Shipping Australia chairman Scott Henderson reports on last year – another year of living with COVID-19.
Last year was an extraordinarily hectic year for Shipping Australia Ltd. Continuing to keep members abreast of the various changes to Australia’s COVID-19 restrictions has been a challenge in itself.
Vaccinations of seafarers have taken centre stage across the world and Shipping Australia continues to advocate for the vaccination of visiting seafarers in Australia.
Besides dealing with an evolving COVID-19 landscape of shipping restrictions from the previous year, 2021 began with Shipping Australia arguing against the WA government’s Port Hedland Voluntary Buy-Back Scheme port charge and providing input to the Victorian Essential Service Commission on Port of Melbourne’s tariff rebalancing application.
Last year there was also a flurry of full and associate members joining the Shipping Australia membership.
Every new company that joins Shipping Australia strengthens the voice of ocean-going carriers and members of related industries in Australia. A broadly represented ocean industry can be successful in advocating for policies that benefit all the people of Australia.
After two tumultuous COVID-19 years, I sincerely hope that 2022 is a calmer one for us all. Shipping does have a few challenging years ahead, especially on the environmental front.
I thank the directors and committee members of SAL as well the SAL staff for their contributions and support
over this last year.
Mr Henderson’s article reviews a wide range of other issues that cropped up last year and you can read it here! His article is part of this year’s Shipping Australia Annual Review of 2021!