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MARINE ATLANTIC FUEL SURCHARGE
Effective July 1, 2008, the fuel surcharge for Marine Atlantic will be 27.7 % fuel surcharge will be applied to the posted tariff rate for passengers, passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles.
http://www.marine-atlantic.ca/en/rates/comm.shtml
FUEL STRIKES BRING SUPPLY CHAIN CHAOS ACROSS THE WORLD
Transport Intelligence - Rising fuel costs have prompted industrial action by hauliers and others in a range of markets around the world, bringing many transport systems to a standstill and severely disrupting the supply of goods.
In Spain, one of the countries hit hardest by strike action, up to 90,000 self-employed lorry drivers are blockading main routes, leading to a shortage of petrol and panic buying by consumers. Several manufacturers in that country have shut down operations due to a lack of parts and foreign vehicles have been prevented from entering the country. That has led to long vehicle queues at the French border. It is reported that the strike is spreading to neighbouring Portugal. In response, the Spanish government has promised hauliers a package of subsidies to help mitigate the 20% increase in fuel costs. However, it has stopped short of giving in to demands for a new system of regulated tariffs which would prevent freight companies undercutting each other.
A similar situation is developing on the other side of the world in Korea. Workers represented by the Korea Cargo Transport Workers Union are holding a sit-in which is expected to affect 20% of containers handled at all the main ports. The government is reported to have mobilised the military to ensure that containers keep moving whilst also promising rebates and subsidies.
Other countries suffering from transport disruption include Malaysia, Hong Kong and India, where the government was recently forced to put up the price of subsidised fuel after state oil companies were pushed to the brink of bankruptcy.
With the price of fuel showing no signs of diminishing, the transport and logistics industry could be in for a turbulent summer. If strikes spread from country to country, as there is every sign of happening, lean supply chains will be hardest hit. Manufacturers around the world may well be inclined to increase their level of safety stocks to prevent the closure of production lines, as witnessed in the Spanish automotive industry
TEAMSTERS WANT NATIONAL FUEL REBATES FOR TRUCKERS
Today’s Trucking - Laval, Quebec – The livelihood of thousands of truckers’ is at risk if the government doesn’t step in an give them a break on fuel process, says Teamsters Canada. The union is urging Ottawa to establish a national rebate program to mitigate the effects of high gas and fuel prices. The program is based on effective provincial models.
The price of diesel which is well over 41.50 in many parts of the country "imposes a perilous cost on trucking companies, brokers and owner-operators," says the union. In a press release, the Teamsters referred to massive strikes by truckers in Europe. "These demonstrations reflect the same feelings of anger and exasperation that have prompted protests in Europe, obstructing traffic on several major roadways."
The federal government, however, has the power to mitigate the "crisis by using the budget surpluses it has accumulated in recent years to assist the trucking industry." The Quebec government affords independent drivers in that province protection against rising gas and fuel costs, which is evidence that a national rebate program could be successful, says the union.
INTERMARINE UPDATES BUNKER SURCHARGES
As the cost of fuel continues to escalate, Intermarine, the agent for Industrial Maritime Carriers and West Coast Industrial Express announces that the carriers will increase the bunker surcharges on all their services to/from South America, Mexico and the Caribbean effective July 15, 2008.
The new Bunker Surcharges (BSC) levels will be as follows:
North, East, and West Coasts of South America including the Caribbean and Mexico:
Break bulk $59.00 w/m as freighted (minimum $59.00);
20ft 490.00 per unit and 40ft $790.00 per unit.
The surcharges apply to all inbound and outbound cargoes and will be effective for all cargoes loaded to carrier’s vessels on or after July 15, 2008.
CFIA NATIONAL IMPORT SERVICE CENTRE FACT SHEET
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is modernizing its import control processes by consolidating its three import service centres in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver into one National Import Service Centre.
The CFIA will continue to provide front-line screening to ensure that imported products meet Canadian requirements. Regulatory compliance and the safety of food and agricultural commodities imported into Canada are a priority for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
The creation of a National Import Service Centre will provide the following enhanced services: A single window for issues related to import transactions and documentation; Increased bilingual service to 24 hours, seven days a week from the existing 20 hours, seven days a week; Increased consistency in the review of import documentation and verification of import admissibility; Improved alignment with the services delivered by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
The CFIA is committed to maintaining established service standards with minimal disruption to clients during this transition and will be providing updates to stakeholders as work progresses on the Agency's 20% Reductions under the Paperwork Burden Reduction Initiative.
National Import Service Centre will take place over a period of several months. More information will be provided as to the location and the implementation plan and schedule as details are worked out. In the meantime it is "business as usual" so continue to work with the current Import Service Centres and your normal contacts.
REMINDER FIATA: RESTRICTIONS/PROHIBITION TRANSPORTS OF DG DURING THE OLYMPIC GAMES
With reference to a notice regarding the prohibition on the discharge/loading of dangerous cargo in seven cities where Olympic Games events will be held, different local police bureau, ports and airports may have their own different arrangements. Following are some of the local arrangements:
Air Freight:
Shanghai, Tianjin, Beijing, and Qinhuangdao: No official notice yet.
Qingdao: No written announcement. Only verbal notices from local custom that they will reject all DG cargos import from 1 Jun till mid. Oct.
Shenyang: No official notice yet. But all airlines in Shenyang do not accept DG cargos.
