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.