Industrial Action Port of Melbourne
Stockwell International has received an update from Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) since the last notice of a four-hour stoppage commencing Tuesday 16th February from 16:00 to 20:00 at the Victorian International Container Terminal. Read previous notice in our news alert of 12th February.
Since this report the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has provided further notice for Protected Industrial Action covering a work ban and stoppage at VICT as follows:
- Friday 19th Feb, 18:00 to Saturday 20th Feb 06:00. All landside and quayside operations will stop at this time.
- Work ban by employees using personal mobile phones for work related matters for 48 hours, starting from Friday 19th Feb 06:00 to Sunday 21st Feb 06:00.
Please keep in mind these stoppages will cause delays, and we will work closely with the appropriate authorities to try to keep delays to a minimum.
For more information or concerns, please contact your sales representative on 1300 786 468 or [email protected]
Californian Congestion At An All-Time High
US Coast Guard footage has shown how extreme congestion has become at Los Angeles and Long Beach ports.
Reports confirm that there has been no relief in the historic container log-jam in California.
Reports say “As of Thursday, there were 25 container ships at berth in Los Angeles and Long Beach. Thirty-two container ships were at anchorage. That’s roughly the same level that has been at anchor since the beginning of this year. (The record of 40 container ships at anchor was hit on Feb. 1)”. Ship waiting times are at an average anchor time for ships calling in Los Angeles was 8 days as of Thursday, up from 6.9 days on Tuesday.
Several factors have caused this extreme congestion including; a lack of available ships to handle services, delays on the landside, extremely high inbound volumes combined with logistical complications and Los Angeles is currently at the epicenter of the COVID-19 surge. Nearly 700 dockworkers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have contracted COVID-19 and hundreds more are taking virus-related leaves causing severe slowdown.
Get more information on the COVID-19 Surge in California.
We kindly ask clients to remain patient while we do our best to navigate through these trying situations and will endeavour to keep you updated with the latest information as it becomes available.
See footage of the current situation of the Californian Coast.
For more information or concerns, please contact your sales representative on 1300 786 468 or [email protected]
Empty Container Park Situation
Sydney Empty Container Congestion
Stockwell International has received and would like to inform you that Sydney is still struggling with managing the Empty Container volumes. As per the below notice from ContainerChain shows that MCS COOKS RIVER Empty Container depot is close to reaching its capacity for safe working operations. This crisis is not only impacting MCS but all Empty Parks in Sydney
“With immediate effect, empty container depotMCS COOKS RIVER is unable to accept any further 40’ containers and special equipment until further notice”. Stockwell’s recommends contacting the relevant shipping line for alternative de-hire arrangements. Stockwell’s will not be held liable for any additional charges incurred due to this disruption outside of our control.
Melbourne Empty Container Congestion
Stockwell International has also received notice from Container Transport Alliance Australia of surging containerised import volumes through the Port of Melbourne, along with average empty container evacuations by shipping lines, has caused a build-up of empty container stock that has reached critical levels in Melbourne.
This has resulted in most of the empty container parks in Melbourne being near or at operational capacity, causing delays in import container de-hires, difficulties in accessing export empties in some instances, expensive redirections, truck queuing and added landside logistics costs.
As depots are becoming full, we ask you to please speak with your sales rep and keep in mind delays this may create. Read the notice.
For more information or concerns, please contact your sales representative on 1300 786 468 or [email protected]
