Tassie trucks keep rolling

By Cameron Wilson
Tuesday, 29/07/2008
The Tasmanian Transport Association says all fright movement sin and out of the state are unaffected after a protest by truck drivers was a "flop". Yesterday truck drivers around Australia stopped work to protest against high fuel prices, logbook changes, and the rising cost of truck registration.Organisers predicted up to 80 per cent of Australia's truckies would stop work, lead by long haul drivers on the mainland.But executive director of the Tasmanian Transport Association Robin Phillips says from what he has heard not many drivers went on strike."It was a bit of a flop actually, the few small rebel groups that were actually trying to get it all together basically didn't gain any support."All I can say is that it has had absolutely no impact on any freight coming into Tasmania and doesn't look as though it will do."

Economic vision for Tasmania

Premier David Bartlett has told the Tasmanian business community it is time to draw a line over the stellar economic growth of the past 10 years and start planning and acting for the next decade.
“If the last 10 years was about getting the fundamentals right, the next 10 needs to be about connecting Tasmania to a modern 21st Century global economy.
“Such an economy will be characterised by innovation within existing and emerging sectors, by skills and by much higher levels of educational standards.
“We know from OECD figures that for every year we add to the average level of school attainment for Tasmanian youth, we will add 8 per cent to productivity and up to 2 per cent of Gross State Product,” Mr Bartlett said.
The Premier acknowledged there would be key challenges to overcome such as climate and demographic change.
“The challenge for business and Government is to respond, adapt and innovate.”
The Government is looking to work with the Tasmanian business community and cabinet over the coming weeks and months to develop three key strategies aimed at securing Tasmania’s economic future.
“The Government is already working with the business community on a Tasmanian Skills Strategy which will be released later this year.
“The framework has been built around three primary drivers operating in all economies - population, participation and productivity.
“I am also committed to creating a comprehensive Innovation Strategy.
"Such a strategy would identify opportunities available to us through an increased investment in innovation in both traditional sectors of economic strength and emerging sectors.
“A Ten Year Infrastructure Strategy is the third piece of the puzzle. For Tasmania to realise its full potential there needs to be billions of dollars invested in new infrastructures.
“I see the development of a competitive broadband market as central to the future of the Tasmanian economy as hydro industrialisation has been to our past.
“It is also crucial we invest in new irrigation and water storage systems to make the most of our natural advantages.
“Development of low emission flexible transport systems must also feature prominently,” Mr Bartlett said.
“These three key strategies in skills, innovation and infrastructure will underpin our economic direction for the next decade.
“What we have is an exciting challenge that will determine the quality of life of future generations of Tasmanians. It’s a challenge this Government is ready, able and willing to take on. ”

Shipping Company Announcements BAF/PSS

The following announcements have been made by various shipping lines as to BAF changes to be effective 1st September 2008.

Southbound
South East Asia

20’ GP 40’GP
US$930.00 US$1860.00

Also, effective 25th August 2008, many lines have announced the introduction of Peak Season Surcharges ex South East Asia.

Southbound
South East Asia

20’ GP 40’ GP
US$250.00 US$500.00

California clamps down on ships' sulphur - July 28, 2008

New California laws will force ships to use low-sulphur fuel, saving lives and reducing pollution on land according to the state’s Air Resources Board. The laws also open the door to a major legal brawl.
In steps beginning in 2009 ocean-going vessels within 24 nautical miles of California's coast will have to use lower-sulphur (or low-sulfur as they would say) fuels in their engines and boilers, in place of heavy and dirty bunker oil. The board says around 2,000 vessels will be subject to the rules, which will be the strictest in the world (press release).
“This regulation will save lives,” says board chairman Mary Nichols. “At ports and all along the California coast we will see cleaner air and better health.”
If the rules stand up to legal scrutiny they will have an impact across the whole of the United States. As the LA Times points out about 40% of all marine freight into the US comes through ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Whether it will stand up to legal scrutiny remains to be seen.
“International ships running in international waters under international treaties should be handled under international laws,” says T.L. Garrett, vice president of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association. “We know it's the right thing to do. The question is, who should be telling us to do it?”
The Association believes California’s maximum jurisdiction is three nautical miles out (San Diego Union-Tribune).
This isn’t the first time the state has tried to get tough with shipping, as the NY Times notes:
Earlier this year, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit overturned a California rule that sought to regulate the engines that ships use to make electricity. The court ruled that under the Clean Air Act, only the federal government could impose such a regulation.

