Shipping Australia takes aim at VTA stance on ECPs

In Lloyds List DCN yesterday, VTA chief executive Phil Lovel said his organisation had “fundamental concerns” about the mismatch of operating hours between empty containers parks and the rest of the container transport chain.

“Shipping lines cannot walk away from these issues and need to pay for these improvements,” Mr Lovel said.

Shipping Australia CEO Llew Russell said he found it extraordinary that the VTA had urged the establishment of working parties to improving ECP operation in Melbourne but announced its own conclusions in the media before finalising deliberations.

He said SAL agreed a “positive and collaborative” approach was required by all parties as the interests of the import and export community would see the benefits and therefore ECPs had to stay viable as they provided important service.

"The VTA refers to rigid time slotting but not how a new flexible time slotting system will reduce truck queues," he said.

"Why not let the working party seeking to improve operational efficiencies in the parks fully debate the matter and arrive at conclusions acceptable at least to the majority of stakeholders."

Mr Russell said there were other operational efficiencies that could be introduced in the parks to enhance flexibility in empty container returns.

"The VTA has to get serious and work with all stakeholders to remove this potential supply chain blockage," Mr Russell said.