GPSM offices will be closed for Easter Holidays as below:
Friday 15th April: Office closed
Saturday 16th April: Office closed
Sunday 17th April: Office closed
Monday 18th April: Office closed
We shall resume normal operations on Tuesday 19th April, 2022.
Ports will continue to work vessels through the holiday period, our Transport Team will be in contact with customers regarding movement of any containers over the holidays.
Phase 6A , as of 12 July 2021, Full Container Load/Full Container Consolidated (FCL/FCX) containers that are packed in a khapra beetle target risk country and will be unpacked in a rural grain growing area of Australia (see attached postcode list) must be treated offshore using an approved treatment option. These measures apply to the above containers exported on or from 12 July 2021.
This measure has been expanded to further minimize the risk of the introduction and spread of khapra beetle to high-risk rural areas.
As part of this, Full Container Load/Full Container Consolidated (FCL/FCX) containers that are packed in a khapra beetle target risk country and will be unpacked in a rural nut growing postcode of Australia must be treated offshore using an approved treatment option. This requirement will only apply to containers exported on or after 15 December 2021.
The container must be:
Failure to comply with these requirements will result in the export of the container upon arrival in Australia.
Important: The target of these treatments is the container and not the goods/commodity being shipped within the container. However, the goods may also need to be treated offshore under Phase 3 of the urgent actions.
Attachments:
The Australian Government is taking further action to increase the economic costs to Russia following its illegal invasion of Ukraine, supported by Belarus, by applying an additional tariff of 35 per cent for all imports from Russia and Belarus.
On 1 April 2022, Australia will issue a formal notification withdrawing entitlement to the Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) tariff treatment and applying an additional tariff of 35 per cent to all imports from Russia and Belarus. This will take effect from 25 April 2022 and will be in addition to general duty rates that currently apply.
This action follows Australia’s joint statement, with other like-minded members of the World Trade Organization, strongly condemning Russia’s actions and committing to take all actions we consider necessary, as WTO members, to protect our essential security interests.
Please note that due to the high winds in Sydney Port Botany area at present that Empty Container Parks are not accepting return or pick-up of empty containers.
This will affect many operations today and our Transport Team will keep affected clients updated on the operational issues and solutions.
The City of Shanghai has been affected by a COVID out break and the city will be closed down by authorities for one week from today 28 March until 5th April 2022..
The cities’ East area will close from today until April 1st and then the western area of the city will close from April 1st until April 5th.
The above closures will seriously affect pick-up and deliveries from other cities to/from Shanghai and pick-ups within the Shanghai area will almost cease as many drivers will be confined to home or will be blocked from entering the area.
Our Shanghai partners are suggesting that shipments can be re-routed to Ningbo Port, please contact your GPSM Customer Service Team contact if you wish to look at this alternative action to avoid delays.
Union Members have agreed to vote for the most recent proposal by Patrick’s Terminals on their Enterprise Bargaining Agreement across all four (4) Patrick’s Terminals in Australia.
The following is an extract from a notice released by Patricks:
“The new deal provides Patrick Terminals with increased operational flexibility to better meet customers’ needs and service the changing supply chain landscape. The new agreement provides Patrick Terminals with the right to recruit at their discretion without restrictive union quotas.
Michael Jovicic, CEO Patrick Terminals said, “We are pleased to have secured support for our new enterprise agreement across our workforce. This new four-year arrangement provides the flexibility that we sought in regard to recruitment and will allow us to better service our customers in regard to manning, new technology and operational efficiency. We would like to thank our customers for their patience over the past 2 years and now look forward to a future of industrial stability on the Patrick waterfront.â€
The new Enterprise Agreement will now be lodged with the Fair Work Commission to ratifyâ€.
We are starting to see container detention invoices from Shipping Lines issued during the recent flood crisis.
In disputing these costs with lines, they have advised that no consideration will be given for delayed deliveries as a result of the floods in various areas of Australia.
We believe that the lines are just continuing to extract every dollar they can with these unbelievable cost impositions with no consideration for importers and exporters.
We are disputing each and every one received but to date have not been successful in obtaining any reductions, regrettably GPSM will need to pass these costs on to our affected customers.
A number of China cities are reported to have fresh outbreaks of COVID virus, with the 17.5 million residents of Shenzhen now locked down by local authorities except for buying food.
All residents in Shenzhen are now restricted from leaving home for at least one (1) week, workers are unable to attend any work places and all public transport has ceased.
Authorities have decreed that all residents would be COVID tested three times in the coming seven days.
For the time being, all the imports and exports business will operate as usual without any impact but we have been advised by some suppliers that the long-haul truck with SHENZHEN number plates will be prohibited to enter into nearby cities which will potentially delay the shipments.
It is expected the shutdown will also severely affect operations at Shenzhen Airport. LCL warehouses in Shenzhen area are also shut down.
We understand all schools have been closed in Shanghai and the Shanghai port is also reportedly shutdown.
It is possible that shipping services will be delayed as a result of the shutdowns, we will advise further details on affected areas as soon as news come to hand.
Trucking Fuel Update:
As most people will be aware from news coverage over the past couple of weeks, diesel fuel prices are increasing almost on a daily basis.
GPSM recently increased our trucking fuel rates at the time the price for diesel was $ 1.65/litre, that price has now increased to +$ 2.00/litre in the last week mainly as a result of the war in Ukraine and the ban on Russian oil supplies.
As echoed by our interstate and local trucking partners, regrettably we are left with no alternative but to increase the fuel levy to a minimum of 20% effective immediately.
We hope the fuel price will remain steady and warn we may need to adjust the levy further is costs continue to escalate.
The new fuel levies will be adjusted to the GPSM rates page asap.
Global Trucking:
Our partners in Poland, Czech Republic, Western Europe and UK have all advised this week that inland trucking costs are due to increase in these countries as overall there is now a shortage of drivers as many drivers have returned to Ukraine and Poland.
Ukrainian drivers make up a large percentage of drivers throughout Europe/UK.
Diesel fuel costs across UK/Europe are also escalating quickly.
Empty Container De-Hire:
Just a reminder that GPSM require 48 hours’ notice from clients for collection of empty containers left on site.
We have seen many clients failing to advise when containers are empty that leads to a last day rush to de-hire the equipment before detention commences.
Please be aware that empty container parks do not extend hours and that we require time slots for re-delivery, obtaining same at the last minute is almost impossible.
Do not hesitate to contact our Transport Team if you need any further assistance on notifying us of empty equipment collections.
For the 2021-22 BMSB risk season, BMSB seasonal measures will apply to targeted goods manufactured in or shipped from target risk countries, that have been shipped between 1 September 2021 and 30 April 2022 (inclusive), and to vessels that berth, load, or transship from target risk countries within the same period.
Note: The shipped on board date, as indicated on the Ocean Bill of lading, is the date used to determine when goods have been shipped.
“Gate in†dates and times will not be accepted to determine when goods are shipped.
We continuously review the measures throughout the season and may make necessary adjustments based on detections of BMSB and changes in the risk pathways.
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