AMC launches Big Idea

21/07/2008 12:00:00 AM
THE Australian Maritime College's Big Idea Competition 2008 is off and running following an official launch last Thursday.
AMC national centre for ports and shipping director Capt.
John Lloyd told 60 guests that the competition was a great opportunity for those involved to work with students from across all areas of the AMC and the broader community.
Now in its fourth year, the Big Idea business plan competition is open to teams who take an idea through development stages to a completed business plan.
Teams must have at least one AMC student as a member. The entrants are helped on their way with three seminars hosted by Derek LeMarchant, of the Department of Economic Development, and Brett Charlton, of Williard Estate Logistics.
AMC department of maritime and logistics management head Stephen Cahoon said that the competition gave students invaluable experience in a specialised field.
"This competition really encourages the development of entrepreneurial businesses and more importantly it fosters a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation among students," Dr Cahoon said.
Applications close on July 30 and final submissions must be in on September 29. A panel of academic and industry experts will judge entries and choose a winner for the first prize of $1500 and $500 second prize.
Past entries have included a plan to buy the Nanaimo Harbour City Marina in Vancouver, Canada, a plan to develop an outdoor adventure business in Northern Tasmania and a plan to set up a travel company specialising in group travel packages for people interested in cultural tours of Malaysia.

Truck drivers stage strike

Dewi Cooke
July 29, 2008
SUPERMARKET chains have altered delivery schedules to buffer the impact of a truck drivers' strike in Queensland.
Both Coles and Woolworths said they had "contingency plans" for the two-week shutdown announced by independent truck drivers.
Coles said it brought forward some weekend deliveries and Woolworths said it had moved some stock to regional distribution centres as a precaution.
The Long Distance Owners and Drivers Association and other groups want an increased base wage, improved safety and removal of the fuel excise.
Peter Schuback, a Hervey Bay-based transport operator, said the strike had the potential to stop food supplies within three days and fuel supplies within four.
The drivers have vowed to prevent distribution of diesel. A spokeswoman for Shell, which has a refinery at Geelong, said the company was monitoring the situation but had not experienced disruption.
Queensland police said a convoy of 43 trucks and 13 cars drove through central Brisbane yesterday. In Western Australia a similar protest drew 50 drivers, who voted to call off the shutdown. In Victoria, about 20 drivers reportedly met in Dandenong and then drove on to Geelong, while 70 drivers met in Adelaide. Six of these drivers have since been sacked, ABC online reported. The drivers' action is not supported by the Transport Workers Union.
Philip Lovell, chief executive of the Victorian Transport Association, representing transport employers, condemned the protest.
"The industry is going through some of the toughest times ever," he said. "The last thing you need to do is not work."
Australian Retailers Association executive director Richard Evans said shops that relied heavily on a quick turnover of stock could be hit hard.
Prices of some goods could also rise, he said. "Any disruption to the supply chain would have an impact upon price and that's to be expected."

