The picket outside VICT in Melbourne continues despite further court injunctions against the unions involved. Government representatives and police are yet to make any moves to break up the picket, despite the impact it is having on the economy and individual exporters and importers. Talks between the MUA and VICT were scheduled during the week, but it is not clear if there was any progress in a solution to the current blockade. Further strike action in Melbourne and Sydney at DP World and Patrick terminals does not appear to be on the cards. We will issue further notices if the situation changes.

Many businesses will close down for the Christmas holiday over the coming week, but containers will most likely continue to arrive. The terminals operate every day during the break except Christmas Day and New Year's Day. To prevent wharf storage, our transport operations will continue to work during the break. For importers not able to take delivery of containers between 18 December and 8 January, containers that are picked up and held during this time will attract the following surcharges:

Cartage Back to Yard for Holding: $160 per 20' / $200 per 40' - including lifts
Storage at Yard (after 3 days free): $10 per 20' / $20 per 40'

Public Holiday Surcharges will also apply to containers that have to be picked up from the wharf on the following days:
Sunday 24 December - $110 per container
Tuesday 26 December - $220 per container
Sunday 31 January - $110 per container
Tuesday 2 January - $220 per container

If you have any queries regarding these surcharges please contact us on 1300 186 629.

Surprisingly, the port of Townsville is now one of the largest exporters of marble to Italy. Italian marble is famous the world around, but a 200 million cubic metre deposit of marble approximately 300 kms north-west of Townsville has caught their eye. White marble is the most popular style and the quality coming out of the North Queensland quarry has been rated the highest possible. The marble is being exported to Italy, China and Indonesia.

The Port of Adelaide has recorded the largest throughput for the year, and well above the monthly November average, hitting 29,213 TEU of full containers in November. Up almost 10% year on year, and over 15% on the previous month, it appears that the economy is bouncing back hard during this peak season. Record volumes at Sydney and Melbourne ports also point to retailers having a bouyant holiday sales period.

We will be issuing a Christmas Eve newsletter next Friday, but we are aware that many of our clients will be closing down during the course of next week. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support in 2017, we sincerely appreciate the relationships, both business and personal, that we have with our clients. Logistics is a difficult industry, fraught with challenges on a daily basis, but the pleasure that we get from dealing with such a large range of wonderful people makes it all worthwhile. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year break, may it be full of laughter, fun and relaxation. Tomax looks forward to seeing you again in 2018. Merry Christmas!

Some One-Liners for Christmas

What do you call an elf who sings?
A wrapper!

Why is Christmas just like your job?
You do all the work and the fat guy with the suit gets all the credit.

Why is Santa so jolly?
Because he knows where all the naughty girls live.

As a little girl climbed onto Santa's lap, Santa asked the usual, "And what would you like for Christmas?"
The child stared up at him open mouthed and horrified for a minute, then gasped, "Didn't you get my e-mail??"