Google Talk gets real-time language translation

20th December 2007
Danny Gorog

Want to speak to someone overseas but can't speak their language? Google has added the world's first live translation system to its instant messaging network, truly delivering on the science-fiction promise of the "babelfish".
Google's IM network is available via the downloadable Google Talk software, on the web using the Google Talk Gadget, or through any software that supports the open-source Jabber chat protocol. It's also available via the left hand side bar in the Gmail window.
Today Google improved on Talk by adding on-the-fly language translation via 'bots' that you add to your Google Talk friends list.
Do you speak French? Or Arabic? Now you do with new Google language 'bots'
Translating using iChat and Jabber
To use the translation tools you'll need to add each individual language-to-language bot as a friend in your G Talk buddy list.
There are currently 24 supported bots and adding them is easy as long as you know the two languages you want to translate between.
You'll also need to append '@bot.talk.google.com' to the end of the two languages. I fired up Google Chat and used it to translate between English and French and English and Arabic and the response is almost instant.
For a complete list of language codes see here . If you add them and nothing happens it means that Google doesn't support it yet.
There's also another feature that I hadn't noticed before called Group Chat - this lets you invite multiple people into a chat, and can be used in conjunction with the languages bots to help a translation between you and your foreign friend. However, it's worth noting that both Group Chat and language translations are only available within G Talk and not to your AIM buddies unfortunately.
If you're not a fan of web-based IM clients then any Jabber compatible client (iChat included) should let you sign on to G Talk and add buddies locally.

Christmas air cargo space short as Australian online sales jump 6-8pc

A SIX to eight per cent jump in online shopping this year is causing a great Australian rush for airfreight space, reports the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The Australian Horticultural Exporters Association's David Minnis said Christmas was always busy, but the rise in the country's online shopping this year has made life more difficult than ever.
"As a fresh fruit exporter, we're used to having some problems around Christmas time, but for some reason this year Australians are sending lots of presents overseas," he says.
"Certainly space into Asia and then on through Europe is tight because of this movement of Christmas goods," he said.

Long Beach truckers hit with US$35 to $70 per container tax, LA to follow

PORT officials have given a green light to US$35 to $70 per loaded container green tax on truckers to the Port of Long Beach, reports the Associated Press.
The tax will take effect by June and is expected to raise $1.6 billion to replace or retrofit 16,800 trucks to reduce emissions. The nearby Port of Los Angeles is expected to copy the initiative soon.
The cost is expected to be passed on to consignees for all containers leaving by truck with a future aim to include containers leaving by train.
The Clean Truck Programme under Long Beach and Los Angeles Clean Air Action Plan aims to ban trucks without clean-burning engines from the port by 2012. The plan sees an 80 per cent reduction in air pollution from short-haul trucks within five years.
The method of collection of the tax by terminal operators is yet to be decided, but optical character readers that comply with the programme are being considered. Exemptions or credits for owners of green-compliant vehicles have been discussed.

Japan takes humpbacks off kill list

Brendan Nicholson, Canberra, and Andrew DarbyDecember 22, 2007

A DETERMINED Australian-led campaign against hunting humpback whales has succeeded — for now — with Japan abandoning plans to kill them in the Antarctic this year.
Japan has removed a quota of 50 humpbacks from its "scientific research" whaling list because of concerns about its relations with Australia, a Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman said last night.
But Japan will proceed with a cull of almost 1000 other whales, mostly of the smaller minke species. The humpback hunt will be suspended for one or two years.
Mitsuo Sakaba said Japan's relationship with Australia was too important to be jeopardised by any single issue or dispute.
"'We are aware that in Australia and other countries there is strong objection to our scientific research whaling," Mr Sakaba said. "It is clear that a very significant portion of the Australian people, from young children to senior citizens, hold whales, especially humpback whales, very dear."
Mr Sakaba said it should be emphasised that Japan's scientific research whaling program was not illegal.
Another Japanese Government spokesman, Nobutaka Machimura, denied that Tokyo had succumbed to Australian pressure, saying the decision not to kill humpbacks was also made after consultations with the International Whaling Commission.
A spokesman for Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Japan's decision was welcome, but nonetheless there was no good reason why Japan should continue any sort of whaling.
The Government believed there was "no credible justification for the hunting of any whales and will vigorously pursue its efforts, announced earlier this week, to see an end to whaling by Japan", the spokesman said.
The proposed killing of humpbacks, which migrate south along the Australian coast, would have been the first sanctioned hunt of humpbacks in the Antarctic since they were protected by the International Whaling Commission in 1963.
Japan included them as part of a quota of 1035 whales it set using an IWC loophole that allows any member nation to set its own scientific kill target.
The Federal Government announced a new campaign against scientific whaling this week. It will include surveillance of the Japanese fleet to gather evidence for an international legal case, and increasing diplomatic pressure on Japan.
Australia's ambassador in Tokyo, Murray McLean, was due to present the Japanese Government with Canberra's formal protest last night.
Darren Kindleysides, Asia Pacific campaigner for the International Fund for Animal Welfare, said the group would see Japan's decision as an "admission of wrongdoing".
"Certainly, this is a climbdown," he said. "But clearly this year is still the biggest year ever of Japanese research whaling, with up to 935 minke whales and 50 endangered fin whales still in Japan's sights."
Greenpeace said it was encouraging that the decision had been taken away from the Fisheries Agency and handled by the Japanese Government.
Greenpeace and the militant splinter group Sea Shepherd have each sent a ship to Antarctic waters to try to disrupt Japan's whaling. Its whaling ships left Japanese ports for the Antarctic last month.
Greenpeace's ship Esperanza left Auckland this week, but Sea Shepherd's ship, the Steve Irwin, is returning to Australia for mechanical repairs after blowing a piston in one of its twin engines. The ship is likely to dock in Melbourne around Christmas.

WISHING YOU ALL A VERY MERRY AND SAFE CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

FROM THE CREW AT WILLARD ESTATE LOGISTICS
BRETT, DEBI, JULIE, KERRY AND STROM


Operational hours for Willard Estate Logistics during Christmas /New Year Period
24th December 2007: Limited operation (office unattended but phones tranferred to our mobile). Email will not be read until evening of 24th December 2007 – we will be travelling.
25th – 26th December 2007. Limited operation (office phones transferred to our mobile phone for emergency communication)
27th – 31st December 2007. Limited operation (office will be attended on 27th, 28th and 31st December from 0945 – 1445hrs, otherwise phones will be transferred to our mobile).
1st January 2008. Limited operation (office phones transferred to our mobile phone for emergency communication).
2nd January 2008. It all begins again. All hands back on deck with proposed News Years resolutions to reduce chocolate, coffee intake, do exercise etc.
3rd January 2008 All News Years resolutions put on hold until 2009.
8th August 2008. Day one of the 2008 Olympic Games held in Beijin.

It could be worse!! Customs men locked out.

Reported in the PNG Post Courier.
A LARGE amount of air cargo from overseas has been sitting in warehouses near the Jackson’s Airport since last Thursday while Internal Revenue Commission’s customs office sorted out its rental payments. The customs officers working in the building at Six-Mile belonging to the Steamships property division had been locked out for non-payment of rental of K35,400.48.When the Post-Courier visited the office late yesterday afternoon, they found the property owners had gone to remove the chain to the door and to advise the security guards to let the customs officers in when they come to work today.“IRC had finally got its act together,” said the Steamships property staffer when removing the chain from the door. “They have paid the rent this afternoon.”He refused to comment further but confirmed the outstanding rental was for October, November and December.He said the payment was expected to be paid in October but it never eventuated, resulting in the closure of the office. He said this was not the first time IRC had been locked out from this office due to non-payment of rentals.TNT Air Cargo customers manager and president for PNG Customs Brokers Association Nathaniel Baloiloi confirmed this.Mr Baloiloi said in this year alone this would be the third time for the office to be closed and it was affecting not only private companies, but also the Government which relied on the revenue collected from import duties. Other companies into air freight customs clearance include DHL, Hi-Lift company, Port Moresby Transport, Express Freight Management and News Agencies.Mr Baloiloi said before any cargo was delivered to their customers, there was paper work that needed to be done and duty payments to be made but that could not be done since Thursday.Mr Baloiloi said TNT alone received 10 tonnes of cargo a day. The other agencies also received about that amount or more but kept them in their own warehouses while awaiting clearance before they could deliver them.On Sunday, he said, Air Niugini’s jumbo jet brought in 900 tonnes of cargo which had yet to be cleared. “We receive 10 to 15 tonnes of cargo and if this is put together with others, this would be a lot of cargo that is being held up at the airport,” he said.“This is affecting everyone – us, our customers and the Government as the import duties go to the consolidated revenue,” he said.Attempts to get comments from IRC yesterday were unsuccessful, although the IRC officers were aware of this newspaper’s attempts to get comments from the customs officers.

Bunker Adjustment Factory Summary

The above chart is a recent update of Bunker Adjustment charges and the implementation date. (Information provided by OOCL Line but current for all lines on AAA service).