Port businesses at last have their say

PENNY McLEOD
July 28, 2008 12:00am
TASPORTS chief executive Robert Barnes will today meet local waterfront businesses to discuss their concerns about plans for the development of the waterfront and a new Royal Hobart Hospital.About 10 people representing shipping, stevedoring and supply companies based at the Hobart port will attend the meeting. They are seeking an open and candid dialogue with the government-owned port authority. "TasPorts have been pretty quiet," Tasmanian Maritime Network's Richard Fader said. "It's been a bit reactionary (to media reports) in letting port users know what's going on. "Hopefully this time they can sit down with the interested people and tell them what they have in the pipeline and about their interaction with the other authorities." Mr Fader said the recent submission made by TasPorts to the New Royal Project team, outlining TasPorts' concerns about the new hospital and assurances it was committed to the port, were welcome. But waterfront businesses needed reassurance from the chief himself, he said. "We want to make sure the port users' views are incorporated into the master plan, and our best bet for that is through TasPorts," he said. Meanwhile, Tasmanian Opposition Leader Will Hodgman said news the Government's master plan for waterfront development could be completed within about 12 months was not good enough. "It seems inconceivable that you wouldn't sit down and say where do we see Hobart's waterfront in five, 10, 15 years' time and indeed into the longer term," Mr Hodgman said. "The fact that it hasn't been done has now left David Bartlett in the very awkward position of having to put the cart well and truly before the horse." Premier David Bartlett said the Government was progressing a review of the model for planning and development of a master plan. "Mr Hodgman is asking for a sensible development but in the same breath wants to rush what is a complex master plan which must take into consideration the needs of all stakeholders," Mr Bartlett said. He said the timeframe would be subject to the "scope of the work to be undertaken". Mr Bartlett said the heads of DPAC, Treasury and Justice would report to him in six weeks.

Bass straight reopened to abalone fishermen

By Cameron Wilson
Monday, 07/07/2008
Tasmania's abalone council says new biosecurity measures will make it safe for the resumption of commercial fishing in northern Bass Straight.The smallest of Tasmania's five abalone fishing zones has been closed for about two years due to a threat from the abalone virus ganglioneuritis.President of the Tasmanian Abalone Council Greg Woodham says commercial fishing will start again this week, and the strict regulations for cleaning equipment and notifying the state government before fishing, will reduce the risk."It is near the Victorian coastal waters, but the area isn't near the virus front."Even though we've taken a stance that there is a high level of risk, we believe that our planning in these biosecurity matters will put us in a high level of risk management that will mitigate any risk of the disease making its way to Tasmania."
In this report: Greg Woodham, president of the Tasmanian Abalone Council.

Wind power reduces cargo shipping costs

By Will Ockenden
Thursday, 10/07/2008
Centuries ago, shipping merchants harnessed the power of the wind to move their cargo.While it's long been replaced by fuel, the increasing cost of oil means companies once again investigating using the wind to reduce transport costs.A company in Germany has invented a kite-like device to help power cargo ships.Managing Director of SkySails Stephan Wrage says that it can slash the use of oil by 35 percent. "We have huge giant kites that save cargo ships a lot of oil," he said. "The saving vary from ship to ship, but 160 meter long vessel needs as much as 30 tonnes of oil a day. If you compare that to a house, it takes 2 tonnes of oil a year to heat that house, so they use a lot of oil.""If you have perfect wind on a 300 square meter kite on a 10,000 tonne vessel, you can gain as much as a 50 percent saving, but the weather's not always good, so that's why we think it's a 10 to 35 percent saving for the year," he said.Ship owners are looking at new technologies, because of potential cost savings. "Regulations from the International Maritime Organisation require owners need to reduce emissions, so that's good for us," he said.
In this report: Managing Director of SkySails Stephan Wrage

Cherry access a priority into Japan

By Mary Goode
Thursday, 10/07/2008
The Japanese government has told Sunraysia citrus growers that they'll have to wait until next year to be accredited fruit-fly free. The Victorian growers were hoping the Japanese would grant them seasonal-area-freedom by mid-July.But Japanese officials have indicated that it's a case of one at a time, and market access for Tasmanian cherries would come first.CEO of the Murray Valley Citrus Board John Tesoriero says "they indicated that unless Australia asked Japan to change it's priority, it's default position would be to deal with cherries first because it was well advanced.They then indicated by dealing with cherries first, it would mean our application to have area freedom from fruit fly into Japanbe put back until June 2009."Mr Tesoriero says area-freedom would mean significant benefits to the region."If you look at last year as an example, Australia exported around 15,500 tonnes of citrus into Japan. If you look at Sunraysia we only exported 1900 tonnes of that total. The majority of that export came out of South Australia. Now we'd be look in time, under area-freedom to certainly balance that out so it was equal between South Australia and the greater Sunraysia."
In this report: CEO of the Murray Valley Citrus Board John Tesoriero.

