April 19, 2024 – On Friday, the CBSA provided an update on its plans for the launch of CARM. CARM will launch internally at the CBSA on May 13, as planned, to advance the Agency’s compliance and enforcement efforts. However, as a result of strike vote activity now underway by the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the possible impact on the Agency’s operations in the event of a positive strike vote, it is the intention of the CBSA to reschedule the launch for trade chain partners to October 2024. This will ensure that the Agency can support partners as they start using CARM. Therefore, until the fall, trade chain partners will continue to operate as they have.

April 19, 2024 – The BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) and International Longshore and Warehouse Union Ship & Dock Foremen Local 514 (ILWU Local 514) have been engaged in negotiations, assisted by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) since January 19, 2024. On March 19, the parties mutually agreed to a 30-day extension of the conciliation period. As the extended conciliation period concluded on Thursday, negotiations have now entered a 21-day cooling-off period, with mediated talks continuing with the support of FMCS. During the cooling-off period, the parties may acquire the legal right to strike or lockout, but may not exercise their right to strike or lockout until:

• 21 days have passed since the end of the conciliation process;
• a strike or lockout vote has been taken; and
• a 72-hour strike notice has been issued.

April 9, 2024 – Contrary to conflicting reports, the Port of Montreal is still fully operational. The union has not called for their mandatory 72 hour notice of a strike action. More news as it develops.

March 4, 2024 – The Port of Montreal issued a reminder on Friday that the Maritime Employers Association and the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 375 – Montreal Longshoremen continue to wait for a decision from the Canada Industrial Relations Board on the MEA’s application to recognize the work of the local’s members as essential. The two parties provided information requested by the CIRB on or before February 23. Until a decision has been announced, neither party is allowed to apply pressure of any kind on the other. The port remains fully operational.

February 25, 2024 – Transpacific container spot rates remain high as the contracting season moves into gear; however, new contract proposals from carriers may get the cold shoulder. With ocean carriers, BCOs, shippers and freight forwarders assembling in their hundreds for the JoC TPM conference in Long Beach in a week’s time – the traditional start of the transpacific contract season – the lines will believe they are in the perfect position to push for substantial contract rate hikes.However, anecdotal reports suggest carrier account negotiators at TPM24, endeavouring to persuade customers to sign up for long-term deals, will be in for a challenging few days across the meeting rooms and halls of the Long Beach convention centre.

February 2, 2024 – With one week left to go to the Lunar new year, the Red Sea situation continues to keep ocean shipping rates artificially high as carriers continue to demand excess surcharges. However, rates are predicted to ease somewhat globally once the Lunar new year happens next week. More as it develops.

January 28, 2024 – Airfreight rates in January climbed as the month progressed due to the approaching Lunar New Year holiday and anecdotal reports of a move from sea to air due to the Red Sea crisis. The latest figures from the Baltic Exchange Airfreight Index (BAI) show that, in the last full week of January, rates from Hong Kong to North America climbed 8.4% on a week earlier, to $5.15 per kg. Airfreight rate data provider TAC Index said the increase was expected. “The increase is in line with expectations that rates may spike following disruption to ocean shipping in the Red Sea, though sources also point out that rates often rise in the runup to Chinese New Year,” TAC said in a weekly market round-up. This year the Lunar New Year holiday falls on February 10 compared with January 22 last year.

January 8, 2024 – Spot freight rates are the leading indicator of the mounting repercussions from ongoing disruptions to the shipping industry due to security problems in the Red Sea. With the attacks continuing, nearly 20 major carriers have reported that they are rerouting vessels, adding to travel time and expense, which is quickly being reflected in the spot price for shipping, as well as the growing concerns of impacts to supply chains and a renewal of port congestion. Analytics firm Drewry provided its first report of 2024 on its closely watched World Container Index and to no surprise rates have skyrocketed. In one week, Drewey calculates the composite index is up by two-thirds (61 percent) per 40-foot container and stands 25 percent above the end of 2022/start of 2023. The latest Drewry World Container Index composite is 88 percent higher than the 2019 average. Predictability, the highest increases are on the routes most directly impacted, i.e. those using the Suez Canal. Freight rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam, for example, are up by 115 percent. The increases for shipping containers to the Mediterranean are also up more than 100 percent, while rates from Asia to North America are up a more modest 26 to 30 percent.

January 2, 2024 – Happy New Year! On December 22, the Maritime Employers Association issued the following update."Parties have had several mediation meetings in the last weeks, supported by the experts of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, and more meetings are planned in January. "We want to remind you that a demand for maintaining essential activities, in accordance with the requirements of the Canada Labour Code, is still pending at the Canada Industrial Relations Board. "The CIRB has requested more information [from] the parties, [with] responses [due] at the end of January; no pressures tactics can occur before a ruling. "Our priority remains the signing of a negotiated collective agreement." This means that no labour disruption is possible until the ruling has been made, which appears to be moving into February at the earliest. The port remains fully functional in the meantime.

December 25, 2023 – As we finish the year, we wanted to wish our clients and partners a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!