Thursday, 18 September 2008 00:00
The 2008 meeting of the Global Shippers' Forum (GSF) in Montreal confirmed the strong belief that abolishing liner shipping conferences could only benefit shippers around the world. Following the repeal of the liner shipping block exemption from 18th October Asian countries in particular will benefit from the reduced influence of conferences over prices and services. The GSF encouraged trading partners in Asia, China and India to bring about competitive reforms that would foster more competition.
Dick van den Broek Humphreij chairman of the ESC said; “we are very excited by the developments in Europe because this paves the way for shippers in Europe and world wide to freely negotiate rates, surcharges and other terms of carriage on a fairer basis with carriers. However, we know that a change of culture will not happen overnight and therefore members of the GSF, including shippers’ councils in Asia, will remain watchful to ensure that carriers are not breaching EU competition rules.”
Turning to the issue of freight (anti-terrorist) security, an issue increasing in significance for all shippers, the GSF reaffirmed its total rejection of proposals for 100% security-scanning of all cargoes. ‘Well established principles of risk assessment should not be diluted to scan every box', the group said. It had been observed that progress towards mutual recognition of compatible security programs was currently too slow. The GSF encouraged governments to work to recognize other security regimes and remove the duplication of effort, resources and expense for shippers seeking to comply with them.
The GSF concluded its meeting with the development of an environmental policy in relation to freight transport. Governments were urged to develop and actively support programs that reward best practices, adopt technology or develop infrastructure that reduces the environmental impact of transport. Punitive charges on transport users intended to force industry to change practices and reduce the impact of freight transport on the environment were roundly attacked as ineffective and economically damaging.
The 2008 GSF meeting was hosted by the Canadian Industrial Transportation Association who passed on the honour to ESC to host the upcoming meeting in 2009 in Europe.
