Archive, Industry News

Peak season sees Sydney empty containers move

Haulage call as MCS/Qube Cooks River depot lifts opening hours

 

Added flexibility in Sydney’s empty container management space as the peak port logistics season arrives in earnest has been accompanied by higher container chain fees.

But the success of the move is seen as depending on container haulage firms come to the party to exploit the extra hours.

From today, MCS/Qube Cooks River empty container depot extends operating hours from 2200 to 0100 on weekdays for the duration of the peak.

“The increased container chain fee will support extended operating hours . . . as well as investment in additional, supplementary equipment and labour required to adequately service peak demand and seasonal volume fluctuations,” the depot tells transporters.

Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA) welcomed the decision of but insists that 24 hour operations must be the ultimate goal.

“Certainly there was an expectation in the market that MCS/Qube would open on a 24 hour basis on weekdays according to its Notice to customers accompanying the significant price increases,” CTAA director Neil Chambers says.

“So, while the three hours of additional operating time on weekdays is welcomed from today, the goal must be to change the operating behaviour of depots and transport operators alike in Sydney to embrace 24 hour operations for empty container management into the future.”


Read about the port haulage issues identified in the peak lead-up, here


CTAA points out that another major provider of empty container management capacity in Sydney, ACFS Port Logistics, is now offering a 24 hour service five days a week at its e-Depot in Port Botany, as well as Saturday 5am to 2pm, and Sunday 2pm to Monday 5am, while ACFS e-Depot Link, Port Botany is 24 hours five days a week.

DP World Logistics Parks 1 & 2 in Port Botany are operating 24 hours weekdays, and open on weekends by prior arrangement.

“In contrast to the rival port of Melbourne, there are significantly fewer empty container depots servicing the container logistics chain through Port Botany, and the cost of empty container management is now much higher,” Chambers observes

“So, these higher costs, and fewer empty de-hire and pick-up options, must be offset with productivity improvements for landside logistics operators.

“If we are to avoid bottlenecks, congestion, truck delays and lower productivity levels, we’ve got to sustain longer depot operating hours, combined with an operational mind-set shift by transport operators to embrace extended operating hours.

“A concern of all depots when gearing up for longer operating hours, additional equipment and more expensive labour allocations, is that the longer hours will not be utilised effectively by transport operators.

“This is a real concern, and previous slot booking allocations during extended hours have sometimes been lacklustre at best.

“This mind-set needs to change. The higher volume transport operators are embracing the 24 hour operating cycle, and now the medium to smaller size carriers need to do likewise.

“Transport operators have asked for extended hours, so now’s the time to modify operational practices to embrace the future.”

 

Previous ArticleNext Article
Send this to a friend