We would like to thank you again for your support of Tomax Logistics in 2018, we appreciate it immensely. We aim to continue to keep you well informed, to listen to you and to help you analyse your supply chain operations to grow your business. Best of luck for the new year ahead!

**!! HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM EVERYONE AT TOMAX !!**

Damen Shipyards in Romania first commenced construction of the Antarctic Icebreaker back in May 2017 with a steel cutting ceremony. In August 2017, a keel laying ceremony saw the first building block of the ship consolidated in the drydock. Then late last year in September, the ship was floated from the dry dock to the wet dock for the next phase of construction.

The float-out was achieved by raising the water level in the yard's dry dock by six metres, a process taking two days to complete. Once afloat, the vessel was manoeuvred 250 metres to a quayside berth where ongoing construction of the positioning of pre-fabricated superstructure blocks and bringing the finished vessel to its full 10-deck height of just over 50 metres will take place.

Damen is building the 160-metre long vessel for Serco subsidiary DMS Maritime on behalf of the Australian Department of Environment and Energy.

The 10,751 tonne ship has been designed with a multi-mission role in mind. It will keep Australia’s three permanent research stations on the Antarctic continent and its research station on Macquarie Island supplied with cargo, equipment and personnel. Additionally, it will serve as a fully equipped research laboratory facility for up to 116 scientific staff.

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

The 12.4m vessel dubbed 'Philip Island', will be based in Melbourne and is one of 13 vessels launched across the country to provide the ABF with a greater range and maritime operational capability.

Acting ABF regional commander for Victoria and Tasmania Greg Dowse said the Phillip Island would help ABF officers maintain a strong and continuous presence along the Victorian coast. “Victorians should expect to see an increased ABF presence in and around Port Phillip Bay as well as along more remote areas of the Victorian coastline,” he said. “This vessel will support the ABF maritime unit to deploy and respond rapidly to combat border and customs related crimes when they are identified.”

A crop and pasture report by Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA)’s for Spring Crop Performance outlines the health of crops and pastures across the state and is quite varied with several districts in the state experiencing drought. Despite the below-average harvest, the value of the state’s crop is estimated to be at the higher end of grain and fodder prices, estimated at $1.7 billion.

The 4.9m tonne estimate grown from 3.5m hectares is well below the long-term South Australian average of 7.9m tonnes.

Minister for primary industries and regional development Tim Whetstone said rainfall this growing season was below average across most of the state, with significant areas affected by drought. “This year we’re experiencing quite a patchy situation – some areas are experiencing very good seasons while others are experiencing very difficult seasons,” he said. “A number of areas in the state are drought affected, including eastern and western Eyre Peninsula, upper North, northern Yorke Peninsula, Murray Mallee, eastern Mid North and North East pastoral. Most districts received very much below average rainfall in September. Several strong winds and some widespread frosts occurred in late September and early October. The widespread frosts damaged grain crops at their most vulnerable flowering to early grain fill stage. Around 10% of the state’s grain crop was cut for hay as a result of the frost damage."

This year’s current crop production estimate is very similar to that of 1999-2000, 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons, which all were around 4.8m to 4.9m tonnes.

In late November last year, the Australian Border Force (ABF) identified and examined a container that arrived in Port Botany from Malaysia. During the examination, ABF officers identified anomalies in three crates, which were found to contain dozens of car bonnets. Upon further examination, ABF officers found a crystal like substance concealed within the skin of the bonnets. The substance was tested and gave a positive reading for methamphetamine.

The matter was then referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP). AFP crime scene investigators identified 4970 packages concealed within 71 car bonnets. The methamphetamine totalled an approximate weight of 490 kgs and was seized by the AFP. The estimated street value for these illicit drugs was $367,500,000. Further forensic testing was carried out to determine the exact weight and purity of the substance.

Ongoing investigations continued in order to identify the intended recipients of the drugs, and in early December a number of search warrants were exceuted for 3 suburbs in Sydney. During the operation, a 17 and 19 year old man were apprehended. It will be alleged in court that the two men were to receive the shipment before passing it on to other members of the criminal syndicate responsible for the importation. Further enquiries to identify other members of the syndicate are ongoing, and the AFP is liaising with the Royal Malaysia Police to identify the source of the shipment. The AFP is asking for anyone with information about this matter to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Kristie Cressy, Coordinator Organised Crime Sydney said this amount of methamphetamine would have had significant impact on the community. “Had this drug seizure made its way to Australian streets, countless lives would have been affected. It could be users, health care workers that deal with drug issues each and every day, or the family that has been torn apart when deaths occur from illicit substance abuse,” Acting Detective Superintendent Cressy said. “Police know better than most the heartbreaking impact of drugs like ice on our community. In stopping almost half a tonne of these dangerous drugs reaching our streets, countless families and friends have been saved from being torn apart by illicit substance abuse”.

ABF Regional Commander NSW, Danielle Yannopoulos, said the detection demonstrated the expertise of ABF officers in locating illicit drugs – no matter how sophisticated the concealment. “Whether it be in car bonnets, clothing, meat mincing machines or even highlighters – our officers have seen it all, and they have sophisticated technology at their disposal to identify these illicit substances no matter how criminals try to hide them,” Commander Yannopoulos said. “Methamphetamine, or ice, has a devastating effect on the community every single day – and the ABF will not stop working to identify and prosecute those involved in attempting to import it into Australia.”

Both men faced court and were charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine. The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment.

My New Year's resolution is to help all my friends gain ten kilos so I look skinnier.

Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to.

This New Years I was going to make a resolution never to be late again, but I didn’t wake up until January 2nd.

My brother's New Year's resolution is to move out of my parents house. You'd think after 49 years he'd try another one.

New Years Eve forecast: Mostly drunk with a slight chance of passing out.