China container volume returns to steady pace after 2004 peak

CONTAINER volume of mainland ports has returned to steady growth of 20 per cent from the peak of 40 per cent in 2004, said to be the result of Beijing's efforts to curb the trade surplus, Xinhua reported.
Increase of box volume is subjected to import and export growth. Boosted by surging exports, ports in China experienced rapid growth in container throughput of more than 30 per cent from 2002 to 2004.
But starting from 2005, the growth rate has fallen to 20 per cent annually due to the policy on cooling the economy, the report said.
Container ports continue to maintain steady growth in 2007. Statistics of the Ministry of Communications show mainland ports handled 92.1 million TEU in the first 10 months of 2007, an increase of 22.3 per cent year on year.
The top eight container ports including Shanghai, Shenzhen, Qingdao, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Xiamen and Dalian altogether handled 73.6 million TEU, accounting for 80 per cent of the total.
Shednet 13/12/07

Pacific National plans Tassie rail service sale

SUE NEALES
December 12, 2007 04:26pm
THE Australian Stock Exchange has been told Tasmania's only rail business may be shut down or sold.
The Asciano transport group, which owns the Pacific National Rail freight business, plans to sell or close its Tasmanian operations as soon as possible.
The announcement has come as a shock to the Tasmanian Government, which 18 months ago injected $110 million into Pacific National so rail freight services in Tasmania could continue.
The new Federal Government has just promised an additional $150 million-plus to enhance rail services in Tasmania, including reopening the rail tracks in the Derwent valley and west of Burnie to cart logs to the planned Tamar Valley pulp mill.
The $79 million rail hub at Brighton, which will take all freight and the rail head away from the Hobart port area, freeing up Macquarie wharf area for redevelopment, is also about to commence construction.
The Asciano board of directors has already approved Pacific National's pull-out from Tasmania, as part of a nationwide restructure that allows it to focus on bulk resource commodity transport in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia.
Pacific National runs the only remaining train services in Tasmania.
Much of the State's freight network depends on the haulage of containers between Tasmania's container port in Burnie and Launceston and Hobart.
Pacific National also freights minerals as well as paper and raw materials for major factories such as the Norske Skog paper mill near New Norfolk.
There are no passenger trains left in Tasmania.
The Liberal Opposition this morning called on the Lennon Government to immediately ensure Tasmania is not left without a rail freight operation.
Liberal infrastructure spokesman Peter Gutwein said questions about Pacific National's commitment to Tasmania were raised earlier this year, when it cut back rail freight services to the North-West.
The State Government defended this as a commercial decision, with Infrastructure Minister Jim Cox, telling Parliament in June it would result in Pacific National becoming more efficient.
Mr Gutwein said announcement demonstrated the State Government had well and truly taken its eye off the ball.
"The State Government needs to tell Tasmanians what action it is taking to ensure the State is not left without a rail operator, at a time when we need to be looking at ways of getting trucks off our roads and onto rail," Mr Gutwein said.
Mr Gutwein said continued uncertainty for rail operations in Tasmania was outrageous, particularly in light of last year's $118 million Federal-State rescue of Pacific National that was intended to secure its future.
Mr Cox said Tasmania has a legally binding agreement with rail operator Pacific National containing strict clauses preventing the company from simply walking away from the State.
Mr Cox said he was disappointed that once again the company and its parent, Asciano, were flagging apparent changes to intermodal freight operations without providing any details to the State Government or the Tasmanian public.
"Through the rail rescue package, the State Government has secured ownership of Tasmania's rail infrastructure, and that infrastructure is subject to open-access," Mr Cox said.
"This means any other freight operator can run trains on Tasmania's freight network, regardless of what Asciano may or may not be considering."
Mr Cox said he would be formally requesting more information from Asciano and in turn advising them of Pacific National's legal obligations under the agreement that came into effect on January 1 this year.

Guangzhou volume up 41pc, set to surpass 9 million TEU

PORT of Guangzhou's cumulative throughput in 2007 increased 41 per cent year on year to 8.4 million TEU by the end of November and is estimated to breach the 9 million TEU mark by the end of the year, Xinhua reported.
In 2006, the port handled 6.66 million TEU with an overall tonnage of more than 300 million tons, becoming the fifth largest in the world and third largest in China.
The port now has 51 container berths and a 15.5-metre navigational channel which can carry a 100,000-ton ship. Its Nansha Port Area has ten 100,000-ton container berths and a quay length of 3,500 metres.

Clarkson sees 2008 container shipping growth slow, but steady

WORLD container traffic will grow 8 per cent in 2008, but capacity is expected to grow 12 per cent, according to UK-based Clarkson Research Services.
Clarkson analysts said the container shipping market will face a supply-demand imbalance, but will maintain a slow and steady growth.
Compared to 2006, the container shipping market was in a slow and weak period of recovery in 2007, said a report on Clarkson's findings from Xinhua News Agency.
A report from the Shanghai Shipping Exchange said the Chinese market is to slow down to a steady rate in the next two years from its recent period of rapid growth. The report suggests terminal operators and carriers adjust accordingly to avoid overcapacity.
Opinion from the industry said the slow recovery in the later half of 2007 is closely related to the change of the shipping giant Maersk's strategy.
To retain market share and cement its industry leadership, after the difficult acquisition of P&O Nedlloyd, Maersk adopted a price-cutting policy which led the industry into a slump, analysts said. The market later began to recover when the new captain of Maersk steered a course towards profitability.
Analysts also said cargo volume on Asia-North America lines have been affected by the slowdown of US economy, but growth on Asia-Europe lines remains strong. New emerging markets such as Vietnam, Latin America and South Africa are also subject rapid development trends.

Australia 'back on the map' with Kyoto decision

Posted 1 hour 22 minutes ago Updated 1 hour 15 minutes ago

Federal Climate Change Minister Penny Wong says Australia's decision to ratify the Kyoto Protocol puts the nation back on the map in the fight against climate change.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd yesterday signed the instrument of ratification of the Protocol in the first official act of his new Government.
Australia will now become a full member of the Kyoto Protocol early next year.
During the United Nations Climate Change (UNCC) conference in Bali, delegates broke into spontaneous applause when news of Australia's decision was announced yesterday.
Some delegates of the 12-day conference gave the Australian delegation a standing ovation.
Senator Wong says the decision sets Australia up for a leadership role at the conference.
"Ratifying the Kyoto Protocol puts Australia back on the map," she said.
"The world now knows that this nation is prepared to do its bit and be part of the global solution to climate change. This gives us an impetus to go into the Bali conference to set that leadership role.
"The purpose of the Bali conference is to set out the road map for what happens post the Kyoto period.
"We want to ensure that what we agree in Bali gives Australia and the world the best chance to moving towards a solution on climate change."
Mr Rudd, Senator Wong, Environment Minister Peter Garrett and Treasurer Wayne Swan are preparing to go to the Bali summit next week.
Emissions trading
Dominique La Fontaine, the chief executive of the Clean Energy Council - the peak body representing the clean energy industry - says Australian business can now benefit from the trading that surrounds the Kyoto Protocol.
Ms La Fontaine is part of the official Australian delegation at the Bali conference and told ABC TV's Lateline Business program that the decision opens up international markets for Australian companies in emissions trading.
"At the moment [that] is worth around $US55 billion per annum," she said.
"It opens up opportunities in the clean development mechanism initiative. It opens up opportunities for Australian companies, through joint implementation, to work with other companies in developed countries to also participate in the Kyoto frameworks."
Meanwhile, Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne says the new Federal Government will need to tackle old growth logging if it is to meet its Kyoto targets.
Senator Milne has welcomed the move to ratify Kyoto, but says Australia will struggle to meet its targets.
"The only reason we had any hope of coming in at the target was because of a one-off benefit from avoided land clearance," she said.
"Now we're really going to have Mr Rudd focus his mind on the fact that we have deforestation in Australia really on a big scale in Tasmania, Victoria and in New South Wales - this is going to be a major issue."

Exports From Tasmania Grow

3 December 2007
Exports from Tasmania continue to outstrip national growth.
The Treasurer, Michael Aird, said ABS figures released today show the value of overseas merchandise exports from Tasmania grew by 17.7 per cent to $3.75 billion in the year to October 2007 compared to the previous year.
“Nationally, overseas merchandise exports increased by just 3.6 per cent in the same period,” Mr Aird said.
“The emergence in recent years of China and India as key growth markets for Tasmanian exports has led to strong overseas export growth.
“Tasmanian produce is highly sought after across the world.
“Japan was the single largest importer of Tasmanian goods in the year to October 2007, accounting for 19.6 per cent of the State's total exports.”
Mr Aird said in terms of Tasmania's export markets, the largest increases in the past year by country and nominal value have been to Japan (up $187 million), Taiwan (up $140 million), China (up $89 million), Korea (up $75 million), Malaysia (up $34 million), the United States of America (up $33 million), New Zealand (up $25 million), Indonesia (up $18 million), Germany (up $12 million), the United Kingdom (up $6 million) and India, the Philippines and Singapore (all up $3 million).

Notice to Importers: Rate Restoration

This announcement received from one of the AAA partners on the 3rd December 2007 - we expect other shipping liunes to follow suit.

Quote
Notice as follows:

South East Asia, Sub-continent, Middle East
To Australia


As part of the ongoing rate restoration programme in the South East Asia trade area to Australia, we announce that there will be a rate restoration of US$300/20’ and US$600/40’ with effect 1st January, 2008

This rate restoration covers imports from South East Asia, Subcontinent, Middle East ports to Australia.