Repackaging Tasmanian fruit for Asian shoppers

By Cameron Wilson
Tuesday, 15/07/2008
Gift packs featuring our best produce could be the secret to selling more Tasmanian fruit for a better price in Asia.Representatives from Fruit Growers Tasmania are currently on tour meeting with importers and big supermarkets in Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong.The aim is to grow the export market for Tassie cherries, apples and maybe even apricots. Lucy Gregg from Fruit Growers Tasmania says gift packs are one option to add value."One of the things we've been discussing with supermarket chains is wether there's potential to maybe send bulk fruit and actually they do the value adding over here.Therefor, you've actually got packaging and size and concept that they can sell within their own country, so every different country and every different supermarket has its own way of .... understanding the demographic of their consumers."
In this report: Lucy Gregg, business development manager with Fruit Growers Tasmania

US scheme defies opposition to counting soil carbon

By Jane Bardon
Friday, 18/07/2008
The Federal Government says agriculture won't have to pay for its pollution under an emissions trading scheme because its too hard to count the carbon from thousands of farms.Farmers will be able to trade carbon stored in trees, but not carbon stored in soils. But American and Canadian farmers are able to trade carbon they store in the soil through no till farming and keeping the ground covered through maintaining perennial pastures.Iowa Farm Bureau Federation research director David Miller says farmers sell their carbon to the Chicago Climate Exchange on a regional basis.The Bureau sells the carbon on behalf of its members in large blocks, where the carbon stored is conservatively averaged over many farms in a region. The farmers are legally bound to continue the farming practices which store the carbon for five years at a time."In Iowa our credit rate is six tenths of a tonne, per acre, per year. If I were to go to western Kansas, which is a different climate region, with different soils, their credit rate is two tenths of a tonne per acre."Individual farms get credit based on the regional level, assuming their farm has complied with the program, such as growing crops under no til conditions, or keeping the grass growing out there."The price on the Exchange changes, but we get about $2 an acre right now."David Miller says US farm groups like his own intend to join with Australian farmers in pushing to get the Kyoto Protocol rules changed to give them credit for storing carbon in soils.Farmers in both countries are worried if a new global deal on reducing greenhouse gas pollution is signed they will have to pay more for emitting carbon, than they'll get for storing it.He says US farmers are putting pressure on the US Government to lobby for soil carbon to be included."To get agriculture and forestry properly represented in the dynamics of how agriculture and forestry really fit into the overall greenhouse gas profiles and get credit for what we do. The fact that Kyoto doesn't do it is something that can be corrected in Kyoto 2."David Miller says with soil carbon counted, cropping farms are almost carbon neutral under emissions trading schemes, because inputs like fuel are counted in the fuel part of the schemes.But its much harder for the livestock sector, which produces massive emissions levels, to reduce or offset its greenhouse gases.He says, however, Iowa farmers are trialing plants which process the dung from cattle in a 20 mile radius into methane gas, which can be put into the local energy gas pipeline, and fertiliser and composts which are then used back on farms.David Miller will speak at the Australian Grain Industry Conference in Melbourne later this month.
In this report: David Miller, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation research director

