Media and Media Releases
New canal moves one step closer
A new canal that would link the Atlantic and the Pacific is one step closer to becoming a reality after a group in Nicaragua approved the waterway’s route.
Shipping Australia applauds Abbott Government’s decision to cease temporary levy
The Government’s budget night announcement that it will return the Protection of the Sea Levy to its original level of 11.25 cents per net registered tonne has been enthusiastically welcomed by the shipping industry. read more
Seventeen shipping companies meet to consider the Government’s options paper on coastal shipping reform
SAL members yesterday welcomed the broad scope of the options paper Approaches to regulating coastal shipping in Australia released by Acting Prime Minister Warren Truss on Tuesday. “The broad scope of the review provides the opportunity to rectify the negative impacts of the 2012 reforms which crippled coastal shipping and also failed to deliver on its stated objective of revitalising Australian shipping,” SAL chairman Ken Fitzpatrick said. read more
BBC Chartering Joins the Shipping Australia Team
BBC Chartering has joined Shipping Australia Limited as a full voting member. “I am delighted to be a part of SAL”, BBC Managing Director David Begg said. “BBC Chartering has been growing in strength in the Australian market since officially opening our first owned office here in 2009. I feel our participation in SAL is well overdue. read more
Shipowners, agents and unions pull together for seafarers’ welfare
Fifty representatives of ship owners, agents, welfare providers, maritime unions, port authorities and government departments came together in Sydney yesterday to find ways to make a difference to the lives of seafarers. read more
World Maritime Day – A reality check for all Australians
Today is United Nations World Maritime Day, a day when the global community takes time to recognise and celebrate the essential contribution of the maritime industry to the world’s development and prosperity. After all, if Ferdinand Magellan hadn’t sailed around it, there would still be many arguing that the world is flat! read more
Optimism greets Warren Truss’ appointment
Shipping Australia is optimistic that the appointment of the Honourable Warren Truss MP as Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development will lead to balanced decisions supporting Australia’s international competitiveness and economic growth. read more
Rod Nairn confirmed as CEO, Shipping Australia Limited
The Board of Shipping Australia Limited have confirmed the appointment of Commodore Rod Nairn AM as chief executive officer. Commodore Nairn has been acting CEO of Shipping Australia while his predecessor, Llew Russell AM took long service leave in preparation for his retirement. read more
Strategy highlights demand for port growth and rail links
Shipping is recognised as the biggest component of freight and logistics growth in the Victorian Government’s Freight and Logistics Strategy, released yesterday. Container movements in the state will quadruple by 2046. read more
Shipping Australia recognises IMO Day of the Seafarer
Today is the International Day of the Seafarer recognising the contribution that the humble seafarer makes to our everyday lives. This year’s theme is Faces of the Sea, which reminds us of the people, our seafarers who are required to carry out their duties in a constantly changing, challenging and often dangerous environment in order that the lifeblood of our economy, international trade, continues to flow. The IMO has put out a call through social networks to collect images of seafarers going about their daily activities to highlight their contribution. read more
Budget fine print highlights Government double dipping over shipping levy
Hidden in the fine print of Tuesday’s budget papers is the admission the Government has reneged on its promise that the special purpose levy to recover the additional costs relating to the Pacific Adventurer old spill clean-up would cease when the costs were recovered. read more
Budget brings no good news for shipping industry
The budget may have addressed some important issues in terms of infrastructure but none of it relates to the improvement of imports and exports through our ports with perhaps the exception of the extensions of the M4/M5 in Sydney and even the money allocated for those roads has many caveats. read more
Shipping Australia Limited and Australian Shipowners Association working together for a stronger shipping industry
Shipping Australia Limited and the Australian Shipowners Association have agreed to work together to provide a joint approach to promoting the interests of the shipping industry. Collaboration in development of shipping industry policy will provide stronger industry representation to government. read more
SAL announces call for offers to publish Shipping Australia Magazine
With the current publishing and advertising agreement for our industry leading Shipping Australia magazine due to expire at the end of the fiscal year, Shipping Australia Limited has released an open call for offers to the publishing industry. “We have had a number of approaches from publishers and whilst we have been very happy with our current publisher and existing arrangements it is always prudent to test the market before entering into a new contract” acting CEO Rod Nairn said. The offer period runs until 17 May. The call for offer is available here
Interim Arrangements to Replace CEO Shipping Australia
21 January 2013 “I am delighted that Commodore Rod Nairn, AM has decided to assist us while Llew Russell, the existing CEO is on leave from end January, prior to retirement”, the Chairman of SAL, Ken Fitzpatrick said today. Read more
Shipping Australia calls for Government intervention in Fremantle strike
17 December 2012 “Members of Shipping Australia are most disappointed that the Maritime Union of Australia has begun a strike of six to eight days at Fremantle when almost all the outstanding issues in the new enterprise agreement have been resolved”, Llew Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Shipping Australia said today. Read more
Breakbulk Shipping makes a major contribution to Australia’s economic develoment
12 November 2012 “In the public’s views the mention of shipping may conjure up images of large container or bulk ships but rarely do they include images of breakbulk or multipurpose ships. “A new breakbulk shipping study by Shipping Australia seeks to correct the balance. “It has been calculated that breakbulk shipping accounted for 12% of the value of world seaborne trade so it is far from insignificant”, Llew Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Shipping Australia said today. Read more
Shipowners reject MUA concept of a national stevedoring code of practice
30 October 2012 “Shipowners are strongly supportive of a national code of practice for stevedoring to enhance safety but do not accept the MUA version, which in our view will not improve safety outcomes overall”, Llew Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Shipping Australia said today. Read more
Shipping Australia supports studies into ship emissions in the Australian region
31 August 2012 “The CSIRO/Australian Maritime College just released a study into ship emissions in the Australian region is a welcome focus on the environmental credentials of shipping but it has overstated, in our view, the possible level of emissions”, Llew Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Shipping Australia said today. Read more
