Grain Logistics Taskforce Report - Department of Transport

More documents

Recommendations

Info

7.0 Port issues7.1 Port capacityDeregulation of the export grain market has led to adecline in rail’s share of the Victorian export grain taskfrom about 70% to 50% or less. More grain marketersand increased on-farm storage has resulted in moregrain being trucked direct to port. In the 2010-11 fi nancialyear, rail market share of export grain was approximately40% based on the following port throughputs:• Melbourne: 1.1 million tonnes throughput;rail 20% = 0.2 million tonnes• Geelong: 2.1 million tonnes throughput;rail 40% = 0.8 million tonnes• Portland: 1.0 million tonnes throughput;rail 40% = 0.4 million tonnesIn part this arose from the fl oods in early 2010 whichstranded an export grain train in northern Victoria forsome months, but it also arose because of generallack of rail capacity to transport the record exportgrain harvest (although at increased costs becauseof the higher cost of truck transport).The use of two extra export grain trains in Victoria forthe 2011-12 grain harvest should increase rail’s shareof the export grain task and enable more effi cient grainaggregation at ports with less truck queuing at ornear ports.However, irrespective of delivery mode port capacityand operating hours affect port usage for export grain.The capacity of each grain port terminal is:• Melbourne: 48,000 tonne capacity; 100,000 tonne/month throughput; 24/7 operation• Geelong: 230,000 tonne capacity; 300,000 tonne/month throughput; seven day/week operation,but not 24 hours• Portland: 60,000 tonne capacity; 80,000 tonne/monththroughput; seven day/week operation, but not24 hoursPort capacity, port throughput and port operatinghours all infl uence grain aggregation (amount andtype of grain) at the port and ship calls. Congestionat one port may result in a ship calling at another withconsequent diversion of the landside transport task andassociated implications for the supply chain. Awaitinga ship call also causes problems in the grain supplychain because silos remain full with no ability to clearthem or deliver to them.The Port of Portland is investigating improvingits grain throughput by rail by extending the grainsiding to the end of the grain wharf which would avoidthe need to break grain trains into smaller groups ofwagons for unloading which adds time and cost to theunloading process.22 Grain Logistics Taskforce Report
It is the responsibility of the grain exporter to bookthe marine and AQIS inspections and 24 hours noticeis required. Marine surveyors occasionally conductsurveys while the vessels are at anchor. AQIS surveysare undertaken at berth because AQIS inspectors arenot trained to board ships at sea. Each ship inspectiontakes between two and three hours and must beundertaken during daylight hours. Marine Surveyorsand AQIS inspectors usually conduct a joint vesselinspection however marine surveyors may conducta preliminary inspection at the request of the shipper.AQIS estimates that about 20% of ships fail survey withconsequent delays to the grain supply chain all the wayback to the farm because grain cannot be unloadedfrom port silos or delivered to them. AQIS has advisedthe percentage has not increased relative to thenumber of ships being surveyed.Train stabling at the Port ofMelbourne is also an issue. El Zorrohas commented that broad gaugegrain trains cannot be stabled atAppleton Dock once discharged orthat grain wagons are unable to beleft in common user tracks atAppleton Dock causing delaysand increased operating costsbecause of the need to movethe train elsewhere for stabling.7.2 Ship surveysThe most signifi cant issue affectingport effi ciency for grain transport isa ship being presented for inspectionin an unacceptable condition andconsequently failing survey.Ship surveys are undertaken bymarine surveyors who assess theship’s seaworthiness and whocheck for things like rust, mineralsor contamination and AustralianQuarantine and Inspection Service(AQIS) offi cers who check the ship’sability to hygienically transport grainby checking for things like grainresidues, insects or scale.If a ship fails a marine survey at anchor another shipcan be scheduled in its place until the problems arerectifi ed. A ship that fails an AQIS survey at berth hasrepercussions all the way back up the supply chainbecause loading cannot begin until remedial action istaken, which can take from a few hours to several days.If major remedial work is required, the ship may bemoved off the berth freeing up space for another vessel.The Federal Government is undertaking an ExportCertifi cation Reform Package to examine ways inwhich the export certifi cation process can be improved.One of the recommendations of the Reform Packageis to allow industry to engage its own AQIS AuthorisedOffi cers (AAOs). These will be people trained in exportinspection functions in accordance with Australianexport legislation. Under this reform, ship surveyscould potentially be undertaken at anchor by inspectorswho also conduct marine surveys. This may providecost savings and fewer delays to industry.It would also assist the effi ciency of ship surveys if grainexporters were more particular about the ships charteredto export grain from Australia. Greater focus on thequality of ships used by shipping companies wouldreduce the incidence of ships failing survey which wouldreduce delays throughout the grain supply chain.AQIS inspections are undertaken at off-port terminalsby 30-40 AQIS trained staff, but there is potential toexpand this program by training more staff.Grain Logistics Taskforce Report 23
Page 1 and 2: www.transport.vic.gov.auGrain Logis
Page 3 and 4: ContentsIntroduction 4Executive Sum
Page 5 and 6: Executive SummaryThe grain supply c
Page 7 and 8: Ship surveys8. The Victorian Govern
Page 9 and 10: Wheat is Australia’s biggest and
Page 11 and 12: Generalised grain supply chainMarke
Page 13 and 14: 4.3 Containerised grainContainerise
Page 15 and 16: 5.3 Off-farm transportTrucks are us
Page 17 and 18: The increase in on-farmstorage and
Page 19 and 20: 6.0 Silo to port6.1 Grain train ava
Page 21: 6.5 Track standardsVictorian region
Page 25 and 26: 8.0 ConclusionThe grain industry ha
Page 27 and 28: MrDavidHillSeniorPolicyManager-Frei
Page 29 and 30: Grain Logistics Taskforce Report 29
Page 31 and 32: equired.Automationofthislocationwou

Grain Logistics Taskforce Report - Department of Transport

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?