End Quote

Rising sea brings reality home

Taken from Papua Newe Guinea Post Courier

You don’t have to be an environmentalist or a natural scientist to see and simply understand the adverse effects of global warming that results in the rise of sea levels. As a Highlander, the issue of rising sea levels and its effects did not bother me too much. However, I was inlightened when I had the opportunity to accompany National Planning and District Development Minister Paul Tiensten to a beautiful coastline village called Lawes in Manus Island recently on a fact-finding tour to the province. What I witnessed was the shocking reality of the destructive effects of global warming that is affecting innocent people, as a result of careless human actions.The beautiful village of Lawes is situated in the south-coast of Manus Island. With its pristine waters and scenic coastline, the village can be rightfully described as one of the pearls of the Pacific. It takes about 15 minutes by boat at the Loniu bridge (the bridge that connects Los Negros Island with Manus Provincial capital Lorengau) transit point to reach the village.The village is regarded by locals as the main supplier of seafood, particularly mud crabs and other garden produce such as yam and taro to the main market in Lorengau. The hospitality and friendliness of the Lawes villagers made the Minister’s small delegation feel right at home from the start when our dinghy arrived until the moment we waved good-bye to the villagers to return to Lorengau and back to Port Moresby via Kavieng on the weekly Air Niugini flight.But amid the happy innocent smiling faces of the Lawes villagers lay one sad but real scenario that they have to live and face up to at present and beyond. This is the reality of the continuous threat posed by rising sea levels, a direct result of global warming. This phenomena now threatens the earth with catastrophy and has already claimed and destroyed some of their once precious hunting grounds and continues to pose even more threats to their beautiful coastline village. The sad fact about this situation is that it is not the making of these innocent villagers that they have to face up to this scenario but it is the works of those rich and greedy powerful industrialised nations of the world and giant corporate polluters who emit hundred millions of tons of carbon monoxides into the atmosphere this is the cause.During our visit a concerned Lawes village councillor Gideon Timothy said the small coastline village, which has a population of about 700 people, first experienced the threat of rising sea level 20 years ago, in 1987. Pointing to an area now covered under the sea, Timothy said, “We used to hunt for cuscus and harvest sago around this area when I was a young boy but now it is buried under the sea water”. And he fears that the worst is yet to happen with the whole of Manus Island slowly sinking. New Manus Open MP and Inter-Government Relations Minister Job Pomat and Administrator Wep Kanawi confirmed Councillor Timothy’s fears with separate statements alluding that in fact the whole Manus Province is slowly sinking under the water. Timothy said most of the villagers in Lawes relocated further inland after first experiencing the threat of rising level but this threat has increased now and has already affected some of the villagers’ food gardens, coconut trees including the Lawes top-up primary school grounds.“We do not know where our children will hunt for protein or harvest sago, plant cocoa or palm oil 10 to 20 years from now because every moment the sea level is rising. It’s currently low tide but you can still see the effects. During high tide period, the threat gets even worse for us,” Timothy said. A young lad by the name of Pokawas Malakai took us on a tour of the affected areas of the village. Sadly young Pokawas pointed to one of several houses affected by sea water telling us that this was his home and where he grew up with his older siblings. “My parents are planning to move our house further inland because as you can see water is slowly covering up the land area where our house now stands,” 10-year-old Pokawas said, while pointing to his family home. Lawes, like many other coastal villages and islands in PNG and around the world are facing the eminent threat of being submerged by sea water as a result of rising water levels aided by wild weather due to increases in global warming.Councillor Timothy said the issue of global warming must become an important concern for governments, industries, communities and individuals in both developing and developed countries alike because it affects everyone from the Queen of England to the United States President, right down to the simple villager like himself.Fellow Lawes villager Morgan Yowat supports Timothy’s views adding that governments at all levels must respond to growing concerns about climate change by taking drastic policy actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions “It is therefore vital that policymakers and society take into account the wider social and economic implications of climate change and policies,” he said.According to a global energy report released by Exxon Mobil in early 2006, increasing population and prosperity in developing countries will drive up global energy demand. This will result in substantial increases in greenhouse gas emissions, particularly from developing countries, which will account for about 85% of the growth in CO2 emissions from 2000 through 2030.The Exxon Mobil report says that until recently, the climate policy debate focused primarily on near-term emissions reductions in the framework of targets and timetables set by the Kyoto Protocol. “The first compliance period under the Protocol will start next year and end in 2012 (2008-2012). But, among those nations ratifying the Protocol, only the European Union has been most active in seeking to implement it,” the report stated.The Mobil report further states that most nations who ratified the Protocol are not on track today to meet their 2008-2012 Kyoto targets with necessary domestic actions which means that the total shortfall several hundred million metric tons of CO2 per year. And Australia under the Howard Government is strongly opposed to the Kyoto Protocol saying that a new approach to global climate policies is still necessary, one that includes giant emitters like the United States and China who have not signed onto the Kyoto agreement. Australia is adamant that both the US and China must be serious participants if there was to be any moves towards agreeing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale. But how serious countries like the United States is in addressing the climate change still remains a question. According to a October 24 2007 report “the White House significantly edited testimony prepared for a Senate hearing on the impact of climate change on health, deleting key portions citing diseases that could flourish in a warmer climate, documents obtained by The Associated Press showed. The White House on Wednesday denied that it had ‘’watered down’’ the congressional testimony that Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, had given the day before to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. But a draft of the testimony submitted for White House review shows that six pages of details about specific disease and other health problems that might flourish if the Earth warms were not delivered at the hearing”. The report on the White House alteration of CDC testimony further added that in another deleted section of the testimony it said ‘’Climate change-driven ecological changes such as variations in rainfall and temperature could significantly alter the range, seasonality and human incident of many zoonotic and vector-borne diseases.”The international debate on what climate policy actions to take in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions now continues, but the outcome is uncertain. But one thing is for certain, the future of youngsters like Pokawas Malakai and his innocent andbeautiful coastline village of Lawes lies in uncertainty with its fate already sealed,, along with those many islands and coastal villages in the Pacific and other parts of the world. In fact, it has already claimed a large part of his father’s once precious hunting grounds and now threatens his family home as a direct result of careless and greedy human actions in the industrialised and developed to come. Pokawas now can only surrender as the sea chips away at his beloved Manus Island in quiet whispers.

Burnie base for climate change research

Posted November 30, 2007 08:20:00
Map: Burnie 7320
International scientists have chosen Tasmania's north west coast to be the Southern Hemisphere base for new climate change research.
The Southern Hemisphere's first Satellite Laser Ranging system opens today in Burnie.
Chris Watson from the University of Tasmania says the equipment will help NASA use its satellites to measure climate change and sea level rise.
"The main outcome from this research is hopefully going to be more accurate estimates of sea level rise," he said.
"So that's really important, particularly for a country like Australia where so much of our population lives near the coast.
"What we're trying to do is really refine how accurately we can measure sea level rise in our area of the world."
Dr Watson says it is an incredible opportunity for Tasmanian researchers.
"Burnie so happens to be one of very few calibration sites for a particular sort of French and joint NASA satellite that measures sea level change," he said.
"And it so happens that Burnie is right underneath that satellite and what we are hoping to do is measure to those satellites with those laser systems."

Tasmanian markets want GM ban to stay: Minister

The Tasmanian Government says it will be much harder to maintain the state's moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops now that Victoria and New South Wales have announced they'll lift their bans on GM canola.
Those states say the move will allow farmers to compete on a level playing field with overseas producers.
The Tasmanian Government is currently reviewing the state's moratorium.
But the state's Primary Industries Minister, David Llewellyn, says the overwhelming feedback has been that the ban should remain.
"Consumers, food manufacturers, some farmers and indeed our markets in Japan in particular are indicating that they want the moratorium extended - not lifted," he said.

Western Australia and Tasmania urge States to maintain GM moratoria

David Llewellyn, MHA Minister for Primary Industries and Water
Kim Chance WA Agriculture and Food Minister
Monday, 26 November 2007

WA Agriculture and Food Minister Kim Chance and Tasmania Primary Industries Minister David Llewellyn have jointly called on Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia to maintain their moratorium on the commercial production of Genetically Modified (GM) crops.
The Ministers urged the governments of these states to respect the wishes of Australian consumers, food manufacturers and farmers for the moratoria to be maintained.
“If Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia lift their GM moratoria, it will increase the risks to Western Australia and Tasmania’s GM-free agriculture and threaten Australia’s overseas markets,” Mr Chance said.
“Opening up other parts of Australia to GM crops could lead to large-scale contamination, subsequent risks to market access and price premiums currently enjoyed by Australian canola farmers, while imposing higher costs on them for product segregation.”
Mr Llewellyn said that the likelihood of contamination of non-GM canola crops throughout Australia would undoubtedly be increased by any decision to lift the moratorium.
“In 2004, GM canola managed to contaminate crops in all canola growing states of Australia despite the fact that each state had a moratorium in place,” Mr Llewellyn said.
The ministers said that the safest and most secure future for Australia’s farmers and consumers was in the production and consumption of GM-free foods and not in pursuing GM food crops that had been rejected by consumers because of health concerns.
Mr Chance said Australian farmers currently produced food of the highest quality and safety for local consumption and export to a range of overseas markets.
“We are heavily reliant on our export markets and lifting the GM moratorium could jeopardise this trade relationship,” he said.
Mr Llewellyn said it could damage Australia’s international reputation as a source of reliable, safe quality and GM-free food.
“Clearly Australian consumers are concerned about the food they eat, and value Australia’s “clean and green, GM-free” status,” he said.
“Unless consumers tell us otherwise, WA will not be changing its policy on GM food,” Mr Chance said.
Currently in Tasmania a Joint Select Committee is reviewing its Genetically Modified Organisms moratorium, which is due to end in mid 2008.
Mr Llewellyn indicated that is was very untimely for NSW and Victoria to lift their bans due to the result of Federal Labor being elected as this is an area of national policy we need to review for our Australian brand and market advantage internationally.
“The moratorium supports Australia’s ‘clean and green’ status and is also reflective of overwhelming public opinion in WA and consumer sentiment around the world.”
Further information:
Tasmanian Government Communications UnitPhone: (03) 6233 6573