UK food imports under carbon scrutiny

By Sally Dakis
Tuesday, 22/07/2008
Australian agriculture may well not be part of a Federal government carbon emissions scheme until at least 2015, but that doesn't mean the carbon footprint of Australian food isn't likely to be assessed.Dr Adrian Williams from the UK's Cranfield University has been commissioned by the UK government to assess the carbon footprint of imported potatoes, apples, lamb, beef and poultry, from a range of countries including New Zealand, Brazil and Israel.The results are likely to be compared to a new greenhouse gas emission standard for food, to be released by the UK government in October.Adrian Williams says their study looks at out of season fruits and flowers, including strawberries."Well it just one of a number of crops and its emblematic of a soft fruit that we import out of season."Once that standard (for measuring carbon) has been agreed I think we'll then see a lot more statements about what the emissions are in terms of producing things, which may manifest itself as labels on products in supermarkets."
In this report: Dr Adrian Williams, from Cranfield University

Organic food sales jump 80 per cent

By Jane Bardon
Tuesday, 22/07/2008
Australia now has the largest area of certified organic farmland in the world.And organic food sales have also grown 80 per cent in the last four years.Organics are still a niche industry, making up just one percent of our food.However the report from the University of New England shows that's growing.Australian organic farm gate sales are now worth $230 million a year, and retail sales of $570 million a year including imports.Biological Farmers director Dr Andrew Monk says its because farmers are able to supply more organic and consumers are more health concious.The report found domestic demand is growing more than exports, with more organic produce available and consumers becoming more health conscious.Andrew Monk says most organic farms are in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, and Australia has the biggest area of land devoted to organic in the world."Theres almost 12 million hectares under certified land, the majority of that is the arid and semi-arid rangelands of southwestern Queensland and western New South Wales, mostly beef with a bit of sheep there."Organic food is often seen as lifestyle choice for those who can afford it. Melbourne Organic wholesaler and retailer Uwe Wolfen says that's changing.He can't get enough organic produce to supply his diverse range of customers, and he can now often compete on price."I can offer some things cheaper than the big supermarkets because I am saving on food miles. Most of our fruit and vegetables are bought locally direct from the grower, and so we don't have to go through about three different stages to get them into the shops."For example, you can buy certified organic potatoes from us for $1.95 a kilo, and I believe at the big supermarkets they are about $2.98, I check every day to see what the different is."
In this report: Andrew Monk director Biological Farmers of Australia; Uwe Wullfen Organic Elements Australia

Tasmania pursuing "enviro wool"

By Yvette Barry & Cameron Wilson
Thursday, 24/07/2008
A system to prove the environmental credentials of Tasmanian wool growers has been funding by the Federal government's Caring for our Country program.Seven Tasmanian landcare projects will share in nearly one million dollars in the first round of funding.One successful applicant is a joint project between Roberts Wool Link and Agricultural Resource Management who are designing an environmental accreditation system for the Tasmanian wool industry, called "EnviroWool".Project manager Leanne Sherriff from Agricultural Resource Management says there was national competition for the money."Many companies around the world are starting to look for environmentally friendly options in products and there's a real need to be able to prove what you're saying."Some examples are outdoor retailers who sell outdoor clothing, socks, thermals, all of those sorts of things ... there's a big demand in that sector, the sort of people that are buying that gear, to have that kind of level of accreditation."The system we're hoping to develop we hope will be available to for any farmer in the wool industry in Tasmania to be involved in and it will be rigorous, it will ... accredited with an external organisation."
In this report: Leanne Sherriff, Envirowool project manager

Aussie apple case 'weak'

Report: Cameron Wilson
An international trade expert is predicting the World Trade Organisation (WTO) will rule against Australia in its hearing into apple imports.New Zealand is challenging Australia's quarantine rules for apples at the WTO, claiming they are an excessive trade barrier.The Australian government is arguing the import regulations are a protection against the disease fire blight.But Alan Oxley from trade consultants ITS Global says Australia's case is weak and will probably be defeated."It may have been that the previous government who set this process in train decided it was going to be easier to be overruled by the WTO to demonstrate that its case couldn't stand rather than take the decision itself, sometimes it's politically convenient to do that. "But this is a case where on the surface it looks like we have tried to use the system to obstruct entry of New Zealand apples."
In this report: Alan Oxley, ITS Global