Shipping joins exporters in tackling productivity constraints in Australia
31 July 2012 “What are the barriers to lifting competitiveness in the international trade and maritime industries in Australia? “How can we overcome them and promote enhanced productivity in these industries? “These are the questions that will be considered at a joint Shipping Australia/Export Council of Australia one day seminar to be held at the Four Points by Sheraton, Darling Harbour, Sydney on Friday, 24th August”, Llew Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Shipping Australia said today. Read more
Shipping Australia welcomes automation of Patrick Port Botany terminal
19 July 2012 “Members of Shipping Australia welcome the increase in productivity that Patrick Stevedoring will introduce with the automation of their Port Botany container terminal in 2014”, Llew Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Shipping Australia said today. Read more
Russell to leave Shipping Australia early next year
17 July 2012 “Llew Russell will be leaving the Bridge of Shipping Australia in January next year and taking his leave entitlements prior to retirement,” Ken Fitzpatrick, Chairman of Shipping Australia said today.Read more
Shipping Australia disputes Infrastructure Australia’s findings on port profitability
5 July 2012 “The international competitiveness of Australia’s ports appears to have been dismissed by Infrastructure Australia when considering the profitability of many of our major ports based on a study they commissioned that was carried out by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu”, Mr Llew Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Shipping Australia said today. Read more
Shipping Australia celebrates International day of the Seafarer
25 June 2012 “The members of Shipping Australia welcome the world’s celebration today of the International Day of the seafarer because very few of us realise how important the significant contribution of the Seafarers are to our everyday life”, Mr Llew Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Shipping Australia said today. Read more
Shipping Australia welcomes Ports declining productivity survey
20 June 2012 “Shipping Australia commends the National Peak Body Representing interests of government owned and privately owned ports in commissioning an independent analysis that clearly shows productivity in our major container ports has gone backwards in the last 10 years, potentially costing billions of dollars in lost GDP for the economy”, Mr Llew Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Shipping Australia said today. Read more
Shipping Australia traces origins
23 May 2012 “Whilst Shipping Australia was formed in 2001 as a result of a merger between the Australian Chamber of Shipping and Liner Shipping Services Ltd, both organisations can trace their origins back to the first meeting of the Oversea Shipping Representatives Association (OSRA) held on 17 July, 1912”, Llew Russell of Shipping Australia said today. Read more
Shipping Australia introduces new e-learning course
3 April 2012 “Shipping Australia has developed a new e-learning course called “Fundamentals of the maritime industry” which aims to build on the successful e-learning course “Introduction to Shipping”, Llew Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Shipping Australia said today. Read more
MUA takes the money but reneges on agreement
19 March 2012 “Despite Patrick paying a 5% good faith, salary back payment to its workforce in December last year after an in principle agreement on a new EBA between the MUA and Asciano, the MUA is still engaging in stoppages and work limitations and bans”, Llew Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Shipping Australia said today. Read more
Almost 130,000 truck trips a year could be taken off Sydney roads if the Enfield Intermodal Terminal was working at peak efficiency
24 January 2012 A study released today by Shipping Australia Ltd on Metropolitan Intermodal Terminals in Sydney and Melbourne clearly shows the potential for both the significant reduction in truck trips per year on Sydney roads and the potential to cope with the rapidly increasing freight task especially in Sydney and Melbourne. Read more
Shipowners welcome avoidance of waterfront disruption
9 January 2012 “Members of Shipping Australia commend both the Union and DP World for re-opening their negotiations for a new EBA without further industrial disruption at their container facilities”, Llew Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Shipping Australia said today. Read more
Shipowners support DP World in waterfront dispute
3 January 2012 “Members of Shipping Australia Limited fully support the action of DP World in locking out their workforce at their container terminal in Adelaide today for 24 hours”, Llew Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Shipping Australia said today. Read more
General stevedoring strikes will cost jobs
14 December 2011 “In the last four days we have witnessed serious stoppages at the facilities around Australia operated by P&O Automotive and General Stevedoring (POAGS) under the Fair Trade Australia’s protected industrial action as well as other stoppages planned for later this week”, Llew Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Shipping Australia said today. Read more
Patrick problems continue at Port Botany
28 November 2011 Member lines are most concerned that Patrick terminal at Port Botany is, once again, from today implementing restrictions that will involve the handling of container volumes lower than those contracted with the terminal”, Llew Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Shipping Australia said today. Read more
Port Botany inhibiting growth
14 November 2011 “The serious congestion at Port Botany over the last eighteen months has resulted in significant cost impacts not only on the exporters and importers of NSW but also on Australia as a whole”, Llew Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Shipping Australia said today. Read more
Shipping Australia appoints new Chairman for 2012
19 October 2011 “The Directors of Shipping Australia Limited are delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Ken Fitzpatrick, Managing Director of Asiaworld Shipping Services Pty Limited to step into the big shoes left by Mr Michael Phillips who has been Chairman of Shipping Australia for the last six years”, Mr Llew Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Shipping Australia said today. Read more
Shipping Australia hosts major international event
5 October 2011 “For the first time, Shipping Australia is proud to be the host of the annual meeting of the Federation of National Associations of Shipbrokers and Agents (FONASBA) in Sydney for the week beginning 10th October”, Llew Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Shipping Australia said today. Read more
Shipping Australia supports direction of shipping policy reform
9 September 2011 “Shipping believes that the package of reforms released by Minister Albanese today has the potential to lead to a reinvigorated and internationally competitive Australian merchant marine”, Llew Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Shipping Australia said today. Read more
