Shipping Australia notes the release of the NSW Empty Container Supply Chain Study.
One goal of the NSW Freight and Ports Plan 2018-2023, according to Transport for New South Wales is to improve the flow of empty containers into and out of Port Botany.
It is a worthy goal.
Unfortunately, although we understand that many, or all, of the empty container parks were contacted, only two empty container parks actually took part.
Shipping Australia understands that there are about 20 or so Empty Container Parks in New South Wales. There are also a variety of intermodal terminal businesses that also handle empty containers as part of their business.
Only four cargo owners took part.
Only 17 companies in the category of “Transport operators/Freight Forwarders” took part. Having only 17 participants in that category is an especially low number – in the New South Wales version of the industry directory “Who Goes Where 2018” there are about 140 road-carriers listed in the “Carriers” section under the letters A to D alone.
And that doesn’t event take into account the companies in the second half of that category, namely, “Freight Forwarders”.
The NSW Empty Container Supply Chain Study simply does not have a big enough sample size so there is plenty of work still to go.
Further assessment must address empty container re-directions related to:
- force majeure conditions at the terminals (e.g. high winds)
- transport operators requesting redirection to the nearest empty container park
- empty container parks accepting containers not marked for them when shipping lines use multiple empty container parks
Another necessity not yet addressed is promoting / incentivising triangulation at the shipping terminal i.e. empty drop off and full container load pick-ups without having to make two Vehicle Booking Slot bookings.
Shipping Australia welcomes the opportunity for further engagement with government and industry on this topic through participation in the Empty Container Working Group over the next six months.
We aim to encourage full participation from the ocean shipping lines, the empty container parks, transport operators, stevedores, cargo owners and other essential service providers.
