AFIF MONTHLY MEMBERS SUMMARY BULLETIN

JULY 2004

:: SPONSOR
:: ARTICLES

A    AIR CARGO:

A    Advance Air Cargo Reporting for US Customs - Piece Count for declared 'skids'.

As per AFIF bulletin dated Tuesday, July 27, AFIF has been checking with a number of parties, primarily IATA & Qantas  to clarify the situation regarding the declaration of pieces delivered on skids (refer AFIF Bulletin July 27 re issues, click here to view: http://www.afif.asn.au/pdf/news/27July04Advance.htm                             

Eagle Datamation advise that they have now provided for this functionality in a technical sense (pls refer Eagle-Eye Bulletin issued today - Aug 4. Click here to view: http://www.afif.asn.au/pdf/news/autoupdate13.pdf 
For Forwarders using other systems please contact your system provider for information on how it wil be facilitated within their software.
 

A    Audit of Regulated Air Cargo Agents  

As per AFIF bulletin dated Thursday, July 1 2004, DOTARS have now increased resources to step up their Compliance Audit Program and are under increasing pressure from the Federal Government to ensure that Regulated Agents security program procedures are tight and well documented and that all relevant persons are current with their training requirements.

Qantas Freight Announce US Customs AAMS Reporting Requirements

Further to bulletin dated June 25, Qantas have announced their US Customs Reporting Requirements. Please click here for full text

Qantas CTO Safety Notice

Qantas Cargo Terminal, Sydney have reissued the Minimum Safety Requirement Notice to be observed by freight forwarder truck drivers. Please click here to view full details and please advise all concerned.   

Notes from Meeting with Qantas Sydney CTO – 13.07.2004

Please click to view the notes of AFIF meeting with Qantas to discuss operational matters.

Qantas Announce New Management Positions

·        Vicky Karthans, presently Victorian Freight Sales Manager will move to her new role as Freight Sales Manager NSW / ACT in early August.       

·        Brian Hogan, currently Cargo Terminal Manager, Sydney will move to a new role as Manager, Business Improvement, effective 1 August, 2004. He will replace Stuart Hayman, who has been appointed to the role of General Manager, Thai Air Cargo (a Qantas freighter operation in Thailand).

·        Rod Knight will act as interim Operations Manager Sydney Freight Terminal until a permanent replacement is found.

SEA CARGO

Electronic PRA Implementation Date Postponed until September 1

Shipping Australia announced on Tuesday, July 27th that the implementation date for electronic PRA’s has been moved from August 2nd to Wednesday, 1st  September 2004. This will be the final date where paper ERA’s will no longer be received by container terminals. There will however be a service offered by terminal operators to convert paper ERA’s to electronic PRA’s from 1 September to 1 November for a fee. Delays however may be incurred. Please click here to view the full notice    

Sydney Ports Corporation Update

Please click here to view the latest edition of “Current”,  the Sydney Ports Corporation magazine which includes the very important item on the future of Port Botany and the commission of enquiry into its potential expansion.                                                                                                                    

Please click here to view.

Sydney Ports Maritime Security Plan

We have been provided with an overview of Sydney Ports maritime security measures whilst much of this will not yet effect forwarders, they have asked all users to be vigilant around the ports and report any suspicious activity to the Harbour Control on 02 9296 4001. Future measures such as a new I.D. Card system have been foreshadowed  and we will provide further information as this comes to hand. In the meantime if you wish to view Sydney Ports full security measures, please visit their website on www.sydneyports.com.au and follow the links to security.

Adelaide to get Container X-Ray and Exam Facility

The Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Chris Ellison announced on Friday July 30, that Adelaide would be getting a Seafreight Container X-Ray and Exam Facility similar to those in the ports of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle. It was expected that the new facility would be fully operational in early 2005.

