MISC to consider Darwin option during peak season

<p>Malaysian line MISC was interested in talking to importers and their representatives about using Darwin as an alternative to major container ports during the imminent peak season, MISC Agencies (Australia) sales executive Robert Fernandes said last night (Thursday, August 10).</p> <p>Mr Fernandez said he was happy to speak to interested parties to work out the economics of the peak season option.</p> <p>He was speaking after a presentation near Tullamarine Airport by Adrian Sammons, AustralAsia Trade Route director at the Northern Territory Department of the Chief Minister. </p> <p>Mr Fernandez said MISC was the only line to put on an extra ship during the September-February peak season.</p> <p>Mr Sammons urged customers to discuss alternatives with lines, including slot charter to Darwin on smaller container services, such as Swire, Hai Win, Perkins or the new Mocean operation backed by Indonesia’s Meratus.</p> <p>He said a combination of peak fees could add $2,548 per teu to imports, making the use of the Darwin port and rail or road transport economic.</p> <p>Swire Shipping’s New South Wales sales manager, David Dunwoodie, and Hai Win’s John Cahill said their firms could handle extra demand if importers took the Darwin route.</p> <p>Mr Sammons said there had been positive and negative responses from lines, which had said this season would display the highest demand for their services ever during a period when delays of two weeks can be expected. </p> <p>&#8220Some interesting feedback has been the admission that this would be the worst they have experienced, if you can use `worst’ in the sense that there will be more containers left behind than last year,&#8221 he said.</p> <p>&#8220And a major shipping line expects, on a weekly service, to be leaving behind in Singapore between 200 and 300 containers destined for Australian main ports &#8211 that’s just one [line&#93.&#8221 </p> <br />