been used in this consignment’
• ‘this consignment has been fumigated before application of plastic wrapping’
• ‘plastic wrapping used in this consignment conforms to the AFAS wrapping and perforation standard as found in the AFAS Methyl Bromide Fumigation Standard’.

Revised Policy Requirements

The revised policy which comes into effect 2 August 2021 enables a single statement to be used on all methyl bromide and sulfuryl fluoride certificates regardless of the treatment provider.

The revised requirement is:

• A statement confirming that the target of the fumigation conforms to the plastic wrapping, impervious surface and timber thickness requirements at the time of fumigation, as per Appendix 3 of the Methyl Bromide Fumigation Methodology.

or

• A statement confirming that the target of the fumigation conforms to the plastic wrapping, impervious surface and timber thickness requirements at the time of fumigation, as per Appendix 2a of the Sulfuryl Fluoride Fumigation Methodology

Reason for the change

 

The primary reason for this change is that the current statements do not address timber thickness and impervious coating considerations that must be taken into account to ensure effective fumigations are conducted.

 

The new policy harmonises the requirement between providers and removes opportunity for conflicting statements to be made.

 

Attachments

• aust-methyl-bromide-fumigation methodology

Sulfuryl fluoride fumigation-methodology

As space constraints and capacity continue to tighten around the globe some shipping lines are implementing cancelation fees for cancelled bookings. This can apply to imports and exports to/from Australia. We first reported this a few weeks ago happening on overseas trade lanes. Unfortunately some shipping lines to Aust and NZ have started to implement this fee. As GPSM are searching for suitable space across a wide range of lines and routes, we will notify you if cancellation fees apply to your booking. These fees can be around US$ 500/20’and US$ 1000/40’and maybe subject to change without notice

Generally we do not get a lot of cancellations from customers so it may not have a large effect but please bear this in mind if you are swapping your bookings around for any reason. GPSM will unfortunately have to pass these fees on at costs should they apply.

Sadly this is anther indicator of the state of the global logistics market due to Covid -19 ongoing impacts.

Are you a food importer , do you wish to be part of Virtual Inspections, please read below any importer wishing to participate please let our office know when you have your next Imported Food Inspection

 

Imported Food virtual inspections

Date of effect: 05 July 2021

 

Attention

Food importers and brokers.

 

Purpose

To advise importers and brokers that from 5 July 2021, the department will be accepting expressions of interest from parties interested in engaging in virtual visual label inspections for eligible imported surveillance food.

 

Key points

• A virtual inspection is conducted in real time using Microsoft Teams. Virtual inspections allow a departmental authorised officer to connect with an importer through a smart portable device and conduct the inspection remotely. The only platform currently used is Microsoft Teams.
• From 5 July, importers must express interest to participate in a virtual inspection and conduct connectivity testing with the department prior to booking a virtual inspection. Expressions of interest can be sent to [email protected].
• Guidelines will be sent to importers that express interest with the complete list of requirements that must be met to undertake a virtual inspection.
• Importers must have the technological capability and connectivity to participate in a virtual inspection through Microsoft Teams. Importers must also nominate representatives to undertake virtual inspections. Representatives will be required to follow directions of authorised officers, including the selection of samples for inspection and positioning the goods to the camera for detailed inspection.
• Importers will be charged per the existing charging guidelines. If, during a virtual inspection, the food is found not to be compliant, the virtual inspection will be cancelled, and a physical inspection must be booked.
• Food eligible for a virtual label and visual inspection is surveillance food. The following surveillance foods are not eligible for virtual inspections:
  • formulated supplementary sport foods
  • food subject to a holding order
  • food subject to analytical testing.
• Risk food is also not eligible for label and visual virtual inspections.
• Physical inspections will continue to be an option for importers who do not wish to book a virtual inspection.

Background

• In 2020, in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the department conducted a trial of virtual inspections under the Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS) for label and visual inspections of surveillance foods.
• The virtual inspection trial was a success and found virtual inspections offered many benefits for both industry and the department including greater flexibility and efficiencies including reduced inspection times. Due to the success of the trial, the department supports offering virtual inspections as a permanent option under the Imported Food Inspection Scheme for eligible surveillance foods.
• The department will continue to explore the use of alternative media platforms and smart technology devices that support virtual inspections in real time, such as the use of smart glasses.

Do you Import packaged goods by Volume, then read below you may be subject to an Audit .

2021–22 Compliance Programs

Concentrated National Audit Programs

 

Under this program methodology, first introduced in 2018–19, all trade measurement inspectors will be involved together

in a concentrated national audit, focused on a single industry sector over a specific time period, to assess compliance with trade measurement legislation.

Two major factors determining which traders are targeted in these national audits will be:

• previously identified non-compliance
• relative market shares of industry participants.

Three concentrated national audit programs will be undertaken in 2021–22.

Importers

This program will include a focus on pre-packaged products with measurements based on volume. Imported products to be audited under this program will include:

• consumable items, including oils and seasonings
• animal food products, such as pet foods
• beverages
• sanitisers such as alcohol based products
• cleaning products.

Inspectors will also be reviewing documentation for measurement-related QA processes to ensure regulatory compliance.

Further information can be found on link below

https://www.industry.gov.au/data-and-publications/national-measurement-institute-national-compliance-plan

Please see below message just received rom Patricks Terminal regarding on-going Protected Industrial Action

 

Subject: [PATRICK NS PORT BOTANY – NSW] Patrick Port Botany

Issue: Protected Industrial Action

Short Description: Patrick is continuing to be impacted by MUA imposed protected industrial action. This action results in 3 hours of work bans per day. The MUA imposed work bans are resulting in some carriers being unable to secure enough imports time slots to evacuate containers within the free storage period. The protected industrial action is a legal tool available to the MUA to cause business disruption in order to assert their negotiating position. Given that the protected industrial action is outside our ability to control, Patrick will not be issuing storage waivers or reductions resulting from the MUA imposed stoppages

Duration of Delay: 0 days 0 hrs 5 min.

Issue Commencement: 30/06/2021 15:05

Expected Resolution: 30/06/2021 15:10

Our Transport Team will keep all clients advised of impacts on shipments, kindly note the disclaimer on waiving any storage charges as a result of this industrial action.