China 'committed to fighting' climate change

(China Daily)Updated: 2008-07-10 06:45

TOYAKO, Japan: The world has to fight climate change together but the responsibilities of the developed and developing countries in this battle has to be different, President Hu Jintao reiterated Wednesday.
Speaking at the Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change, he said global warming is the common concern of the world.
But the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change reflects the international consensus on the "common but differentiated responsibilities" of different countries, Hu said on the sidelines of the Group of Eight (G8) Summit.
He urged the world's major economies to play an exemplary role in meeting the needs of the UN convention and the Kyoto Protocol.
He suggested the major economies take forward international negotiations on climate change, and urged them to take the lead in carrying out practical cooperation.
The G8 has announced that it would cut its greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2050.
But the eight richest countries have not specified what the base year for the cut would be, making the target vague.
That's why the developing countries, including China and India, invited to the G8 talks, are not impressed. They want the G8 to reduce its emissions further because historically the richest countries are the world's biggest polluters and economically the most capable of adapting to the needed changes.
Hu reaffirmed China's pledge in the fight against global warming, and said it is determined to tackle the issue.
China has taken a series of measures that include saving energy and cutting emissions. It has set specific energy-saving targets, including reducing the energy consumption per unit of GDP by 20 percent by 2010, and increasing the forest cover to 20 percent. China is committed to meeting these targets, and is "ready to work with the rest of the world to achieve harmonious, clean and sustainable development", Hu said.

Hobart port 'neglected'

MICHAEL STEDMAN Political reporter
July 10, 2008 12:00am
THE international shipping company moving what is believed to be one of the largest shipments of zinc from Hobart, has accused TasPorts of neglecting its port facilities.The bulk carrier Cape Preston is docked at the Hobart wharf until tonight to load 15,000 tonnes of zinc from Nyrstar. In the past zinc has been freighted from Hobart using a mix of road, rail and container ships. But cargo superintendent of the Cyprus-based Austral Asia Line, Keith Richards, said rising diesel prices and ongoing uncertainty over Tasmanian rail operations was driving a resurgence of bulk shipping. However, he said Hobart was poorly placed to handle heavy freight because of the poor state of its port facilities. He said there was deep uncertainty in shipping circles about the future of Hobart's ports in light of the State Government's plans to use the freight precinct for the new Royal Hobart Hospital. "If you look around the world everyone is upgrading their port facilities but Hobart is just letting theirs go," Mr Richards said. "They seem to be hoping they can put a set of units along here and they don't need to have a wharf." Mr Richards said the dock's container crane could no longer be used because it had not been effectively maintained. And large ships can only load and unload on Macquarie Wharf 4 because the surrounding wharves are not rated to support loads above 20 tonnes. "I have had to tell clients in the Philippines who want to bring cargo into Hobart: 'Be careful about the weight of some of the stuff because we can't unload it on the wharf'." The largest of his line's ships are no longer permitted to sail under the Tasman Bridge to load bulk zinc at Risdon because the port has downgraded its tug fleet. TasPorts executive manager marketing Charles Scarafiotti said the company was committed to maintaining a working port in Hobart. "The port's container crane was recently withdrawn from operation, but if a significant project warrants it it can be returned to operating condition," Mr Scarafiotti said. "In terms of investing in the port, the company has recently completed remediation works at Mac 4 -- about 750 square metres of concrete was removed and replaced with new reinforced concrete."