Australia's new PM Rudd acts swiftly on climate

Reuters
Sunday November 25 2007
(Recasts with Rudd climate agenda, adds China and financial market reaction)
By Rob Taylor
BRISBANE, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Australia's new prime minister, Kevin Rudd, made climate change his top priority on Sunday, seeking advice on ratifying the Kyoto pact and telling Indonesia he will go to December's UN climate summit in Bali.
Rudd, who swept aside 11 years of conservative rule by John Howard in Saturday elections, also spoke to U.S. President George W. Bush by phone, but would not say when he planned to start a promised withdrawal of 500 Australian combat troops from Iraq.
"I emphasised to President Bush the centrality of the U.S. alliance in our approach to foreign policy," Rudd said in his first media conference on Sunday as prime minister elect, adding he would visit Washington early next year.
Rudd, 50, presented himself to voters as a new-generation leader by promising to pull troops out of Iraq and ratify the Kyoto Protocol capping greenhouse gas emissions, further isolating Washington on both issues.
But while he intends to immediately overturn Howard's opposition to the Kyoto pact, Rudd has said he would negotiate a gradual withdrawal of Australian frontline forces from Iraq.
Rudd, a Mandarin-speaking former diplomat, said he discussed Kyoto ratification with his British counterpart Gordon Brown, as well as Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
"President Yudhoyono formally invited me to attend the Bali conference, which will of course deal with climate change and where we go to now on Kyoto. I responded positively," he said.
Rudd, a staunch Christian, attended church on Sunday and planned talks with officials and advisers about administrative arrangements for ratification of Kyoto as soon as possible.
The surge in voter support to Labor left Howard's Liberal Party in disarray, with up to six conservative ministers, including Howard, likely to lose their seats in only the sixth change of government since World War Two.
Howard was in line to become the first prime minister in Australia since 1929 to lose his own constituency. Compounding the Liberal Party's problems, Howard's heir apparent Peter Costello said he would not seek the party leadership.
Labor is set to hold up to 86 seats in the 150-seat parliament and Rudd said he would name a cabinet later this week.
CLOSER TO CHINA
Rudd is expected to forge closer ties with China and other Asian nations and has said he wants a more independent voice in foreign policy, with past Labor governments more supportive of an energetic United Nations and global organisations.
China's official Xinhua news agency on Sunday carried reports of Rudd greeting Chinese President Hu Jintao in fluent Mandarin in September and of his posting to China in the 1980s.
"This period of history gave him close contact with China and a chance to observe and understand China's politics, economy and culture," the report said.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao sent a separate message to Kevin Rudd, congratulating him on his election victory.
Bush congratulated Rudd on his election victory, and praised the leadership of his close friend Howard, who once claimed to be Bush's "deputy sheriff" in Asia.
"The United States and Australia have long been strong partners and allies and the president looks forward to working with this new government to continue our historic relationship," the White House said in a statement.
Rudd also pledged unity at home and an end to controversial offshore detention of illegal immigrants.
Labor would also care for Aborigines after a conservative intervention this year to seize control of remote outback indigenous communities with troops and police in order to stamp out child sexual assaults and alcohol abuse.
But Labor could be frustrated by a hostile upper house. The conservatives will have a Senate majority until July next year, possibly delaying Rudd's agenda and his promise to dump unpopular labour laws which supercharged his victory.
Centre-left Labor will have to negotiate with diverse minor Senate parties including the left-leaning Australian Greens and the conservative, Christian values Family First party.
Outgoing Foreign Minister Alexander Downer glumly said it had been hard for the conservative government to present itself as fresh and new after more than 11 years, despite 16 years of economic expansion and unemployment at 33-year lows.
It is likely to be business as usual for Australian financial markets on Monday, with the decisiveness of the Labor victory and Rudd's promise of continuity of economic policy removing uncertainty for investors. (Additional reporting by James Grubel in Sydney; editing by Roger Crabb)

Tasmanian Business Wins National Export Award

The Premier has congratulated Liferaft Systems Australia on winning a top national award at the Australian Export Awards in Brisbane last night.
Liferaft Systems Australia, based in Derwent Park, was named the 2007 Small to Medium Manufacturer.
This follows its success in the Tasmanian Export Awards, where it won the 2007 Tasmanian Exporter of the Year and the 2007 Tasmanian Small to Medium Manufacturer award.
Mr Lennon said he was proud to see Liferaft Systems continue the pattern of Tasmanian businesses gaining recognition at the Australian Export Awards.
“In the past four years, three Tasmanian businesses have become national export award-winners,” Mr Lennon said.
“Tasmania is an island of innovation and this award recognises the superb products and services that we export throughout the world.
“Tasmanian exports are at a record high and are growing at three-and-a-half times the national rate.
“Liferaft Systems Australia has been one of Tasmania’s top export performers for well over a decade.
“It has built a reputation for quality, reliability and design excellence in its marine evacuation systems.
“This business has done an exceptional job of growing and expanding its international markets and now employs 60 people.”
Liferaft Systems Australia Managing Director Michael Grainger said: “In the past financial year, we have increased export sales by 40 per cent and in the forthcoming year, we expect to expand into new markets such as Scandinavia and Europe.”
Mr Lennon said Liferaft Systems Australia was expected to continue as a key player in Tasmania’s manufacturing industry and major contributor to the local economy, with a number of innovative products in the pipeline.

Natures way of saying "Have a nice day"

Smart card enrolment centre for US port workers extends to Savannah

UP to 30,000 port workers, including truck drivers, employed at the Port of Savannah and the Port of Brunswick, are expected to enrol in the US Transportation Security Agency's Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC) programme, according to the Georgia Ports' Authority.
The announcement from port authorities follows the recent opening of a TWIC enrolment centre in Savannah.
Created by the Department of Homeland Security, TWIC is a federal initiative that requires all workers who have unescorted access to secure or restricted areas of seaports across the US, as well as access to vessels at berth, to undergo background checks and fingerprinting to qualify for the common identification credential.
Port workers who clear the enrolment process will be issued with a smart card by the Transport Security Association that will contain a template of the worker's fingerprint and photograph to verify the individual's identity against that on the card in his/her possession.
The enrolment fee for the TWIC card is US$132.50 and the port credential will be valid for five years.
Total container scanning blasted by ex-US Customs chief
FORMER US Customs Commissioner Robert Bonner has criticised legislation that calls for all US-bound air and sea freight to be scanned at overseas ports, warning that it will cause serious logistical problems.
Mr. Bonner, in office at the time of the 9/11 terror attacks, slammed the legislation, which was signed into law in August as a "simpleton's approach" to improving the security of the global supply chain given that up to 600 foreign ports export goods to the US, according to a report in New Zealand's Dominion Post newspaper.
The legislation to scan all US-bound containers at ports of origin overseas with imaging and radiation detection equipment for nuclear weapons is scheduled to be implemented within five years at seaports and within three years for all air freight.
"It's a terrible idea. It hasn't been implemented ... and I hope reason will prevail," Mr Bonner said.
Mr Bonner denied claims by supporters of the bill that the scanning of all cargo at the port of origin had been recommended by the 9/11 Commission.
His view that the legislation if implemented would be unworkable was supported by comments made by Stewart Milne, executive director of the Board of Airline Representatives of New Zealand. Mr Milne said the proposed legislation would cause delays and exporters would find it difficult to meet their contractual requirements.
"Air cargo has a different imperative, a lot of it is fresh - seafood, flowers - so it's going to cause major problems," he said.
At present, export containers that are identified to pose a risk to US security are scanned at foreign ports, which means about 5-10 per cent of US-bound containers are now being scanned.

UN finds climate truth 'terrifying'

By Joe Ortiz in Valencia
November 18, 2007 12:49am
Article from: Reuters

UN climate change delegates agree on findings
"Deep cuts" needed in greenhouse emissions
"Crystal clear" science finds humans at fault
GOVERNMENTS must do more to fight global warming, spurred by a new UN scientific report and damage to nature that is already as frightening as science fiction, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said.“This report will be formally presented to the (UN Climate Change) Conference in Bali,” Mr Ban told delegates from more than 130 nations in Valencia and praised them for agreeing an authoritative guide to the risks of climate change.
“Already, it has set the stage for a real breakthrough - an agreement to launch negotiations for a comprehensive climate change deal that all nations can embrace,” he said.
Mr Ban singled out the US and China, the world's top two emitters of greenhouse gases, which have no binding goals for curbs, as key countries in the process. He welcomed initiatives by both and urged them to do more.
“I look forward to seeing the US and China playing a more constructive role starting from the Bali conference,” Mr Ban told a news conference. “Both countries can lead in their own way.”
Mr Ban said he had just been to see ice shelves breaking up in Antarctica and the melting Torres del Paine glaciers in Chile. He also visited the Amazon rainforest, which he said was being “suffocated” by global warming.
“I come to you humbled after seeing some of the most precious treasures of our planet - treasures that are being threatened by humanity's own hand,” he said.
“These scenes are as frightening as a science fiction movie,” Mr Ban said. “But they are even more terrifying, because they are real.”
Delegates at UN climate change talks reached agreement on the 26-page document about the risks of warming, blamed mainly on human burning of fossil fuels, after several days of talks.
The document, which summarises the latest scientific knowledge on the causes and effects of climate change, will be put before environment ministers in Bali, Indonesia, next month - a meeting likely to agree a two-year strategy to negotiate a successor to the Kyoto Protocol whose first period ends in 2012.
The summary says human activity is causing rising temperatures and that deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from burning fossil fuels, are needed quickly to avert more heat waves, melting glaciers and rising sea levels.Bali meeting
Scientists and government officials from the 130-state Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have boiled down the findings of three reports of more than 3000 pages issued this year on the risks of warming.
Delegates from the environmental movement appeared relatively happy the synthesis had not watered down the message from the scientific advisers, as they had feared it might.
“The strong message of the IPCC can't be watered down - the science is crystal clear,” said Hans Verolme, Director of environmental group WWF's Global Climate Change Program."The hard fact is we have caused climate change, and it's also clear that we hold the solution ... in our hands."
Delegates said the US delegation had been at the centre of some of the fiercest debate this week.
Sources close to the discussions said the US had tried to change or even remove a key section of the report which lists five main reasons for concern about the effects of warming.
“This has been a very tough week and we've had to debate and defend everything we wanted but the draft report that we submitted has remained intact and has even had additions made in terms of emphasis and even facts that have come to light,” IPCC Chairman Rajendra Pachauri said.
“When you're on strong scientific ground, you don't yield any ground. "We have to make sure that scientific truth is not supressed.”
The Kyoto treaty obliges 36 industrial nations to cut emissions by at least five per cent below 1990 levels by 2008-12. A new deal would aim to involve outsiders led by the US and China, which have no Kyoto goals.Additional reporting by Alister Doyle in Oslo