Hong Kong: Civil Aviation Department has not issued or planned to issue any additional restriction.
Ocean Freight:
Shanghai: Shanghai seaport authorities have issued an official announcement. It states that due to security concerns during the Olympic games, the Shanghai port will stop handling certain dangerous goods from July 18 to Aug 31.
These dangerous goods include Explosives (including fireworks and fire crackers), Organic peroxides, Toxic substances, Radioactive substances, Hydrogen peroxides, Acetone, Sulphuric acid, Nitric acid, Hydrocholoric acid, Ammonium nitrate (including related fertilizers).
Qingdao: No written announcement. Only verbal notices from local custom that they will reject all DG cargos import from 1 Jun till mid. Oct.
Tianjin, Shenyang, Beijing, and Qinhuangdao: Port authorities have issued no formal notice yet.
Hong Kong: Marine Department advised that they neither impose nor plan to impose any additional restriction.
Important Reminder: Please check with airlines and shipping lines as they may have their in-house restrictions tighter than government requirements. It is likely that different China ports and airports would exercise restrictions, which are not the same.
Overseas stations are recommended to check with the relevant China office well in advance of the dispatch of any dangerous goods shipments. Even though some ports and airports have not yet made any announcement on additional restrictions, please be prepared that the restrictions may come at very short notice. The information on these restrictions came from various sources. Any further developments on this issue will be released as appropriate.
KOREA'S WEEK-LONG TRUCKER'S FUEL STRIKE DRAWS TO A CLOSE
The week-long truckers strike over soaring fuel costs has ended after a compromise was reached between drivers and freight owners and container transportation companies on haulage rate hikes.
The compromise came after an agreement between non-unionised truckers and the employers association for a rate increase. The two sides agreed to end the strike first and raise trucking rates.
The South Korean government says striking truckers are returning to work after reaching agreement with 39 employers. The week-long strike has disrupted operations at ports and damaged the country's export-driven economy with container traffic down to a third of the pre-strike levels.
The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs reported that 1,500 workers have ended the walkout of 13,000 truckers who went on a nationwide strike over rising fuel prices, demanding fuel subsides, an increase in haulage charges and a minimum wage. Busan, which accounts for 70 per cent of the country's container throughput, was in better shape with traffic down to half its usual level, the ministry said
NEW BILL SEEKS STANDARDS FOR CONTAINER SECURITY
JOC Online - Newark, N.J.- A new Senate bill is seeking to increase port security by establishing minimum security standards for all containers entering the United States, the bill's sponsors said. The Port Authority Implementation Act of 2008 (S. 3174) was filed Friday, and was presented at a media conference Monday at the Port of New York and New Jersey by co-authors Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez of New Jersey.
The legislation follows a Senate hearing chaired by Lautenberg last week during which federal officials said they would be unable to meet a 2012 deadline to scan all containers coming into U.S. ports. The bill would require cargo to be monitored from the time it is loading into containers until it reaches the United States. Containers that do not meet the new standards would be refused entry.
The bill also calls for: - Minimum security standards for essential port services such as supply and launch vessels, and bunker and fuel deliveries; - Each of the nation’s port regions to have a response and recovery plan in case of a major terrorist incident or emergency; - The ability for law enforcement officials to confiscate a fraudulent or altered Transportation Workers Identification Credential; - New standards to more accurately determine port security risks and identify funding needs. The standards would update a 2006 bill authored by Lautenberg requiring all port security grants to be awarded based on risk.
ANL-USL JOINS OCEANIA VSA SERVICE TO BE UPGRADED
The member lines of the Oceania Vessel Sharing Agreement (Hamburg Süd, Hapag-Lloyd, and Maersk Line) and ANL-USL will, subject to regulatory approval, restructure their existing services between the West Coast of North America and Australia/New Zealand.
Under the proposed agreement the four lines will jointly offer eight monthly sailings under a three string service concept. ANL-USL will integrate their existing service with the Oceania VSA.
• A weekly Pacific Southwest String (PSW-1) will utilize six 2500 teu vessels calling Long Beach, Auckland, Melbourne, Sydney, Tauranga, Suva (3x per month) Honolulu (1x per month), Oakland, Long Beach.
• A fortnightly Pacific Southwest String (PSW-2) will call Long Beach, Tauranga, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Tauranga (to be confirmed), Long Beach. This new PSW-2 string will be operated with 3 x 1300 teu vessels.
• The Pacific Northwest (PNW) string will sail fortnightly from Seattle, Vancouver, Long Beach to Tauranga, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and return via Auckland, Papeete (Tahiti), Ensenada (Mexico) to Oakland and Seattle. The PNW string will employ 4 x 1700 teu vessels.
The departure days of the fortnightly PSW-2 and fortnightly PNW string from Long Beach are timed in such a way as to provide weekly fixed day departures. The Oceania VSA will provide 104 sailings in each direction with the most comprehensive port coverage. Start-up of the new service structure is planned for August.
FEFC - POSTPONEMENT OF EMERGENCY PORT CONGESTION SURCHARGE - FRANCE
Further to their Notice of June 10th, FEFC Lines advise that the introduction of the Emergency Port Congestion Surcharge at the ports of Le Havre and Fos of US$ 250 per TEU will be postponed to B/L date on or after the 1st July. This will apply to both eastbound and westbound cargo. The situation at French ports will be kept under review and the Surcharge will be adjusted accordingly. |
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