DCN AUGUST Edition 2019

News in brief
Full details at thedcn.com.au
Aussie waterfront hit by
strikes and redundancies
Strikes occurred at DP World Australia
container terminals around the country
as the Maritime Union (now part of the
CFMMEU) sought a better deal from the
stevedoring company.
The company also announced another 200
redundancies, 100 in Melbourne and Sydney,
in addition to 50 voluntary redundancies
already confirmed in Melbourne.
DPWA chief operating officer Andrew
Adam said in the absence of significant
negotiation progress during the past nine
months, the company had to address the
impact of volume losses.
“We have been very patient, but further
restructures of our workforce have become
necessary,” Mr Adam said.
“We have not taken the decision to
downsize lightly. The union have repeatedly
demonstrated a dogged unwillingness to
make any concessions on their claims.”
The industrial actions included a four-day
strike at West Swanson in Melbourne and a
two-day stoppage at Port Botany in Sydney
where 600 workers walked off the job.
The Melbourne stoppage included a large
rally outside the gates.
MUA assistant national secretary
Warren Smith said DPWA had refused to
meet to negotiate a resolution.
“Rather than bargain, management have
basically told workers to withdraw their
claims entirely and accept the company’s
offer or there will be no agreement,” Mr
Smith said.
“Most of the worker’s claims are not
cost claims, they are about protecting our
current conditions which were hard won
and fought for historically by a previous
generation. It’s not up to us to undo the
historical legacy of wharfies and we won’t.”
Mr Smith said workers wanted job saving
protections and commitments covering any
future decision to replace wharfies with
robots at these terminals.
Big box ships
visit Australia
Maersk Skarstind
Australia welcomed two of the largest capacity container
vessels to arrive in the country, making history twice in one
week. The Maersk Skarstind (IMO 9740457, flagged in Liberia) and
MSC Elma (IMO, flagged in Portugal) both arrived in early July.
Each vessel has a capacity of around 9400 TEU and are 300
metres long, 48 metres wide, with air draft of about 50 metres.
Originating from East Asia, Maersk Skarstind is run by AP
Moller Maersk on the Boomerang service. It has a total container
capacity of 9472 TEU and is also the first ‘twin island’ box ship
to arrive in Australia. Its special design is aimed at increasing
navigation visibility and cargo loading capacity for 9000+ TEU
ships by separating the wheelhouse and accommodation block
from the engine room and funnel area.
Meanwhile the MSC Elma, operated by Mediterranean
Shipping Company on the Australian Express Service from
Europe, has a total container capacity of 9372 TEU.
MSC Australia and New Zealand managing director Kevin
Clarke said, “MSC is responding to demand by deploying vessels
capable of shipping the increased export and import volumes to
and from all key international markets”.
New South Wales Ports chief executive, Marika Calfas, also
noted the trend towards larger ships.
“While most ships calling into Australia are around 4500 TEU,
container vessel sizes are increasing due to the steady increase
in the international container freight task and the consolidation
of freight by shipping lines,” Ms Calfas said.
Sheila Fitzgerald
8 August 2019
thedcn.com.au