Beekeepers bitterly disappointed

Bob Davey Saveyourleatherwoodhoney Association MR
• The Premier is asked to intervene to ensure the Group delivers the necessary result, to which there has been no response. • Aug 2007 Forestry Tasmania announces to Apimondia, ( the World Beekeeping Conference in Melbourne ), that they are now changing to a new harvest plan process which takes into account the leatherwood in all coupes. • Aug 2007 Forestry Tasmania advise that 3 coupes in the Derwent District containing leatherwood must be clearfelled to produce urgently needed veneer timber for local mills. No leatherwood is to be retained. • 0ctober 2007 a ground audit of the Derwent coupes is carried out and reveals that there were significant stands of leatherwood the loss of which translate into a loss of hive carrying capacity of 60 hives. This irreplaceable loss of the leatherwood resource is now beginning to impact on the pollination services the effected beekeeper can deliver.
• 2005 Forestry Tasmania agrees to use voluntary guidelines for The Management of Leatherwood on State Forest.
• 2006 Huon District coupes are harvested retaining most of the leatherwood content, yet to be checked on the ground.
• All of 2006 and 2007 the Apiary Working Group set up with Government initiative works on the leatherwood resource issue part of which is to consider an enforceable leatherwood protection protocol, (ie a change to the Forest Practices Code) - there has been no progress to date on the “ enforceable” component or the solution, due to resistance from members of the Group wanting only a voluntary protocol.
• The Premier is asked to intervene to ensure the Group delivers the necessary result, to which there has been no response.
• Aug 2007 Forestry Tasmania announces to Apimondia, ( the World Beekeeping Conference in Melbourne ), that they are now changing to a new harvest plan process which takes into account the leatherwood in all coupes.
• Aug 2007 Forestry Tasmania advise that 3 coupes in the Derwent District containing leatherwood must be clearfelled to produce urgently needed veneer timber for local mills. No leatherwood is to be retained.
• 0ctober 2007 a ground audit of the Derwent coupes is carried out and reveals that there were significant stands of leatherwood the loss of which translate into a loss of hive carrying capacity of 60 hives. This irreplaceable loss of the leatherwood resource is now beginning to impact on the pollination services the effected beekeeper can deliver.
• Nov 2007 appeal to the Premier and and Forestry Tasmania to reassess the remaining 2 coupes to retain the leatherwood content.
• There was no prior consultation with beekeepers concerning the harvesting plan and the leatherwood content.
• There was no leatherwood assessment other than for Forestry Tasmania to state that the guidelines would be followed (letter 2006 to the Southern beekeepers).There was no streamside reserve protection.
• A Forest Planner confirms that while the leatherwood content of the coupes is acknowleged, instructions “from above”, are to obtain the veneer timber as the first priority. This essentially precludes selective harvesting according to Forestry Tasmania.

Oil price rise prompts AADA to hike bunker surcharges November 30

MEMBER container shipping lines of the Asia Australia Discussion Agreement (AADA) that serve the trade between China, Hong Kong and Australia will raise bunker fuel surcharges November 30 to reflect increases in world oil prices.
A statement issued on behalf of participating lines said the bunker surcharge for shipments from China and Hong Kong to ports in Australia will be raised to US$400 per TEU and US$800 per FEU for dry and refrigerated containers.
AADA members are: ANL Singapore, China Shipping Container Line (HK), Cosco Container Line, Hamburg Sud, Hanjin Shipping, HMM, "K" Line, Maersk Line, MSC, MOL Line, NYK Line, OOCL and Gold Star Line (HK) and ZIM.

Dollar tumbles to 88 US cents

November 13, 2007 07:48am
Article from: AAP

THE dollar opened more than one US cent weaker today, to start the day below US89 cents for the first time in three weeks, as carry traders deserted high interest rate currencies.
At 7am AEDT, the dollar was trading at $US0.8836/38, down sharply from yesterday's close of 0.8967/72.
This was the currency's lowest opening since October 4 when it started at $US0.8828/34 and the first daily debut below $US0.8900 since October 23 when it began the local session at $US0.8860/65.
Overnight, the dollar traded between a low of $US0.8790 and a high of 0.9020.
Macquarie Bank associate director of foreign exchange, Joanne Masters, said carry traders who usually sell low-yielding currencies like the Japanese yen for high interest rate tender were now selling out of the Australian and New Zealand dollars as a mood of risk aversion continued.
"It's basically risk reduction right across the board," she said. "We've seen that in most asset classes.
"The US dollar and yen are stronger." The latest episode of risk aversion started late last week after major US mortgage lenders updated their loss forecasts.
Ms Masters said investors were worried about the effect this would have on global economic growth.
US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke also testified to a US Congressional committee last week that losses from the subprime mortgage market could stack up to $US150 billion ($170 billion).
The dollar is tipped to trade between $US0.8790 and 0.8890 today.
"It's been a pretty significant fall through significant levels," Ms Masters said.
"I think investors are going to be fairly wary."

Environmental disaster as Russian tanker sinks·

1,300 tonnes oil flows into Crimea strait after storm · Habitat may take 10 years to recover say experts Luke Harding in MoscowMonday November 12, 2007

Russia and Ukraine were last night facing a catastrophe after a tanker carrying 4,000 tonnes of oil broke up yesterday in heavy seas off the Crimean peninsula, splitting in half and creating what one senior official termed an "environmental disaster".
The Russian ship broke up in a storm and high waves yesterday near the port of Kavkaz in the narrow Kerch strait south of the Sea of Azov, in one of the worst ecological disasters in the region for years.

Two freighters carrying sulphur also sank near the Russian port about 750 miles south of Moscow, and several other ships ran aground. At least two sailors died. One person was still missing yesterday. Operations to rescue the crews of all three ships had begun, officials said.
The oil tanker, the Volganeft-139, which had been loaded with about 4,000 tonnes (1.3m gallons) of fuel oil, was stranded about three miles from the shore. Stormy weather was preventing emergency workers from collecting the spilled oil. At least 1,300 tonnes, and probably more, had leaked into the sea, officials said.
"There is serious concern that the spill will continue," Oleg Mitvol, head of the state environmental safety watchdog Rosprorodnadzor told Russia's Vesti 24 TV. "The wind is now blowing in the direction of Ukraine's coast, so it is our common problem. This problem may take a few years to solve. This is a very serious environmental disaster."

Other environmentalists said that the region's delicate ecosystem could take 10 years to recover. "This is a large accident. I would call it a catastrophe. There are going to be huge consequences for sea life," Vladimir Sliviak, co-chairman of the Russian environmental group Ecodefence, told the Guardian. "The sea is going to be totally hopeless for the next decade."
Sliviak said that because of the heavy storms the oil was likely to sink. The toxicity would affect fish, birds and sea mammals, he warned. He also claimed the Russian authorities were unlikely to clean up the sea effectively. "More oil has been spilled into the sea than the 1,000 tonnes officially reported. Normally in Russia there is a tradition by officials of underestimating the consequences."

The Sea of Azov is already suffering from severe pollution, environmentalists said. Dead fish wash up regularly on the surrounding murky shores, analysis revealing that the water is contaminated with radiation, heavy metals and petroleum.
Maxim Stepanenko, a regional lawyer, said the oil tanker, designed in Soviet times to transport oil on rivers, was not built to withstand a fierce storm. Yesterday there had been six-metre high waves and winds gusting at 80 miles an hour. "All the captains in the strait were warned of the storm at 5.15pm (2.15pm GMT) on November 10. All of them had enough time to leave the dangerous area."

The damage to the Volganeft-139 happened in Ukraine waters in the strait between that country and Russia. The tanker was carrying fuel oil from the Russian city of Samara, on the east bank of the Volga river, to a port in Ukraine.

Yesterday a Georgian freighter and a Turkish ship were also stranded, near the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiisk.The crews were safe, according to a report by the RIA news agency.

Singapore tops World Bank logistics ranking (Australia 17th)

SINGAPORE came in first in the World Bank Logistics Index this week ahead of the Netherlands (2), Germany (3), Sweden (4), Austria (5), Japan (6), Switzerland (7), Hong Kong (8), Canada (9), and UK. China placed 30th.
"All developed countries turned out to be top performers," said the World Bank communique. "There are also significant differences among developing countries with similar incomes."
Another finding of the survey of 150 countries was that developing nations where trade plays a central role in their economies, perform better than others with similar incomes.
Rankings of the top 50: Singapore (1), Netherlands (2), Germany (3), Sweden (4), Austria (5), Japan (6), Switzerland (7) Hong Kong (8), UK (9), Canada (10), Ireland (11), Belgium (12) Denmark (13), US (14), Finland (15), Norway (16), Australia (17), France (18), New Zealand (19), UAE (20), Taiwan (21), Italy (22), Luxembourg (23), South Africa (24) South Korea (25), Spain (26), Malaysia (27), Portugal (28), Greece (29), China (30), Thailand (31), Chile (32), Israel (33), Turkey (34), Hungary (35), Bahrain (36), Slovenia (37), Czech Republic (38), India (39), Poland (40), Saudi Arabia (41), Latvia (42), Indonesia (43), Kuwait (44), Argentina (45), Qatar (46) Estonia (47), Oman (48), Cyprus (49) and the Slovak Republic (50).
Ranking of the middle 50: Romania (51), Jordan (52), Vietnam (53), Panama (54), Bulgaria (55), Mexico (56), San Tome and Principe (57), Lithuania (58), Peru (59), Tunisia (60), Brazil (61), Guinea (62), Croatia (63), Sudan (64), Philippines (65), El Salvador (66), Mauritania (67), Pakistan (68), Venezuela (69), Ecuador (70), Paraguay (71), Costa Rica (72), Ukraine (73), Belarus (74), Guatemala (75), Kenya (76), Gambia (77), Iran (78), Uruguay (79), Honduras (80), Cambodia (81), Colombia (82), Uganda (83), Cameroon (84), Comoros (85), Angola (86), Bangladesh (87), Bosnia Herzegovina (88), Benin (89), Macedonia (90), Malawi.(91), Sri Lanka (92), Nigeria (93), Morocco (94), Papua New Guinea (95), Dominican Republic (96), Egypt (97), Lebanon (98), Russian Federation (99), Zambia (100).
Rankings of the bottom 50: Senegal (101), Cote d'Ivoire (102), Kyrgyzstan (103), Ethiopia (104), Liberia (105), Moldova (106), Bolivia (107), Lesotho (108), Mali (109), Mozambique (110), Azerbaijan (111), Yemen (112), Burundi (113), Zimbabwe (114), Serbia Montenegro (115), Guinea Bissau (116), Laos (117), Jamaica (118), Togo (119), Madagascar (120), Burkina Faso (121) Nicaragua (122), Haiti (123), Eritrea (124), Ghana (125), Namibia (126), Somalia (127), Bhutan (128), Uzbekistan (129), Nepal (130), Armenia (131), Mauritius (132), Kazakhstan (133), Gabon (134), Syria (135), Mongolia (136), Tanzania (137), Solomon Islands (138), Albania (139), Algeria, (140), Guyana (141), Chad (142), Niger (143), Sierra Leone (144) Djibouti (145), Tajikistan (146) Burma (147), Rwanda (148), East Timor (149) and Afghanistan (150).

