News and
Resources

Yearly wrap up

As 2016 draws to a close we thought that we would wrap-up a few major events that have happened this year.   Grab yourself a cuppa and let’s reflect together.. We started off in January counting down the days until the amendments to the Solas Convention came into force. During the first month of the year […]

Congratulations!

A big congratulations is in order for Tracy Ferguson from R.Melling and Associates for receiving the coveted Ray Melling Student Award at the annual CBFCA (Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia) Christmas Party. This is the second time that Tracy has won this award – rounding off her year of studying in style. Tracy […]

NZ Container Home

David Fitzmaurice and his wife Joyce Wee loved the idea of building an unconventional home for their family . We think that they have succeeded! Initially deciding to build the home from sixteen shipping containers, they ended up using twenty.  Joyce Wee stated “We would like a loft-style space where the children can ride their bikes […]

Strengthening ties with Laos

Australian Border Force Commissioner (ABF) Roman Quaedvlieg and the head of the Lao Customs Department, Mr Bounpaseuth Sikounlabout, signed the Memorandum of Understanding on November 17. Also in attendance were Australia’s Ambassador to Laos, John Williams, and Laos’ Vice Minister for Finance, Mme Thipphakone Chanthavongsa. “This arrangement provides a framework for future engagement,” said Commissioner […]

Ovation of the Seas

The biggest ship to ever visit Australia made its debut in Fremantle this week on Tuesday 6th December just before 7am. Ovation of the Seas is greeted at the harbour entrance by FP Response’s water cannon The “Ovation of the Seas” launched in Europe in April this year.  Here are some interesting stats on the […]

Guilty pleas made

Back in July this year $275m of crystal methamphetamine was seized  – uncovered from under the floors of three shipping containers that arrived into Melbourne from China. Two men, both aged 24, have pleaded guilty to their involvement in an international drug syndicate that arranged to have these goods smuggled into Australia. Raymond Lach and […]

Australia and UK on track for FTA

Trade minister Steven Ciobo and his UK counterpart, Lord Price met in Canberra this week for the inaugural meeting of the Australia-UK Trade Working Group. The two ministers discussed the early priorities for the working group and the parameters of a future Australia-UK FTA when the UK exits the European Union. Mr Ciobo and Lord […]

Chinese New Year 2017

Chinese New Year is a fantastic time of the year. It’s full of colour, excitement and tradition. It is the time to eat, celebrate, cleanse your house, exchange gifts and watch the fireworks. But for the shipping industry it can be an extremely difficult time. With most suppliers, customs authorities and shipping lines closing for […]

Meth smugglers come unstuck

A methamphetamine shipment with a street value of about $15.6m was discovered in three consignments of 180 tins of liquid glue from Mexico. According to a statement from the Australian Border Force (ABF), the 26 kilograms of illicit drugs were seized following a joint operation between the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the ABF and the […]