ACCC Final Report on AADA and Part X

As per AFIF bulletin Friday, July 23rd , the ACCC gave its final recommendation to the Minister for Transport that the Asia-Australia Discussion Agreement for international liner cargo shipping should not be revoked. Furthermore the Productivity Commission has now commenced its review of the Part X (ten) exemption to section 4 of the Trade Practices Act and AFIF is currently in the process of preparing a submission to that enquiry. The AFIF preliminary view is that whilst our industry demands more stability in terms of pricing, some form of discussion agreement should be permissible to enable sensible discussions on issues such as capacity and scheduling.  Please click here to view AFIF bulletin.

CUSTOMS

CMR Exports Refresher Training

AFIF and the CBFCA have been combining with Customs to present an update on the processes required ahead of the transition to the new ICS system for exports commencing on September 22 (full cutover October 6).

The sessions have been well attended and reports to date indicate that the information has been most  useful. We now hope that the system matches the theory! There are a few sessions still left to go so if you need to book please click here to check remaining session locations and to register.  

ICS Industry user representative News   

The ICS Industry user representative regularly issues newsletters and no.19 (July 27) is posted to our Website at:  http://www.afif.asn.au/pdf/government/ICS_NewsletterNo19.pdf  

Tradegate Network Access Charge (TNAC)  for 2004 / 2005

Tradegate announced that effective 1 July, 2004, the TNAC rate will increase to $5.40 per entry. Please click here to view the full message and breakdown of the charges. 

AQIS Container Seals Procedure Change

Please refer to the notice as per following link, relating to new procedures in regard to sea container seals following quarantine examination.  Please ensure all concerned are aware.  http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon32/asp/ex_topiccontent.asp?TopicType=Quarantine+Alert&TopicID=8449

GENERAL

Australia – Saudi Arabia Air Services Negotiations

Australia has received a request from Saudi Arabia to conduct air services negotiations with a view to concluding a bilateral agreement. Currently there is no such treaty between the two countries. Negotiations will commence in late November or early December. To view the full advice from DOTARS, please click here where you can also have the opportunity to provide comment.

Action Customs and Cargo Services Pty Ltd

We wish to advise our membership that we have received a letter from Action Customs and Cargo Services Pty Ltd, 10 Boronia Parade, Lugarno NSW  2210, advising that they are trading as usual and they are not in liquidation. They believe some confusion may have occurred between themselves and an organisation by the name of Action Forwarding or Action Network (under the holding company of  FYNUM) who we have confirmed are currently trading in administration. Should you require further clarification please contact Mr. Murray Godfrey of administrators Vouris-Bell on 02 9232 6800.

Seamless Distribution for Forwarders

We were very interested to learn that after 35 years in international forwarding, industry veteran Peter Hoyles (ex AEI), has set up TransNational Express (TNE) - who specialise in road express and warehousing . They have a great set-up to offer the international forwarder their own domestic distribution network !  Other services include local & interstate delivery; Container pack / unpack; storage and re-packaging. TransNational’s 10,000 sqm AQIS approved Homebush operation is ideally situated for distribution.  Call Peter Hoyles or Alan Duffy on 0438 167 853. Don't forget to tell them you are an AFIF member for a special deal !

Dick Dacron Retires – gone fishing!

Popular and knowledgeable senior customs officer Dick Dacron retired from  NSW Customs on 14th July, 2004. Dick was a great supporter of AFIF and its objectives and we will all miss  his knowledge and professionalism, high degree of  fairness and his great sense of  humour! All the best Dick!

Office Space for Rent

Botany, NSW Area

A member has advised they have 309sqm of modern office space available on the 1st floor in Botany Bay Ind Estate, Beauchamp Rd, Botany, for immediate occupancy.  Separate entrance, new carpet, ample parking, good natural light, close to public transport, Eastern Distributor,M5 and Port. Warehouse space also available. Contact: Peter Wrigley 02 9316 9466

Mascot, NSW Area

A member has available 200sqm carpeted/air conditioned office. Close to airport with plenty of parking. Warehouse space also available. Contact:Charles Thomas 02 9317 5577

Check out the AFIF Website for Latest Industry Info !

