Truckers open fire on Australia surcharges

March saw Patrick Stevedores bring in infrastructure charge increases averaging 82% at its Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane terminals (with fees now $77.50, $71.50 and $82.50 respectively).

This put Patrick Stevedores’ prices in line with those of competitors DP World Australia (with DP World apparently charging $60.66) and Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT).

Speaking to The Loadstar, Peter Anderson, Victorian Transport Association (VTA) chief executive, expressed concern on behalf of his organisation over charge-hikes.

“The VTA remains concerned at what are essentially ongoing and unregulated increases by stevedores, making it difficult for operators to budget and plan,” he said to The Loadstar.

Discussing the difference between DP World’s charge now and its charge two years ago, he commented: “The actual percentage-increase is over 2,000%.”

According to stevedores, the charges are necessary because of a need to spend on infrastructure to cope with bigger vessels; heightened port rents; and decreased handling rates because of carrier-consolidation and more port competition.

Recent action

In early April, Australian government agency the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) revealed that VICT and DP World (plus Hutchison Ports Australia, which has not yet brought in infrastructure surcharges to the levels of its competitors) had agreed to alter or eliminate contract terms that it saw as unfair under Australian law.

The agency said: “DP World and Hutchison had contract terms that allowed a stevedore to unilaterally vary terms in the agreements without notice, including fees paid by the land transport operators.”

However, Container Transport Alliance Australia director Neil Chambers said that the announcement only constituted a victory in part.

“While the ACCC hasn’t stopped the behaviour of the stevedores hiking their infrastructure charges without consultation, they will now need to give at least 30 days’ notice in the future,” he noted.

Truckers have also taken aim at an upcoming biosecurity charge on import containers.