Shipping update/Port Strikes
6th November, 2023
We have previously mentioned the increasing number of blank sailings which the shipping lines put in during October. Essentially, they took about 30000 container positions out of operation, this has resulted in tighter capacity for bookings. In addition to the blank sailings, we have the ongoing port strikes at all DP World terminals in Australia, this is not resolving in the short term as it seems the union and DP management cannot even agree on terms for a conversation. This is causing delays at the ports and late return of vessels to origin for future bookings. It has just been announced that there is an escalation of the strikes through to November 20th.
To all our great customers, the issues outlined here reinforce our request to alert us to any orders you have placed in advance of the goods being ready. This will allow us to book sailings much earlier and prior to the goods being ready, if we are not notified until the goods ready date a sailing will likely not be available for about two weeks.
Strike Impacted Locations and Actions
• Brisbane: Bans on the performance of overtime, shift extensions, loading or unloading trucks, and more.
• Sydney: Bans on the performance of upgrades on day and night shifts, ban on working nominated shipping lines, and more.
• Melbourne: Bans on the performance of upgrades, shift extensions, upgrades, and more.
• Fremantle: Ban on the performance of overtimes, extensions, upgrades, and more.