Just a reminder that our website is updated daily, with new items added to the front page and / or archived in NEWS sections.  In addition we have separate sections for Govt related info For example if you are looking for info on CMR, hit the ‘Government and Industry’ button and click on Customs, then CMR and view the various options. 

If you are looking for info on Quarantine, check the AICCC e-bulletins which are posted within the AQIS section.  

Want the latest Legal updates....our friends in the legal fraternity regularly issue bulletins on issues effecting our industry and these are posted under the News button / Legal.   

Of course you can view, book and receive confirmation for all of our training courses and purchase the IATA publications and much more !  Go to www.afif.asn.au

Accommodation & Travel 

To view special rates for hotels & travel Please click here to go to the relevant information at our Website. 

Agency Cooperation

We are holding details of overseas agents wishing to set-up cooperative arrangements. If you are looking just send an email to mailto:afif@afif.asn.au with details of the country of interest. We may be able to assist!!

:: EVENTS

AFIF Queensland Charity Golf Day 2004

AFIF will be hosting a Charity Golf Day to be held at Nudgee Golf Course on Wednesday October 13th to raise some much needed funds for the Surf Life Saving Queensland. Please click here for details of the event and sponsorship opportunities.

Industry Charity Ball – NSW 

Impex Personnel together with AFIF and  CBFCA are hosting an industry charity ball Saturday, December 4th, at Dockside, Cocklebay Wharf, Darling Harbour. Full details will be issued shortly, however please click on the following link for details of the beneficiary and also how you can sponsor the event.

FIATA World Congress, Johannesburg, South Africa, September 19-23, 2004

If you would like to attend the FIATA World Congress this year please click here to go direct to the Congress website where you can register.

:: AFIF TRAINING
AFIF Training

The Dangerous Goods By Sea course has recently been upgraded and re-launched in Sydney. 

 

This area will become increasingly more relevant as the government and the Australian Logistics Council are looking closely at safety and security in regard to high consequence dangerous goods by sea and possible implementation of mandatory training . 

 

If you are interested in finding out more about the course or to register, please visit www.afif.asn.au

Training Booking TIP!

Did you know that you can also transfer and cancel participants on course bookings on-line and receive immediate confirmation! Just select either the Cancel or amend button on the website in “Training”.
  

August & September 2004

 

Course

Location

August

September

International Air Cargo Security

Sydney

23 August

30 August

29 September

Melbourne

16 August

6 September

20 September

Brisbane

23 August

29 September

Adelaide

11 August

13 September

Dangerous Goods Air (Acceptance)

Sydney

17-19 August -FULL

7-9 September

Melbourne

3-5 August

7-9 September

Brisbane

10-12 August

 

Adelaide

 

14-16 September

Dangerous Goods By Air (Acceptance) Re-certification

Sydney

3 August

16 August

24 August

31 August

6 September

28 September

Melbourne

 

21 September

Brisbane

24 August

28 September

Adelaide

10 August

 

Dangerous Goods Awareness

Sydney

 

2 September

 

Melbourne

18 August

 

 

Brisbane

25 August

 

Int’l Export Airfreight Procedures

Sydney

 

13-16 September

Melbourne

9-12 August

 

 

Adelaide

30 August – 2 September

Basic Import Airfreight Procedures

Melbourne

 

13-14 September

Load Distribution & Restraint

Sydney

 

1 September

Melbourne

17 August

 

 

Brisbane

 

30 September

CLAIMS

Sydney

25 August

 

 

Adelaide

 

29 September

Sea Container Pack/Unpack

Melbourne

 

23 September

Dangerous Goods By Sea

Sydney

 

3 September

 

Melbourne

19 August

 

 

Brisbane

 

9 September

 

 

 

 

 

For immediate confirmation, book all your AFIF training on-line via our website at www.afif.asn.au

 

 

For any enquiries please do not hesitate to contact Simone Platt the Training Administrator at training@afif.asn.au

 

AFIF reserves the right to cancel courses and/or alter course dates in order to suit demand. Those who would be affected by cancellation or course date changes will be entitled to a full refund or a position on the next available course.