PFL TRADE NOTICE: Australia to and from Pacific Islands Rate Adjustment
Dear Valued Customers,
The global shipping industry continues to experience unprecedented challenges, amplified by the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, Pacific Forum Line have incurred several increased costs to operate our business including a dramatic increase in ship prices, increases to charter rates and container costs due to global shortages. Port congestion continues to impact capacity and scheduling and our pursuit to maintain the health and safety of our crew members comes at a high, yet necessary, cost.
Despite our continuing best efforts to minimize this impact on your business, we have made the difficult decision to increase our ocean rates to remain competitive and to sustain the scope and frequency of our services that you expect from Pacific Forum Line.
Effective for cargo loaded onboard vessels on or after 1st October 2021, freight rates will be adjusted at the levels below:
Pacific Forum Line appreciate your continued understanding as we balance these difficult times with our steadfast commitment to providing you with regular, reliable, and affordable shipping services across the Pacific.
Please do not hesitate to contact your local Pacific Forum Line sales or customer service representative for any points of clarity.
Yours sincerely,
Pacific Forum Line
PFL Trade Notice: Patrick Stevedore implementing Pondus Weighting Solution
Pacific Forum Line (PFL) have been advised by Patricks Stevedores that they have implemented the Pondus weighing solution in their terminals.
Pondus is an innovative weighing solution that helps drive safety across the container handling sector. Mis-declared containers create potential safety risks throughout the supply chain from transport companies to terminal operators and shipping lines. This new weighing solution, Pondus, helps identify mis-declared weights by statistically sampling containers for weighing and then automatically notifying customers of weight discrepancies (+/- 1t) allowing parties to better meet their Chain of Responsibility obligations.
Both import and export containers will be statistically sampled for weighing on the Pondus stand. Any mis-declared container found to be outside of the 1-tonne tolerance will be charged a Weight Amendment Fee. For import containers, the transport carrier will be charged and for export containers, the shipping line will be charged. For imports, carriers will be advised, via the VBS of the Pondus weight prior to picking up an import container from the terminal and provided with a link to the weigh certification. The number of boxes weighed will be governed by what is reasonably practicable given the operational circumstances prevailing at the time.
Patrick advised customers on 5 November 2020 that a new charge (Weight Amendment Fee) in relation to Pondus would come into effect from 4 January 2021 and has been applied to the Pondus process in Brisbane. This new charge will come into effect from 4 October 2021 in Melbourne.
A Weight Amendment Fee of AUD 230.00 per container plus GST will apply to all containers determined by the Pondus Stand to have a weight variance of greater than +/- one metric tonne within the documented weight (VGM). The Weight Amendment Fee will not apply to importers and exporters who accurately declare container weights.
The below provides a link to the Weight Amendment Fee previously published on Patrick’s website.
In accordance with the Voluntary Pricing Protocol, Patrick is providing a notice of this new charge 60 days prior to the implementation of the new charge. Full details can be viewed here: https://patrick.com.au/customer-info/
PFL Trade Notice: Australian Export/Import Documentation Fee
Dear Valued Customers,
Quay Shipping, agents for Pacific Forum Lines wish to advise effective from the 1st September 2021 Export/Import documentation fee will be adjusted.
To view charges please follow the below links:
Imports: https://www.quay-shipping.com/pfl/australian-port-charges/import-charges
Exports: https://www.quay-shipping.com/pfl/australian-port-charges/export-charges
Thank you for your continued support and understanding, should you have any points of clarity please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service. Team.
Yours sincerely,
Pacific Forum Line
PFL Trade Notice: Low Sulphur Fuel Surcharge Effective 14th of August
Dear Valued Customers,
Pacific Forum Line wishes to advise that following monitoring of Low Sulphur Fuel (LSFO) price, for the last month, effective 14th of August an updated Low Sulphur Fuel Surcharge will be applicable on all shipments. LSFO price has increased by more than 10% during the monitoring period, triggering the new tier of the surcharge.
• New Zealand to / from South Pacific will be USD $78 / TEU
• Australia to / from South Pacific will be USD $114 / TEU
• Inter-Island will be USD $157 / TEU
• Reefers will be USD171/TEU
Notes:
• Pacific Forum Line reserves the right to review the LSFO surcharge should the fuel price increase or decrease by 10% during Q3 21 period
• LSFO for Asia/Europe/Africa/Americas to & from the Pacific Islands and NZ to Cook Island trade is communicated separately
Thank you in advance for all your support and understanding. Should you have any points of clarity please don’t hesitate to contact your Pacific Forum Line representative.
Yours sincerely,
Pacific Forum Line
PFL Trade Notice: MPI CRMS Compliance
Dear Valued Customers,
In 2018, New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industry introduced legislation requiring operators of commercial vessels calling New Zealand ports to uphold the Craft Risk Management Standard (CRMS) for biofouling. This legislation was introduced to keep New Zealand waters safe from invasive species.
This standard requires vessel owners to:
• Develop and maintain Biofouling Management plans specific to each vessel.
• Keep records of biofouling management actions.
• Maintain coatings of antifouling paint.
• Perform regular inspections and cleaning of hulls
The industry practice calls to dock vessels every five years and applies new antifouling paint to the hull. In years one and two, the hull cleaning process is usually an annual event, and in years three to five the frequency of cleaning increases significantly. The industry practice outside of New Zealand allows vessel owners to use a purpose-built machine that can clean vessel hulls while the vessel is in port and collect and allow for the safe disposal of the residue.
However, under the CRM legislation, vessel owners are not permitted to perform hull cleaning in New Zealand waters and there is no dry dock available to take vessels over 120m in length in New Zealand. As a result, for those vessels that are operating regionally through New Zealand, the only option is to perform hull cleaning in open waters, which is weather dependent and risky for divers, or have divers perform hull cleaning at locations outside New Zealand, which can divert vessels and cause schedule disruption. We recognize that while these steps are costly, they are necessary to help keep New Zealand’s ocean free from invasive marine species.
To maintain our level of service, we have made the difficult decision to recover the cost required to uphold the requirements of the CRM. As such, a hull cleaning surcharge of USD78 per TEU will be applied to vessels loading or discharging on New Zealand ports on or after the 2nd of August 2021.
We appreciate your understanding and continued business. Please do not hesitate to contact our team with any questions.
Sincerely,
Pacific Forum Line