Slow ships

By Kathy Cogo
Monday, 16/06/2008
Forget the slow food movement, we're now seeing a slow shipping movement. In the name of saving fuel, ships around the world are steaming at slower knots.Teresa Hatch from the Australian Shipowners' Association says ships can go through $16,000 of fuel a day."It's happening world wide but that includes ships that call at Australia so certainly some of the lines that call here and make port calls at Townsville, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Fremantle, they would be on a slow steaming schedule. So we're part of that world wide picture, it's happening everywhere."The result of doing this however is that companies have to add another ship to their fleet to fill schedules. Of course it's not practical for all ships to slow down, the dry bulk trade needs to queue at the port to get into a berth.The shipping sector is also facing another pressure, an environmental one.In future it will have to use low sulphur emitting fuels. But that might not be as easy as it seems because the infrastructure to make the fuel isn't available."The International Maritime organisation is the global regulatory regime for shipping, and they have more or less agreed, it just needs a rubber stamp come October, that from 2012 all ships will start burning low sulphur fuels and that will mean a shift from effectively the sludge that we burn now to more like a marine diesel oil with a very low sulphur content", Ms Teresa Hatch said.But they need the refinery industry to build the manufacturing plants to supply the fuel. Ms Hatch says the refinery industry doesn't have enough welders to get the job done.
In this report: Teresa Hatch, maritime operations, Australian Shipowners Association

Highway reopens but Bell Bay rail link fears

By MARK BAKER

The damaged bridge showing the section that may have to be removed for safety reasons. Picture: NEIL RICHARDSON

THE East Tamar Highway was reopened yesterday afternoon after an excavator being transported on a semi-trailer smashed into an overhead rail bridge on Tuesday.
The future of rail freight transport on the Bell Bay line remains unclear until an engineer's report on the damage is finished in the next few days.
Infrastructure Minister Graeme Sturges said the bridge was safe for vehicles to travel under but there had been significant damage to the structure.
"This has been a major whack and the department has moved into action very, very quickly indeed through the contingency plan that they have," he said. "We've had a team of expert engineers up there, workers up there clearing the concrete on the road, making it safe."
Mr Sturges said the Government understood the strategic nature of the Bell Bay rail link and was keen to reopen the track as soon as possible, "but we now need to get the expert advice from the engineers; they're crunching numbers, they're doing what they need to do and one thing we won't do is compromise the safety of Tasmanians".
About 3.30pm on Tuesday, an excavator being transported on a semi- trailer hit the railway bridge.
The highway remained blocked for most of yesterday while engineering crews surveyed the damage.
Light vehicles and standard trucks were able to detour along Lilydale main road, Pipers River main road and Bridport main road, however, B-Doubles were too large for the alternate routes.
Mr Sturges said he would not rule out action against the transport company but it was not the primary concern for the department.
Kellara Transport general manager Ken Hughes was interstate and unavailable to comment yesterday.
Infrastructure Department roads and traffic general manager Peter Todd said the maximum vehicle height would be limited to 4.3m.
"This limit will be strictly enforced, with variable message boards in place to remind truck drivers of the new restriction," Mr Todd said.
"New temporary gantries on the road approaches to the rail bridge will also be installed as an extra warning for truck drivers."
A team of five transport inspectors would also be on the highway to make sure trucks kept to load limits.
Tasports marketing executive manager Charles Scarafiotti said the highway's closure had not caused significant congestion at the Bell Bay port.
"The only issue for us is we have a train that can't be removed from our wharf at the moment," he said.
"If other cargo starts to come in while it's there, then it's going to be a bit of a problem and we'll have to look at some relocation."
Freight will be placed on trucks while the rail line is not operational.
Opposition infrastructure spokesman Peter Gutwein said freight forwarders who moved to road transport might not return to rail.
"For the longer term prospect of rail, it's obviously going to be a concern that whatever is transferred to road comes back to rail in the future," he said.
Mr Sturges said he hoped that Pacific National would be able to keep its current arrangements and restart carrying freight on trains when the line reopened.
Mr Gutwein said the closure of the highway highlighted a major flaw in transport planning as there was no alternate route.
"It does rely on heavy traffic and specifically B-doubles so it's certainly one issue in terms of contingency planning into the future that needs to be considered because any significant blockage of the highway effectively strangles the port," he said.
Mr Sturges met George Town Mayor Doug Burt and general manager Ngaire McCrindle yesterday to discuss alternate routes for heavy vehicles and concerns about road mass on the highway.

