Truckies warn 200 trips needed to return equipment to WA amid port dispute

WA truckies have warned of delays in hauling mining and farm equipment back to WA, after three ships were diverted east because picket lines at Fremantle prevented them from being unloaded. Cam Dumesny, chief executive of the WA Transport Industry Association, said the group’s heavy haulage members estimated about 200 loads were needed to bring the items back to WA. With each trip averaging about $10,000, he estimated the total bill would reach more than $2 million. “The road transport industry will struggle to be able to find the resources in the current environment to road transport back the volume of equipment from the east, especially in time for harvest,” he said. Mr Dumesny said the combination of a critical shortage of drivers and equipment was compounded by a 5-10 per cent loss of drivers on the east-west route because of COVID-19 restrictions. There were also current high workloads for over sized, over mass transport companies, and a requirement to negotiate through the cumbersome east coast permit approval system for oversize loads. Three Wallenius Wilhelmsen ships containing mining and farm equipment were unable to unload at Fremantle Port because of industrial action by the Maritime Union of Australia, and the vessels and their cargoes were redirected to Melbourne and Adelaide. The cargoes contained more than 40 harvesters and 30 tractors, and mining equipment including dump trucks, haulpaks, and large excavators and dozers. That equipment would need to be returned to WA by road. Being mostly overweight loads, they would be unable to travel at night, and many would require pilot vehicles. Equipment would need to be assembled by the major manufacturers or distributors in Perth, before being transported to farms or site. Rob Kitto, a farmer at Mullewa, said he ordered a new Case header last January. The header is on one of the diverted ships and he expects he would be fortunate to receive it before the end of harvest. Mr Kitto said he was lucky his local dealer, who he had ordered the equipment through, had arranged a loan header. Mr Dumesny said transport companies would be keen to prioritise the farm equipment, given harvest was already underway. “Ag gets one shot at it a year. We are going to have to prioritise the harvesters, but of course there’s always an element of commerciality,” he said. Pastoralist and Graziers Association president Tony Seabrook said an added concern was that ships containing big equipment would be reluctant to berth at Fremantle, because of the risk they would not be unloaded. Fremantle Ports chief executive Michael Parker said having ships bypass Fremantle was concerning for local trade and risked reduced confidence among shipping lines in the port. “We’re extremely disappointed that a major customer of ours and numerous importers and exporters have been caught up in the latest round of industrial action to hit out wharves, particularly given existing global supply chain congestion,” Mr Parker said.