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CN TRUCKERS - SPRING WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS 2011
To all Customers shipping to/from the Provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick - both of these Provinces have announced the start of their Spring weight restriction periods.
Please note that payload weights in equipment to be delivered by CNTL must be reduced per the requirements for shipments planned to arrive in Quebec or New Brunswick after the start of their Spring Weight Restriction period. Full details at: http://www.cn.ca/en/customer-news-spring-weight-restrictions-20110221.htm?s_cid=rss-cn-customer-news
CP- QUEBEC SPRING THAW RESTRICTIONS - DOMESTIC INTERMODAL
The Quebec Ministry of Transport will implement the annual spring thaw weight restrictions in March 2011.
Effective March 1, 2011, CP will not accept/ingate any overweight containers. Overweight loads will be returned to the Shipper at their own expense.
For Domestic shipments where CP performs the drayage weights must be reduced and evenly distributed in the unit in order to avoid possible charges and fines associated with the Quebec Spring Thaw restrictions.
CP will not accept responsibility for any such charges. Once Quebec Spring Thaw restrictions have been published by the Quebec Ministry of Transport, CP will advise when the restrictions will end. This notice is intended for Intermodal customers shipping domestically (excludes International marine traffic)
CFIA UPDATE: WOOD PACKAGING MATERIAL BETWEEN CANADA AND U.S.
Implementation of the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (2009) for Wood Packaging Material Moving Between Canada and the United States The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) are moving forward to remove the current exemption for wood packaging being shipped between the two countries, as outlined in the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) No. 15.
This action is necessary to prevent the introduction of new forest pests, as well as slow the spread of forest pests already established in North America. Full details click here.
CARRIERS FACE RENEWED CONTAINER SHORTAGE
The Journal of Commerce reports that ocean carriers face a shortage of containers in the coming months as production of boxes lags growing cargo capacity, according to a report by Alphaliner.
The box-inventory-to-vessel capacity ratio will drop to 1.99 by the end of the year from 2.03 in 2010, the Paris-based analyst forecasts. This is the lowest ratio on record and compares with the capacity ratio of 2.99 boxes per slot in 2000. Back haul shippers from the U.S. and Europe will be hit hardest by the box shortage as carriers will need to quickly return empty containers to high demand locations in Asia, Alphaliner said.
The box-to-slot ratio has been shrinking gradually over the past decade, partly reflecting the more efficient management of equipment by container lines, according to Alphaliner. Over the past decade the global inventory of containers grew 6.9 percent annually while the container ship fleet increased 11.1 percent per year. The box-slot ratio dropped significantly in 2009 as the financial crisis prompted carriers and leasing companies to cull older boxes as vessel utilization levels declined. Container manufacturers also ceased production of standard boxes in 2009 to focus on reefer and specialized equipment.
The imbalance has stabilized since July, according to Alphaliner, as container manufacturers resumed production and carriers halted the scrapping of older equipment. The industry has to adapt -- through faster turnaround of equipment, improved upkeep on old containers and extending the lifespan of boxes, Alphaliner said.
ITF CALLS FOR RULES ON PACKING CONTAINERS
The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) is lobbying politicians on the dangers of badly packed, overweight, inadequately secured and mis-declared containers reports IFW. The ITF is warning politicians, the European Union and other stakeholders of the risks from some containers ahead of an International Labour Organisation (ILO) debate on the subject on 21 and 22 February. It will call for global regulations on packing containers.
ITF general secretary said: “At their best, containers are a key link in the world supply chain; at their worst, they are a danger to the lives of workers and the public. Their use across all transport sectors makes this of particular relevance to the ITF and its transport worker members.” He added: “So far, best practice and self-reg
ulation have failed to stop the worst kind of incidents. We’re recommending that international mandatory instruments be developed that guarantee that those handling and moving containers are informed of their weight, state of packing, stowage and securing, as well as their centre of gravity and whether or not any fumigants or dangerous substances are present.” The ITF said the ILO forum Safety in the Supply Chain in Relation to Packing of Containers would be the first worldwide examination of the safety problems linked to containers and undeclared dangerous goods.
The ILO said: “Many accidents in the transport sector are attributed to poor practices in relation to packing of containers, including overloading. The purpose of the forum is to reach a common understanding by all stakeholders of the underlining issues pertinent to the packing of containers, and a better understanding of the reasons that lead to the application of poor practices in packing containers.”
TSA CARRIERS INCREASE FUEL SURCHARGES EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2001
Carrier members of the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA), serving the East Asia/USA trade lane will increase several surcharges and terminal related charges effective April 1, 2011. Bunker Adjustment Factors (BAF) calculated using TSA’s old monthly formula will increase on April 1 to
US$940 per 20ft ctr,
US$1175 per 40ft ctr,
US$1322 per 40ft hi-cube ctr,
US$1428 per 45ft ctr, and
US$26 per WM (LCL).
