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Truckers angered by stevedoring costs at Australian ports
来源： 编辑：编辑部 发布：2018/02/05 09:46:51
TRUCKING companies have reacted angrily to the introduction of "infrastructure charges" by DP World and Patrick that target transport companies collecting or dropping off containers at a several Australian ports.
Both DP World and Patrick recently either introduced or substantially increased such levies, citing their reasons as being rising costs and difficult market conditions such as pressures from the consolidation of shipping lines, plus the need for continuing investment.
DP World Australia (DPWA) managing director Paul Scurrah said stevedores have made a collective investment of A$2 billion (US$1.608 billion) over the last decade in more efficient cargo-handling quayside and landside, combined with improved work practices and improved truck turn times.
However, the gains have been negated by sharp increases in occupancy and energy costs, along with ongoing pressure on volumes and pricing due to the global downturn in shipping.
"Clearly there is a limit to what can be absorbed if the stevedores are to be able to continue a programme of capital expenditure and innovation for a service that is at the heart of the Australian economy" said Mr Scurrah Port Strategy, of Fareham, Hampshire, England.
When DPWA announced it was raising its per container fees for transport operators from January by 78 per cent at Port Botany, 51 per cent in Melbourne and 18 per cent in Brisbane, Road Freight New South Wales general manager Simon O'Hara described the move as a "kick in the guts for truckies."
He added: "From our perspective there is simply no justification for yet another price hike ?it's nothing but a greedy cash grab from DPWA …What's worse is the other stevedores will undoubtedly follow DPWA."
The Freight and Trade Alliance and Australian Peak Shippers' Association (FTA/APSA) said it "cannot accept the quantum, timing or reasons provided for the increase" and complain that warnings that this might happen to theAustralian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) failed to provoke action.
Said Australian Container Transport Alliance director Neil Chambers: "These massive increases have been announced only six months since DPWA implemented a 900 per cent increase in its infrastructure surcharge in Melbourne and introduced a new surcharge in Port Botany and Fremantle, through which DPWA, together with similar surcharges imposed by rival Patrick, will pocket some A$70 million per annum for the two stevedore companies combined."
Mr Chambers suggests one conclusion is that DPWA believes they weathered the storm of opposition to the initial increases, with barely a murmur from regulators such as the ACCC or from federal and state governments. So, they simply thought they'd do so again to make up their revenue shortfall caused by dropping stevedoring rates to shipping lines.
Further heat has been added by the release of the ACCC's annual Container Stevedoring Monitoring Report.
The ACCC monitors stevedoring at five Australian container ports. Patrick and DPWA operate at the four largest ports - Brisbane, Fremantle, Melbourne and Sydney. Hutchison operates in Brisbane and Sydney, while ICTSI's VICT started operations in Melbourne in early 2017. Flinders Adelaide is the sole terminal operator at the port of Adelaide.
The report reveals that stevedoring operating profits per TEU increased by 25 per cent in 2016-17. Furthermore, the report does not give full support to the stevedores' claims of rising costs.
ACCC chairman Rod Sims said: "While there is merit to the stevedores' claims about higher property costs, their overall costs remain stable. The ACCC will be interested to see whether these infrastructure charges are used to improve landside facilities beyond business-as-usual levels."
Both DP World and Patrick recently either introduced or substantially increased such levies, citing their reasons as being rising costs and difficult market conditions such as pressures from the consolidation of shipping lines, plus the need for continuing investment.
DP World Australia (DPWA) managing director Paul Scurrah said stevedores have made a collective investment of A$2 billion (US$1.608 billion) over the last decade in more efficient cargo-handling quayside and landside, combined with improved work practices and improved truck turn times.
However, the gains have been negated by sharp increases in occupancy and energy costs, along with ongoing pressure on volumes and pricing due to the global downturn in shipping.
"Clearly there is a limit to what can be absorbed if the stevedores are to be able to continue a programme of capital expenditure and innovation for a service that is at the heart of the Australian economy" said Mr Scurrah Port Strategy, of Fareham, Hampshire, England.
When DPWA announced it was raising its per container fees for transport operators from January by 78 per cent at Port Botany, 51 per cent in Melbourne and 18 per cent in Brisbane, Road Freight New South Wales general manager Simon O'Hara described the move as a "kick in the guts for truckies."
He added: "From our perspective there is simply no justification for yet another price hike ?it's nothing but a greedy cash grab from DPWA …What's worse is the other stevedores will undoubtedly follow DPWA."
The Freight and Trade Alliance and Australian Peak Shippers' Association (FTA/APSA) said it "cannot accept the quantum, timing or reasons provided for the increase" and complain that warnings that this might happen to theAustralian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) failed to provoke action.
Said Australian Container Transport Alliance director Neil Chambers: "These massive increases have been announced only six months since DPWA implemented a 900 per cent increase in its infrastructure surcharge in Melbourne and introduced a new surcharge in Port Botany and Fremantle, through which DPWA, together with similar surcharges imposed by rival Patrick, will pocket some A$70 million per annum for the two stevedore companies combined."
Mr Chambers suggests one conclusion is that DPWA believes they weathered the storm of opposition to the initial increases, with barely a murmur from regulators such as the ACCC or from federal and state governments. So, they simply thought they'd do so again to make up their revenue shortfall caused by dropping stevedoring rates to shipping lines.
Further heat has been added by the release of the ACCC's annual Container Stevedoring Monitoring Report.
The ACCC monitors stevedoring at five Australian container ports. Patrick and DPWA operate at the four largest ports - Brisbane, Fremantle, Melbourne and Sydney. Hutchison operates in Brisbane and Sydney, while ICTSI's VICT started operations in Melbourne in early 2017. Flinders Adelaide is the sole terminal operator at the port of Adelaide.
The report reveals that stevedoring operating profits per TEU increased by 25 per cent in 2016-17. Furthermore, the report does not give full support to the stevedores' claims of rising costs.
ACCC chairman Rod Sims said: "While there is merit to the stevedores' claims about higher property costs, their overall costs remain stable. The ACCC will be interested to see whether these infrastructure charges are used to improve landside facilities beyond business-as-usual levels."