Container shipping to soar in coming years, says Evergreen chairman

BARRING unexpected disasters, the container market looks set to flourish in the years ahead, with China's economic boom continuing to drive growth in container transport and other industries, according to Arnold Wang, chairman of Evergreen Marine Corporation, who spoke at the World Shipping Summit (China) 2007 on November 2 in Tianjin.
Mr Wang noted that over the past decade China's remarkable economic growth has brought structural changes to global container shipping and other related industries, including shipbuilding and terminal operations.
"In 2006 container throughput in all Chinese ports reached 80 million TEU, or one-fifth of the global volume. For cargo from Asia to Europe and North America, China's exports have accounted for more than half of market volumes.
Over 10 years, the rise of Chinese mainland has forced changes in port operations and in shipyards, he said. The centre of world shipping centre is moving to the east Asia, he said and this has resulted in dramatic increase in mainland's throughput and has led to the reshuffle of the world's port throughput ranking. Statistics show that by 2015, Shenzhen and Shanghai will probably be the world's second largest ports at the same time.
He added that China's labour force is also making the local shipbuilding industry competitive. China, Korea, Japan and Europe are the four largest shipbuilders in the world.
In the latest ship order wave, the orders for 10,000-TEU ships have increased obviously, said Mr Wang. As to the first half of 2007, a cumulative total of US$51.2 billion had been invested in new vessels, 114 of which are 10,000-TEU ships or above. According to French shipping consultancy, Alphaliner, orders for such ships will surpass 150 by the end of this year.
The shipping consultancy's statistics show, from the third quarter of this year to 2011, the number of 10,000-TEU ships will increase from 6 to 152. These ships will mainly be deployed on Far East-Europe lines since volume on these trade lanes is expected to grow.
Commenting on the question of overcapacity, Mr Wang said that world trade will grow 6.7 to 7.4 per cent over five years, resulting in a cargo volume growth of 10 to 11 per cent, therefore supply and demand should be in balance unless there is an unforeseen disaster.

$A closes higher on back of rates rise

November 7, 2007 - 12:54PM

The Australian dollar has achieved another 23-year high after official interest rates rose and the US currency continued to cop a battering.
At 1700 AEDT, the Australian dollar was trading at $US0.9373/75, up almost one and a half US cents from Tuesday's close of 0.9227/32.
During the day, it traded between a low of $US0.9275 and reached a 23-year high of 0.9383 30 minutes before the close of local trade.
This was its highest level since April 4, 1984, when it closed at 0.9393.
Westpac chief currency strategist Robert Rennie said that in addition to Wednesday's interest rate rise by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), the RBA governor Glenn Stevens' statement about interest rates pushed up the Australian dollar
"There were a couple of points, which really stuck out in traders' minds," Mr Rennie said.
"The most obvious was the fact the RBA was prepared to admit that underlying measures of inflation are likely to be above three per cent by March.
"The other point that was very clear was that aggregate demand growth will need to moderate to keep inflation in the target band."
The RBA lifted official interest rates on Wednesday morning by a quarter of a percentage point to 6.75 per cent, which took rates to their highest level since November 1996.
On October 31 the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25-basis points to 4.5 per cent, which widened the interest rate differential between Australia and the United States.
In its accompanying statement, the RBA on Wednesday said headline and underlying inflation was likely to exceed the central bank's 2 to 3 per cent target band by the March quarter of 2008.
Mr Rennie said US dollar weakness against a range of currencies, particularly the euro, also helped the Australian dollar.
"The US dollar has been slammed today," he said.
Mr Rennie said he expected the Australian dollar to reach 96 US cents by the end of 2007 and tipped further rate rises in December and February. (The RBA board does not meet in January).
"I like the idea of the dollar continuing (to increase)," Mr Rennie said.
At 1600 AEDT, the Reserve Bank of Australia's trade weighted index (TWI) was at 73.0, up from Tuesday's close at 72.2.

Funding Bonanza for Northern Roads and Rail

Jim Cox, MHA Minister for Infrastructure
Friday, 2 November 2007
Infrastructure Minister Jim Cox today welcomed Federal Labor’s major commitment to upgrade road and rail networks across Tasmania’s North, North-West and West Coasts.
Mr Cox said it was wonderful news for local communities in the northern half of the State.
“This is a great opportunity to work on the dedicated freight routes and local transport projects that are so important to these regional centres,” Mr Cox said.
Mr Cox said today’s announcement showed what could be achieved with a true spirit of co-operation between State and Federal governments.
He said the State Government would contribute more than $16 million towards the road funding package.
This included $8.5 million for North-East roads, $3.1 million for Illawarra Road, $3 million for Port Sorell Main Road and $1.3 million for the Bell Bay intermodel.
“This funding will go a long way towards addressing freight transport issues and improving road safety.”
“We look forward to working with a Rudd Labor Government to meet the ongoing road and transport challenges in Tasmania,” Mr Cox said.

Willard Estate Logistics Schedule Changes

For many months now Willard Estate Logistics have reported on the AAA service schedule failures. Exporters would be familiar with constant delays and notices from us updating the lateness of a vessel. We have reported on the reasons for the delays (weather, port congestion, missed berths, omissions etc) and have also voiced our concerns to the AAA service. We completely understand the frustrations of the AAA service operators and offer our understanding of the situation and sincerely wish for a swift return to normal circumstances for one of the only international direct calling services into Tasmania.

Willard Estate Logistics must think first and foremost of the success of Tasmanian Exporters. It is our belief that our LCL consolidation service is a contributing factor to our customer’s success and as such we have made the decision to change our service schedule. The reason in changing this schedule is to be able to offer Tasmanian Exporters a reliable schedule with sailing dates that will be within 24 hours of the scheduled published date. Further, Willard Estate Logistics will be able to provide accurate estimated arrival dates based on the fixed arrival dates of the vessels in Singapore (as opposed to estimated dates that vary considerably due to late departures ex Tasmania). Please take note of the proposed improvements to the Willard Estate Logistics service based on the change of vessel operator.

Schedule reliability is realized by using a vessel operator with proven fixed weekly sailings.
Cargo cut off remains Wednesdays in Hobart and Burnie and Thursdays in Launceston (ability to receive cargo Friday morning at our packing depot in Launceston is optional).
Vessel departure day is Saturday ex Tasmania and Shipped on Board Bills can be issued on Mondays.
Vessel arrival in Singapore is on a Sunday or Monday – allowing for better transshipment co ordination.
The handling of cargo remains the same – no additional transport handling of LCL cargo.
Rates do not change because of this change of vessel operator.
Cargo is still independently photographed and checked prior to loading by a Willard Estate Logistics employee.

PLEASE REFER OUR NEW LCL SCHEDULE AT WWW.WILLARDESTATE.COM - LCL SCHEDULE.

Willard Estate Logistics is committed to the success of our customers in developing international trade and as such are continually researching ways to improve the logistics aspect of business to further strengthen our customer’s supply chain to their trading partners. Some other aspects of our service improvements over the last three months include:

Appointment of MacNels Line to handle transshipment in Singapore.
Inclusion of a tracking tab on our website to enable exporters to tack their cargo online from anywhere in the world.
The creation of an online blog (link on our website) that is updated often with trade and logistics related information with the ability for customers and service providers to place their own comments.

Southbound BAF Increase

For importers ex South East Asia on the AAA service, please note that a Southbound Bunker Adjustment Factor increase will be applicable from vessels sailing on the 01st December 2007. The BAF rates are as follows:

20 FCL US$505.00
40FCL US$1010.00

As the price of oil goes above US$92.00 a barrel we expect to see further increases in this aspect of the shipping component.

