A reminder to all our clients that this Friday, 27 September is AFL Grand Final Friday, the newest public holiday across the state. Friday's public holiday gives most of us a long weekend, Melbourne's wharves are operating as per usual. The result of this is that Melbourne Carriers will be closed both Friday and Saturday, but will most likely be required to work on Sunday, to cover necessary wharf collections.

With the need for carriers to operate over the weekend to uphold our service requirements to their customers, there will be an approximate additional $100 excluding GST surcharge applied to all containers picked up or delivered to the wharf on Sunday 29 September. This charge will only apply to containers that we are required to collect on the weekend.

If you have any queries please don't hesitate to contact one of our friendly staff in the transport department.

The US coastguard has confirmed the rescue of four crew members from the ro-ro vessel Golden Ray (IMO 9775816) which capsized off the coast of the state of Georgia earlier this month.

Golden Ray was carrying a large consignment of vehicles, overturned early on Sunday (8 September) morning after leaving the port of Brunswick.

According to the BBC monitoring, authorities only managed to save 20 of the crew before fire forced them back. They reportedly were able to contact the four men still trapped and drilled into the hull in order to set them free.

Three of the men were freed on Monday afternoon, before the last was safely extracted in the early evening.

It is understood the focus will now switch to environmental protection and the removal of the capsized ship.

The former head of the Australian Garlic Industry Association has been sentenced to 11 months jail for illegally importing garlic bulbs, putting Australia’s horticulture industry at serious risk.

Ayiana Pty Ltd director Letetia Ware pleaded guilty to importing garlic bulbs over a three-year period for the purposes of commercial cultivation, without the required import permit. Given Ms Ware's position as an industry leader, agriculture minister Bridget McKenzie found this case to be particularly concerning.

“These actions show a blatant disregard for the biosecurity laws that protect Australia’s $7billion horticulture industry from damaging pests and diseases, and for Australians who put our safe, quality food on their tables each night,” said agriculture minister Senator Bridget McKenzie.

Ms Ware was found guilty of breaching subsection 67(3) of the Quarantine Act 1908 (commercial advantage) and subsection 186(4) (commercial advantage) of the Biosecurity Act 2015 for contravening conditions applying to conditionally non-prohibited goods brought or imported into Australian territory.

Intentionally bringing in potentially hazardous plant material to our shores without a valid permit puts Australia's horticultural industry at risk and could significantly impact our reputation of providing premium products to lucrative export markets. In turn this would serverly affect farming families, regional communities and our nation as a whole.

Futhermore, garlic could carry Australia's number one plant disease risk, Xylella Fastidiosa, which would affect more than 350 species of native, commercial and garden plants.

An independent inspector-general of live animal exports to oversee regulation of the industry is drawing closer, with the Bill to establish the position as a statutory appointment passing the Senate this month.

This comes after footage of 2400 sheep died on a voyage to the Middle East and sparked outrage amongst the public and greater community. Agriculture minister Bridget McKenzie said the community deserved greater assurance animal welfare outcomes for export livestock were being met and monitored.

Senator McKenzie said the live export industry was a “legitimate trade” but one that won’t be conducted at the “expense of animal welfare standards”.

“Support for the Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports Bill 2019 means there’ll be an entrenched independent check on the Department of Agriculture’s application of the regulations and its exercise of power. Our livestock export system is already world class and the inspector-general will only enhance that," said McKenzie.

The minister said she was confident the Bill would pass the House of Representatives and become law.

“Once it does I will appoint a suitably qualified person to make sure the system is operating as it should—driving positive change in the industry, improving regulator performance and providing greater confidence to the general community about livestock exports.”

Two Malaysian nationals have been arrested for importing a commercial quantity of ephedrine, a precursor used in the manufacturing of the drug ice.

On September 10, a shipment declared as furniture was targeted by ABF officers at Sydney Container Examination Facility. Upon x-raying the container, officers noted anomalies in the contents of the container. A physical examination was conducted and revealed 127 boxes of a brown substance hidden behind a large amount of furniture. Presumptive testing of the substance gave a positive reading for ephedrine, which is a precursor used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine, also known as ice.

The total amount of ephedrine seized was capable of producing over one tonne of methamphetamine, which would have a street value of around $750 million.

On 16 September ABF investigators facilitated the delivery of the container to a warehouse in the suburb of Roselands in Sydney's Southwest. Later that day, two males were observed accessing the container and were subsequently arrested. Both were charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled precursor, with a maximum penalty of 25 years and/or a fine of $1,050,000. Both men were Malaysian nationals on Visas in Australia and have faced court for their alleged crimes.

ABF Regional Commander for NSW, Danielle Yannopoulos, said the seizure had prevented approximately 10 million ‘hits’ of ice reaching the streets.

“ABF officers are constantly alert to attempts to conceal precursor drugs such as ephedrine, no matter how criminals try and hide them, we will find them,” Commander Yannopoulos said.

“ABF officers have the skills, technology and resources to find these concealments and track down those people who attempt to import them.”

Congratulations to Courtney who was the winner of the Monday quiz and had her wine hand delivered! We hope you enjoyed it! And since it's a long weekend we'll throw in some Friday funnies on a Thursday, hooray!

My boss told me to have a good day.
So I went home.

What do you call a train carrying bubblegum?
A chew-chew train.

What do you call a rooster staring at a pile of lettuce?
A chicken sees a salad.

Why can't your nose be 12 inches long?
Because then it would be a foot.

Guess what Forrest Gump's password is?
Son: ugh stop, dad.
Okay I'll tell ya...it's
1forrest1