The group’s New Formula BAF for the April – June 2011 quarter is
US$468 per 40’ ctr to US West Coast Ports and
US$879 per 40’ ctr to US East and Gulf Coast Ports,
with other sizes as per formula. Inland Fuel Charges (IFC) for the April – June 2011 quarter are US$295 per ctr for shipments to IPI destinations served via West Coast Ports, US$148 per ctr for shipments to RIPI destinations served via East Coast Ports, and US$85 per ctr for shipments to Group 4 Points and to East Coast local store door points.
LIBYAN PORTS STAY CLOSED AS DOCKERS FLEE VIOLENCE
Libya’s major ports stayed closed this week after shipping lines said they were unwilling for their ships to call at the country amid concerns for the safety of the crew or the vessel becoming stuck as dock workers flee or join the nationwide protests reports IFW.
A spokesman for one forwarder said that operations at Tripoli, Benghazi and Misurata had stopped. He said: “They were still accepting cargo for Libya, but the containers are being discharged in Italy – in Gioia Tauro or La Spezia – and are waiting to be sent on once the situation gets better in Libya. “At the moment, they are advising customers that containers will be delayed getting to Libya.”
HAPAG LLOYD - NEW IMPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR IRAQ
Hapag-Lloyd has advised that the Iraqi Customs Authorities have implemented the following rules for all import shipments to Iraq effective February 15, 2011. Please be guided accordingly:
- All non-levied import cargo needs to be attested at place of origin by the Iraqi Embassy. Documents that require to be attested are Certificate of Origin and Commercial Invoice.
- All commercial importers / cargo receivers need to have a valid import license prior to importing any cargo into Iraq.
- All packing lists and invoices need to be in English and Arabic.
ICWTSA NOTICE BUNKER SURCHARGE/FUEL RECOVERY/INLAND FULE CHARGE APRIL 1, 2011
Major trans-Pacific shipping lines of the Canada Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (CWTSA), wish to advise their customers that effective April 1, 2011 the Bunker Surcharge/Fuel Recovery Charge, Inland Fuel Charge will be at the following levels:
Bunker Surcharge / Fuel Recovery Charge
WC Dry
US $ 508.00 per 20ft container
US $ 635.00 per 40ft/45ft container
EC Dry
US $ 971.00 per 20ft container
US $ 1214.00 per 40ft/45ft container
WC Reefer
US $ 715.00 per 20ft container
US $ 894.00 per 40ft/45ft container
EC Reefer
US $ 1292.00 per 20ft
US $ 1615.00 per 40ft/45ft container
Inland Fuel Charge
US $ 295.00 per container for rail and combined motor/rail transports
US $ 85.00 per container for all motor transports
CWTSA is a group of 8 ocean and intermodal transportation companies serving the trade from Canada to Asia.
ITCTSA AND CWTSA NOTICES - CURRENCY ADJUSTMENT FACTOR APRIL 1, 2011
Major transpacific shipping lines of the Canada Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (CTSA), wish to advise their customers that effective April 1st, 2011, the Currency Adjustment Factor will be at the following level:
8% - Applicable from all origins including Japan and the PRC
The members will continue to monitor exchange rates and will notify their customers of any further adjustments. CTSA is a group of 10 ocean and intermodal transportation companies serving the trade from Asia to Canada.
In related news, major transpacific shipping lines of the Canada Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (CWTSA), wish to advise their customers that effective April 1st, 2011 the Currency Adjustment Factor will be at the following levels: Origin CAF 10% - Applicable to all destinations including Japan and the PRC
CWTSA is a group of 8 ocean and intermodal transportation companies serving the trade from Canada to Asia.
ICTSA ADOPTS GENERAL RATE INCREASE FOR MAY 1, 2011
Container shipping lines in the Canada Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (CTSA) have called for a General Rate Increase (GRI), effective May 1, 2011.
Effective May 1, 2011, member carriers in the Canada Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (CTSA) say they intend to raise Asia-Canada rates across the board by US$400 per FEU for Vancouver local and door cargo, and by US$600 per FEU for all intermodal and East Coast all-water shipments, with other equipment sizes rated per formula.
The new rates will apply to all CTSA origins, including Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. CTSA is a discussion forum of 10 major container shipping lines serving the trade from Asia to ports and inland points in Canada.
CP AND MONTREAL PORT AUTHORITY SIGN PRODUCTIVITY AND PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT
Canadian Pacific and the Montreal Port Authority (MPA) on Friday announced the signing of a collaborative agreement on performance and productivity that formalizes the railroad's and the port's ongoing supply chain collaboration.