No deal in sight for US West Coast dockers

Rajesh Joshi, New York - Wednesday 2 July 2008

Port workers at Long Beach. pic: BloombergDOCKERS on the US West Coast were working without a contract as of today after their union and employers could not agree on a new labour contract. Negotiators were understood to be working round the clock to hammer out a new deal, which would replace the previous six-year contract that expired on June 30. Talks have been under way since early spring. The 2002 contract was a flashpoint, culminating in a bitter labour dispute that led to a 10-day lockout imposed by employers in October. Officials on both sides have publicly said they want to avoid a repeat situation this year. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union is spearheading the dockers’ cause, covering some 26,000 workers at ports in California, Oregon and Washington. Included in the list are the mega-ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which together handle 40% of container cargo business in the US. The 2002 talks had stalled on employers’ insistence on making more or better use of technology, which they believed was an unavoidable change required to keep US ports and terminals competitive with the global industry. The Pacific Maritime Association, which represents shippers and terminal operators, has sought to highlight that a full-time docker governed by their contract earns an annual wage of $136,000, which makes it among the best-paid jobs in the country. The ILWU says that this figure is hypothetical, and only 10,000 of its unionised workforce are employed full-time. Negotiators involved in the 2008 talks have previously indicated that they might already have a deal on health care. Wages, pension and productivity remain under review.

'Light at end of tunnel' on CO2 discussions

Craig Eason - Wednesday 2 July 2008

Light at the end of the tunnel in CO2 emissions debate. LAST week’s Oslo meeting on green house gases has made limited progress in developing the technical basis for how shipping should reduce CO2 emissions. The week long agenda in the Norwegian capital included developments of a design index for new vessels, the development of an operational index and the possibilities of implementing some form of market based measures to reduce CO2 emissions. The meeting was attended by more than 200 delegates from member states and industry organisations. Delegates told Lloyd’s List that progress was made in the development of the design and operational indexes, although there were no final conclusions, with any recommendations being passed to the Autumn meeting of the marine environment protection committee for approval. “It’s early days, and if you look for conclusions you will not get any,” commented one delegate. “There’s light at the end of the tunnel, and its not the oncoming train,” said another. Delegates however said there was disappointment that discussions on market based measures, such as the use of levies or trading schemes, failed to make good ground. Submissions from a number of European countries had hoped to stimulate discussion on market based measures, possibly some form of bunker levy or an emission trading mechanism. However with disagreement about the application of these, there was no clear conclusion as to whether any such instrument should apply to all ships, regardless of registration, or only to those registered in countries that are party to, and listed in Annex I of, the United Nationals Framework Convention on Climate Change. The lack of agreement came despite the opening speech of the meeting, IMO secretary general Efthimios Mitropoulos, who told delegates he hoped that any work would be made to apply to all of shipping, rather than just the 25% party to UNFCC annex I. Despite making little headway on market based measures, the meeting has developed the complex formula, methodology and provisional legislative text for a mandatory design index for new ships. This formula, once finalised, will serve as a mandatory fuel efficiency tool to be applied at the design stage of a new vessel. It will allow designers to input and compare variables such as ship type, propeller design and waste heat recovery systems, along with optimum speed to determine CO2 emissions. The draft formula has now gone out to member states and observer organisations to test its robustness prior to MEPC in October. MEPC will also decide on minimum levels and the frequency with which the limit will be tightened. The meeting also discussed and developed the current CO2 operational index and best practices for voluntary implementation. This index has been used by a number of member states since its adoption in 2005 and has been subject to a number of developments. It is likely that the operational index will remain a set of voluntary guidelines. The results of the Oslo meeting will now be passed to the October MEPC, with a subsequent GHG working group meeting after that not being ruled out by Mr Mitropoulos, who wants to see the IMO develop CO2 regulations for shipping by the time the UNFCCC meets in Copenhagen next year for discussions on the next commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol which expires at the end of 2011.