British International Freight Association Annual Report and Accounts ...

it travels the world to demonstrate the
interconnectivity of world trade. The project
was branded ‘The Box’ and set off with its
first cargo, Scottish whisky, to Shanghai.
The Surface Policy Group became
concerned when a massive fire in the
Channel Tunnel threatened to disrupt
freight shuttle services between the UK and
mainland Europe for months. The fire, which
raged for 17 hours, started on a freight
vehicle on a Shuttle heading for France.
The Solent Region golf day, organised by
Carey House of MOL Europe, took place
at Hamptworth Golf and Country Club,
Landford. It was the sixth occasion the
event had been held and was judged a
success, despite the bad weather.
October - December 2008
The Surface Policy Group saw one door
open only to have another one closed in
terms of ocean shipping. A historic change
in the traditional world of shipping came as
the door was finally closed on shipping line
cartels operating out of Europe when EU
Conferences were outlawed at midnight on
17 October 2008. These cartels had worked
largely in the interest of the shipping lines
that, free from the rigours of competition,
stifled real choice for BIFA Members and
their customers.
However, just two days before, on 15
October 2008, a US Customs and Border
Protection law came into effect requiring all
laden containers entering the US by ocean
to have seals to meet the ISO/PAS 17712
standard. While itself no bar to trade, it was
yet another cost imposition and measure
that required compliance to serve the
world’s most important ocean container
destinations.
On a happier note, the distinguished guest at
next year’s 20th BIFA Freight Service Awards
2009 was announced: the Rt. Hon. Michael
Portillo, former Transport Minister, journalist
and business consultant.
Oil continued its plunge to below US Dollar
70 a barrel and a major development
affecting air freight made the news headlines
when BAA was told to sell two of its London
airports and a further one in Scotland. In the
longer term, real competition in landing fees
between these airports can only benefit the
wide number of BIFA Members who send
bellyhold cargo out of the UK.
The Directors and management from the
Secretariat hosted the annual Customs
lunch at the Baltic Exchange. This important
annual event enables both the Association
and senior representatives from Customs to
meet informally in an atmosphere of mutual
confidence, and discuss a number of the
wider customs issues affecting our industry.
BIFA Members were reminded that, when
necessary, in order to fall back on BIFA
Standard Trading Conditions (STC) for liability
protection and limitation, it was important
to make sure that the STC were formally
engaged between Members and their
customer base. It is potentially dangerous
to assume that your contracted customers
will know of the existence of the STC. These
should be brought to the attention of every
customer to prevent argument and possible
costly court action further down the line.
Members were advised that Trade
Subscriptions for 2009 remained unchanged.
As the midnight hour chimed on 2008/09,
we could only hold our breath on what
the New Year would bring. Much of the
industry was battening down the hatches
in preparation for rough weather ahead yet
there remain many positives about the sector.
BIFA hopes the anticipated downturn
in 2009 is short-lived and replaced quickly
by a period of recovery.
BIFA successfully lobbied
against proposed
+2p
per litre increase in
fuel duty planned
for October 2008
BIFA Annual Report and Accounts 2008 13