A statement from CP said "The collaboration agreement would continue to strengthen the long partnership with the Port of Montreal, setting the stage for a cross-supply chain collaboration that improves performance and service of the Continental Gateway and that the collaboration would create the most efficient and reliable routing for freight traffic moving between Europe and the American Midwest."
Canadian Pacific's tracks already provide the most direct routing between the Port of Montreal and distribution centers in the US Midwest and Northeast. In a typical year, CP freight trains carry the equivalent of more than 1 million truckloads of merchandise through the Detroit River Tunnel, moving goods from Canada's industrial heartland and trans-Atlantic trade from the Port of Montreal to the American market.
IS GERMANY PLANNING TO INTRODUCE AN AIRFREIGHT SECURITY FEE
According to media reports, Germany's federal ministry of the interior is planning to introduce a new fee for scanning airfreight.
The reports say that the government wants to step up airfreight security in reaction to the parcel bombs that were sent from Yemen last autumn. The costs, in the form of a fee, would be primarily borne by transport companies. While the details have not been finalised yet it is likely that the surcharge will not only be on cargo entering and leaving the country but also on any that route through German airports.
There are definite plans for the federal police to increase the number of spot checks to ensure that German airports and certain foreign hubs adhere to the prevailing security standards. In addition, German airports are to acquire better scanning technology. : “A surcharge will make cargo more expensive and hurt industry.”
US ACCEPTS YEMEN AIRFREIGHT AGAIN
The US has raised the barriers on airfreight from Yemen for the first time since October 2010. A ban was enforced on all air cargo shipments from the Middle Eastern country after two US-bound bomb parcels flown out of Sana’a International Airport were uncovered.
With the aid of US training Yemen heightened cargo shipment security and now cargo flights are taking to the air once again as long as they comply with new conditions and regulations. The US team found Yemen had already augmented security measures to be in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization standards.
SPANISH AIRPORT STRIKES PLANNED FOR APRIL-JULY
According to a Reuters report, unions plan to stage 19 days of strikes in Spanish airports between April and July in protest against government measures to privatize national airport operator AENA, a union spokesman said on Tuesday.
Spain said in December it wanted to partially privatize AENA, which it says could be worth up to USD$41.7 billion, as part of plans to reduce the national debt.
Wildcat air traffic controller strikes in early December stranded thousands of passengers causing chaos at Spanish airports and prompted the government to bring in the army to take over air control.
As part of the privatization plan, the government would allow private companies to take stakes of up to 49 percent in the country's airports and airport services' business, a sale that is likely to draw both national and foreign interest. Spain's biggest airports, Madrid and Barcelona, would be run privately under operating concessions. The privatization could be completed before the end of the first half of 2012.
CFIA COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONAL
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has updated its Compliance and Enforcement Operational Policy (CEOP). The revised version places greater emphasis on transparency as well as recourse mechanisms available to industry. The updated policy, which will be available on CFIA’s website by February 25, 2011, confirms the CFIA’s overall approach to assessing compliance and applying enforcement action when warranted.
The CFIA will continue to work closely with industry members on compliance issues while practicing fairness, impartiality and consistency. Similarly, existing principles, legislation, and roles and functions of industry and the CFIA remain in place. In keeping with their commitment to transparency, the CFIA will also begin posting on its website quarterly information on enforcement activities. The first data to go on their website in the coming weeks will include links to existing prosecution bulletins and food imports refused entry into Canada
As this initiative expands, more enforcement-related information will be posted, including:
- Confiscation of food products that could not be brought into compliance;
- Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs);
- Federally registered food establishments whose licenses have been suspended, cancelled or reinstated; and
- Names of companies that have received Notices of Violations with Penalty in the course of carrying out their business.
Posting this information is consistent with the practice of several other federal regulators who currently provide information on their compliance and enforcement activities (e.g. CRTC; Transportation Safety Board of Canada; Health Canada).
It is also consistent with information publicly shared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service, and internationally. There is also a demonstrated public need for this type of disclosure, reinforced by the recommendations in the Report of the Independent Investigator into the 2008 Listeria Outbreak.
The CFIA feels that their decision to add this new section to their website is a fair and measured approach to protecting the safety of Canada’s food supply and, ultimately, the good reputation of your industry. They recognize and are sensitive to issues of privacy and commercial confidence and intend to provide appropriate context for information that will be made public.
The CFIA and their inspectors remain committed to working closely with you to resolve any issues that might affect our food supply, your industry and individual businesses. In doing so, they hope that, together, this will protect the quality of food Canadians consume while minimizing enforcement activities.
The CFIA anticipates that you may have questions or need clarification regarding the new CEOP and the posting of enforcement information. They are therefore providing you a dedicated email address where you can send your questions. Please direct your questions to:
[email protected]
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