Marine insurance costs to rise as claims hit 15-year high

THE increase in claims for protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance in 2006/7 policy year ending February 20 has the been the highest in 15 years, resulting in a record payout of more than US$550 million, reports the International Group of P&I Clubs' Pool.
Accordingly, company directors agreed to a general increase in premium ratings of 10 per cent. "An increase of 17.5 per cent was required," said a group communique issued after a board meeting in Bermuda recently. "However, a straight general increase would impact unfairly and it would be more equitable to reflect the cost of pool claims separately."
The increase in claims was attributed to a growing world fleet, larger ships, strong freight markets that pressures owners and charterers to deliver, problem in getting quality crews, sustained commodity prices, stormy weather and higher salvage costs, said group claims director Christopher Brown.
"There were a disproportionate number of groundings in the 2006 year following adverse weather, inappropriate crew response or mechanical troubles. Unusually, collisions were not the dominant form of loss and there was no major tanker spill. Salvage costs were particularly high," said Mr Brown.
"Clearly, there is an irregular but unmistakable upward cost trend. Claims appear to rise faster in real terms than the world fleet has increased. As more ships are launched, the P&I industry will need to monitor this carefully," he said.
Four new directors were elected to the UK P&I Club Board at the AGM in Bermuda on October 22. They are Faisal Ali of Kuwait Oil Tanker Co, SAK; Thomas Held of Neptune Orient Lines Limited; Takashi Kaneko of Nippon Oil Tanker Corporation and Zhang Liang of China Ocean Shipping Company. Tullio Biggi was unanimously re-elected chairman of the UK Club.

AUD Surges above 0.92

The Australian dollar remained around levels not seen in 23-years at noon, after surging above 92 US cents for the first time since 1984.
The domestic currency's rise is linked to expectations that Australian interest rates will go up in November, after the central bank holds its next board meeting.
At 1200 AEDT, the Australian dollar was trading at $US0.9209/15, up from Friday's close of 0.9117/22.
During the morning session it traded between a low of $US0.9189 and a high of 0.9218 that was reached just before noon.
That was its highest level since May 4, 1984, when it traded around 0.9270, according to central bank data.
The currency had pushed through 92 US cents at 0817 AEDT after opening the day at 91.84 US cents. Commonwealth Bank of Australia chief currency strategist Richard Grace said the local unit has been boosted by favourable sentiment offshroe toward high-yielding currencies.
''The majority of the story is just an adjustment to the fundamentals of the strong Australian economy - interest rates are likely to go up, commodity prices are high and Australia's terms of trade are high,'' he said.
''We have the Australian currency adjusting to a combination of these factors.''
The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to raise official interest rates by 25 basis points to 6.75 per cent in November, to head off inflationary pressures in the economy.
Meanwhile, the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy setting arm, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), is expected to cut the federal funds rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 4.5 per cent, when it announces its decision on October 31.
''The relative interest rate differential between Australia and the United States continues to widen in Australia's favour,'' Mr Grace said.
The Australian dollar is tipped to end the local session around $US0.9215 today, Mr Grace said.
He predictedthe currency could fall to 0.9180 if traders talk profits.
At 1200 AEDT, the Reserve Bank of Australia's trade weighted index (TWI) was at 72.3, up from Friday's close of 71.7.
This is the highest TWI since February 28, 1985, when it closed at the same level.
Meanwhile, the Australian bond market was weaker at noon.
At 1200 AEDT, the yield on the Commonwealth Government February 2017 bond was at 6.128 per cent, up from Friday's close of 6.073 per cent, while the August 2010 bond was at 6.600 per cent, up from 6.560 per cent.
On the Sydney Futures Exchange, the December 10-year bond futures contract price was at 93.865, down from Friday's close of
93.920, while the December three-year contract price was at 93.425, down from 93.470.
Soruce: AAP

Fuel prices at 3-month high

The national average petrol price is hovering at a three-month high of $1.26 a litre. (File photo) (Timothy Marshall)
Petrol prices have hit a three-month high in Australia as the price of oil exceeds $US92 a barrel.
Oil prices have increased around the world because of supply concerns and geopolitical tensions.
In Australia, the national average petrol price is hovering at a three-month high of $1.26 a litre.
Commsec Equities economist Martin Arnold says petrol may get even more expensive.
"We are seeing the price of petrol obviously on the rise and it's likely to rise by another five cents per litre, so edging up to $1.30 per litre in the coming week or so," he said.
"It's really in response to a sharp rise in global oil prices."
(ABC News Webpage)

Congrats to Australian Honey Products

The winner of the 2007 Regional Exporter of the Year Award is –

Australian Honey Products

Debi and I a pleased to be able to ship Tasmania's honey around the world and offer our sincere congratulations to Lindsay and Yeonsoon for not only winning this years Regional Exporter of the Year Award, but also for what we thought was the best speech of the evening.

The following is from the Economic Development Nessletter:

Australian Honey Products produce a superb range of honey and related products, including the multi-award winning Cradle Mountain Leatherwood Honey.

From pollination and harvesting through to processing, packaging and marketing, this Launceston-based company has made its mark. Milestones along the road to export success include breaking into the difficult Korean market, which has stringent quota limits on imported honey, and gaining a firm foothold in premium level markets in Japan, where consumers are renowned for their highly discerning tastes and insistence on quality.

This forward thinking company has made substantial investments to ensure that it builds on its success. Today it owns an impressive 1200 hives, strategically placed in Tasmania’s pristine cool climate rainforests. And its use of cutting-edge heat exchange equipment has strengthened its position as one of the state’s leading honey producers.

Lindsay and Yeonsoon Bourke, Australian Honey Products accept their award from Paul Delaney, Senior Manager, Trade and Working Capital Finance, Commonwealth Bank

More container vessel space than meets the eye, say analysts

CLAIMS by ocean carriers that there is barely enough capacity to meet shipper demand are being disputed by maritime analysts at AXS Marine, a Paris-based think tank, which says capacity has been "understated."
These views are being reported by Logistics Management magazine, of Newton Massachusetts, which quoted the AXS analysts saying: "Times when carriers were proud of new orders for big ships are over. This renders difficult the reliable assessment of the future supply, especially for years as far away as 2010 or 2011."
The analyst added that by keeping "a veil of secrecy on orders" carriers keep forecast figures dense, thereby creating problems for shippers devising long-term distribution strategies.
But London-based Drewry Shipping Consultants are telling cold storage shippers that reefer space may continue to be expensive. In a recent report, Drewry analysts forecast a decline in fleet size of specialised vessels.
The specialised reefer fleet above 100,000 cubic feet has declined in number from 878 vessels in 1999 to just 786 vessels in 2007," said Drewry.

Average Rates

2007 AUD vrs USD Average Rates To Date

January

0.782835 USD (23 days average)

February

0.78316 USD (20 days average)

March

0.793168 USD (22 days average)

April

0.827325 USD (21 days average)

May

0.82514 USD (23 days average)

June

0.842348 USD (21 days average)

July

0.867046 USD (22 days average)

August

0.829078 USD (23 days average)

September

0.846084 USD (20 days average)

October

0.894977 USD (9 days average)

Panama Canal beats last year's total throughput in September

THE Panama Canal has already passed the 296.1 million tonnes mark achieved in 2006 by surpassing 300 million tonnes this year, announced the Panama Canal Authority.
The authority also said that on September 19 the canal broke its daily record for the transit of Panamax vessels to 25, surpassing the 24 vessels that transited in July 2003.
The canal also tied its record for transiting so-called super ships, vessels measuring more than 91 foot abeam.

Australian dollar hits 23-year high against US

By Virginia Marsh in Sydney
Quoted

Published: October 8 2007 19:14 Last updated: October 8 2007 19:14
The Australian dollar reached its strongest level against the US dollar in nearly a quarter of a century on Monday, some commentators predicting it could reach parity in the coming months.
The Aussie jumped by more than one US cent, passing through the 90 US cent barrier to reach $0.9033 in trading in Asia, before ending the session in Sydney at $0.9016, its highest level in 23 years.
Yesterday’s rise marks an extraordinary run for the Aussie, which dipped to $0.77 in August on subprime fears. It also hit a 10-year high against sterling yesterday, ending at 44.17p in local trading. The rise was spurred by last week’s positive US jobs data, which have dimmed fears of a US recession and strong local equity markets.
More broadly, the Aussie – together with the New Zealand dollar – is benefiting from a revival in the carry trade, under which investors borrow in countries with low interest rates and re-invest in those with higher yields.
Australia and New Zealand have been relatively unscathed by the global credit turmoil that created the backdrop to last month’s 50 basis-point cut in US rates.
Australia’s official cash rate is at an 11-year high of 6.5 per cent, and the Reserve Bank is tipped to tighten monetary policy further in coming months.
“At the start of the year it was almost unthinkable that the Aussie dollar could ever reach parity with the greenback,” said Craig James at CommSec in Sydney. “What was once unthinkable is now being seriously entertained.”
The strengthening in the currency, however, is set to exacerbate the country’s trade deficit. In spite of the commodities boom, Australian exports have disappointed, partly because of infrastructure bottlenecks.
“From an economic point of view this [currency surge] does bring difficulties and makes things tougher for our exporters,” said Peter Costello, Treasurer.
Currency strategists believe the Aussie is set for further gains. Marc Chandler at Brown Brothers Harriman said: “There is little that Mr Costello can do to alter the Aussie’s direction.
“Intervention is unlikely to limit longer term investment and, with a strong economy, the Reserve Bank is likely to remain hawkish.”

California's clean truck plan would ban 95pc from port: study

A STUDY warns that a plan to cut truck diesel emissions at California ports through regulation could lead to economic chaos because fewer than five per cent of vehicles using the port meet new pollution standards.
The authors say the result of the ban could well match the damage done by the 2001 dock strike that closed US west coast ports for 10 days at an estimated cost of US$10 billion to the economy, reported The Long Beach Press Telegram.
When the Clean Truck Programme starts in January, the first few weeks could see a return to port congestion and container backlogs, according to a study by economist John Husing.
Mr Husing said most cargo is transported by owner-operated trucks. The Clean Truck Programme requires trucks to be driven by employee drivers and terminal access be limited to clean-burning vehicles.
The study found that the programme would push up cargo-hauling costs by 80 per cent, mainly because of the expense in providing medical and other benefits to truckers. Plus trucks would have to be retrofitted or replaced with new greener ones.

Government warned on committing to infrastructure

Gerard McManus - Herald Sun

AUSTRALIA's rising standard of living will stop and then drop unless governments get serious about a coordinated approach to infrastructure.
The warning comes from peak business body, the Business Council of Australia.
The continued failure of federal and state governments to tackle shortcomings in a united way in Australia's port bottlenecks, transport, power, water and communications would cut into growth, tax revenues and jobs, it warned.
But the BCA's newest "roadmap" has stopped short of calling for a new Federal Ministry for Infrastructure, suggesting existing structures such as COAG (the Council of Australian Governments) be revamped and held more regularly than annually to overcome some of the most intractable roadblocks to economic growth.
The latest BCA report says work on fixing infrastructure is piecemeal, unco-ordinated planning and sometimes wasteful.
"Australia's economy has expanded beyond the capacity of our current infrastructure," BCA president Michael Chaney said yesterday.
The BCA has recently been pilloried by Telstra communications chief Phil Burgess for being narrow-minded and not being concerned about the national interest.
Dr Burgess said the organisation had to decide between the interests of members or the broader national interest.
But the latest research paper from the BCA boasts that it "shines the high beam down the road to infrastructure reform".
The BCA claims that if governments follow its directions Australia's economy will be boosted by 2 per cent or $20 billion a year.
The head of the BCA's taskforce on sustainable growth Maria Tarrant said yesterday even the major Australian cities were guilty of "silo" planning with different government departments planning in isolation.
"The lack of co-ordination is putting serious brakes on economic growth," she said.
The BCA has pushed infrastructure reform before but its latest roadmap calls specifically for a new model of federal and state relations.
And it asks that the Productivity Commission be used to regularly monitor work being done and its effectiveness.

Windy havoc across Tasmania

Reason why our emails have been down - Willard Estate Logistics was without power from 1100hrs until 1700hrs 1st October 2007. Then we have had an issue with our domain host which has caused a problem with emails - this is being sorted out throughout the night of the 1st October 2007 and we are hopeful to be back to normal 2nd October 2007.

Thank you for you rpatience (ours on the other hand is running out!!)

News report on Tasmanian weather as reported by ABC Australia.

Wild weather across the state has kept emergency services crews busy.
A woman had a lucky escape after live powerlines landed on her car.
Tanya Winn was driving along Rowella Road, north of Launceston around midday when wind blew a tree onto powerlines.
"Oh I reckon I was about 15 metres from the tree by the time I actually stopped," she said.
"And of course there was the interesting bit with the live wires on top of the car."
Across the river, at George Town the East Tamar Highway was also blocked by a tree but that has since been cleared.
Melanie Webb from the Bureau of Meteorology says the wild weather is across the state.
"Gusts to 139 kilometres-an-hour on Mount Wellington, that's the highest, 135 at Maatsuyker Island," she said.
The wind is expected to ease tonight before picking up again late tomorrow afternoon.
Aurora Energy estimates about 500 customers in the Tamar Valley were without power this afternoon.
Most have since had electricity restored.

China foreign trade value up 24pc in first eight months

TOTAL foreign trade value of China increased 24 per cent to US$1.3 trillion in the first eight months of this year, according to statistics from China's General Administration of Customs.
Exports rose 27.7 per cent to $765.7 billion while imports grew 19.6 per cent to $603.9, statistics revealed.
The six major trading partners of China in the first eight months were the EU, US, Japan, Asean, Hong Kong and South Korea.
Guangdong, Jiangsu and Shanghai were the top three territories in terms of foreign trade value in the first eight months, and their combined value accounted for 58.2 per cent of the total from the whole country.
Shanghai foreign trade value was $179.06 billion, representing 13.1 per cent of the total.

More cargo, fewer ships cut container air pollution: LA study

BIGGER ships carrying more containers have cut air pollution on per-TEU basis in the Port of Los Angeles, according to a recent air quality study.
Nitrogen oxide containership emissions decreased six per cent and sulfur oxides by four per cent as the TEU numbers per ship increased from 3,272 in 2001 to 5,260 in 2005, a 44 per cent increase in container volume. This also resulted in a 61 per cent increase densification per vessel as the number of containership calls fell from 1,584 in 2001 to 1,423 in 2005, said a port statement.
The port study also said that shipping fleets had installed diesel oxidation catalysts on more than 580 pieces of shoreside equipment and 165 on-dock tractors and 800 other pieces of equipment ran on cleaner fuels, the statement said.
Regulations, voluntary reduction and operational improvements also contributed to a 17 to 27 per cent reduction in emissions per 10,000 TEU. "Port-wide emissions of sulfur oxides showed the strongest decreases," said the report.
Meanwhile the number of containers leaving the port by rail had more than doubled between 2001 and 2005, contributing to the 70 per cent increase in rail-related emissions though it is also accepted that railways produce less air pollution by reducing truck volume.

Panama Canal Authority CEO travels world to raise awareness

(From Asian Shipper News - 28th September 2007)
PANAMA Canal Authority administrator and CEO Alberto Aleman Zubieta recently visited Seoul, London and Hong Kong, where he spoke to financial institutions and clients, among others, to provide an update on the canal's ongoing expansion programme.
Mr Aleman claims that the canal will earn US$1.7 billion in revenue for 2007.
Since July, the canal authority has been approaching the financial markets to determine the most viable way to finance its expansion programme. The process, which began in Panama, found its legs in New York, where the authority presented their plan to an audience of more than 100 representatives of financial institutions.
"We are pleased with the response that we have received thus far from the financial institutions. They understand that expansion is a financially sound, historic project and have expressed confidence in the plans we have laid out to accomplish it," said Mr Aleman.
Expansion will involve the building a new lane of traffic through the construction of a new set of locks, which will double capacity and enable the so-called post-Panamax vessels to finally use the canal.

GOOD LUCK TASMANIAN EXPORT AWARDS ENTRANTS

GOOD LUCK TO ALL ENTRANTS IN THE 2007 TASMANIAN EXPORT AWARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BRETT, DEBI AND JULIE FROM WILLARD ESTATE LOGISTICS WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE AND CHEERING THE LOUDEST FOR THE WINNERS.

WILLARD ESTATE BLOG

You may not be aware of a new tab on our web page titled “Interactive Blog”. By clicking on this tab you will be directed to a web page that contains information posted by Willard Estate Logistics that is relevant to international shipping or trade or indeed just Tasmania (I add to this “Blog” often throughout the month as I discover articles or information that I consider may be useful for importers, exporters or industry people). This “Blog” has been created to provide an avenue for our customers, suppliers and industry relative people to place a comment against any of our postings to the “Blog”. For instance, this Newsletter is posted story by story to the “Blog” and by just clicking the “comment” tab below the story you can leave a comment on the story provided (you can remain anonymous if you wish). You may like to add your own thoughts or experiences about the importing containers under the “Importers Beware” heading, or vent your frustrations or provide a solution for the ships delayed under the “Exporters Beware” heading. There is also a section at the bottom of the “Blog” to vote if you have found information in the “Blog” helpful. I know three people have looked at the “Blog” as there are three votes under excellent (a good start). I am aware that many of you are vocal on infrastructure and shipping as well as trade in Tasmania, I encourage you to use it as often as you can

EXPORTERS BEWARE

The ships that service the AAA run (Singapore to Bell Bay to Singapore) are falling further and further behind and I am sure that I echo all of the Tasmanian Exporters and Importers who use this service in saying that we are sick to death of the delays. It would be nice for me to be able to write that a solution is close to hand and that we will soon see a return to fixed day sailings that are published at the beginning of each month but the reality is that we are at the mercy of the current situation. I am aware that there is much talk behind the scenes and that omitting ports has been a tool to try and make up time, but the reality is that the only vessel that is currently keeping to its published schedule is the Sinotrans Shanghai. Weather, berthing issues, congestion, and increased volumes (thus more time at the wharf working the ship) are all valid reasons for delays and are indeed the reason for the late arrivals and departures. We continue to be vocal in our disappointment to the shipping lines and encourage them to work towards a fixed weekly service for Tasmania. Whilst it is of little consolation, the same situations are being experienced in many ports in Australia and indeed the world.

IMPORTERS BEWARE

This time of year (October – January) is traditionally a terrible time for import shipping and 2007 is not going to be any different. Just recently the Sinotrans Shanghai departed Singapore with a large number of containers left behind. The reason for this is that the volume of cargo coming from the Far East to Australia is staggering and quite frankly there is not enough room on ships to carry the cargo (on this occasion the ship was directed to leave the port by the Port of Singapore due to the weight stability of the vessel). Importers would be aware of increases in rates (GRI – General Rate Increases) and Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) being applied to the rates out of Asia. Just recently we received the last quarter rates for 2007 and in some cases import container rates ex some ports in China have increased by US$450.00 per container.
If you are importing containers from Asia to depart anytime from September to January, please be aware that delays may occur. Should you have shipments that are imperative to production schedule, please ensure you make Willard Estate Logistics aware so that we can put in special requests for space allocation for your containers (please note that this is not guaranteed but will help to have your containers loaded). Please also check the validity date on your quotations and if it has run out, or is about to run out, request updated rates prior to placing orders – it can be very disheartening (not to mention expensive) to assume that rates quoted in July are still applicable for November).

An interesting fact: Maritime Manure Shipping

In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship and it was also before commercial fertilizer's invention, so large shipments of manure were common. It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when wet, but once water (at sea) hit it, it not only became heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a by product is methane gas. As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can see what could (and did) happen. Methane began to build up below decks and the first time someone came below at night with a lantern, BOOOOM! Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined just what was Happening. After that, the bundles of manure were always stamped with the term "Ship High In Transit" on them, which meant for the sailors to stow it high enough off the lower decks so that any water that came into the hold would not touch this volatile cargo and start the production of methane.

Thus evolved the term " S.H.I.T " , (Ship High In Transit) which has come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day.