COVID-19 Updates

Current Status

9 April 2020

Champion Freight is operating as an essential service at present and will continue to update and clarify on this position as we learn more from the governing bodies. Like all companies we have staff working from home where they can and skeleton staff at our Auckland and Christchurch depots to ensure essential freight can move freely to its destination.

General

MBIE, MOT guidelines allow non-essential containers to be delivered to site but not devanned until after level 4 is lifted in order to avoid the supply chain for essential goods becoming choked with volume. If delivery to a site with non-essential cargo can be made during lockdown in compliance with isolation guidelines and there is room on site. The MBIE COVID-19 website is updated regularly and the list of what is considered to be essential goods has been amended, especially for contactless online sales.

Please check here and call the 0800 number if clarification is required.

Asia

Things continue to normalise in China and transport and shipping volumes are increasing.

There is a blank sailing on the NZS service ex Port Kelang and Singapore which will have an impact ex Asian transhipments week 16. The vessel CMA CGM Coral is phasing out and wont complete the voyage to NZ. This will disrupt imports on this service.

The Indian Sub Continent is grinding to a halt, transport in / out of the ports and CFS’s is minimal and congestion problems appearing. Skeleton staff are operating however customs are not keeping up and the transport chain will fall in to disarray if not acted upon urgently.

Europe & USA

No real change, transport, depots and ports are operating and we have no reports on any hold up to cargo. The Majority of European countries are in lockdown and essential services operating.

Australia

No change. Australian logistic operations are working and moving all cargo freely.

Update: 3 April 2020

New Zealand Ports

New Zealand ports remain open and operational for movement of essential cargo. It is important as vessels arrive that cargo is cleared off the terminal to allow free movement and access to cargo required to ensure essential services can continue operating. We understand, however await clarification that there will be some guidelines released pertaining to the meaning of essential cargo.

With vessels still arriving with imports to discharge without the free movement across the terminal to the consignee or off site storage facilities the ports will quickly become congested.

We understand trans Tasman cargo is moving freely at this stage and there is no requirement for 14 days free of human contact.

Australia

Australia is operating similar to us, ports are fully operational, any slow down in cargo moving is at warehouse or depot level as the human element comes in to play with social distancing making it more difficult to operate.

Australia has a few problems with cargo from Asia with quicker transit times where the cargo must not have been touched for 14 days and yesterday there was the call for a vessel to sit out at sea for 3 days to complete 14 days.

Europe

European imports / exports we are not aware of any hold ups or congestion at this time and cargo is moving freely as the transport industry continues to operate.

USA

We are not hearing of any major disruptions through the USA ports at this time and cargo is moving freely.

Asia

Asian ports are operating and China is back on stream after the initial crisis took hold earlier in the year and ground them to a halt with congestion.

India is on a high alert but ports are still operating, more info is awaited on who are classified as essential services.

Demurrage & Detention

We are pleased to see some lines have offered extended free time on detention while we are in lockdown but we expect when it is lifted they will take a hard line to ensure the equipment is returned timely so please be prepared to return containers promptly.

Demurrage free time charges at port have only been extended by Wellington (30 days) and Tauranga (moved to metro port with an 85.00 fee) other ports have not extended free time period and this is to ensure cargo is moved off terminal promptly.

Air Freight

Airfreight has been severely disrupted with flights being cancelled worldwide and consequently those still operating whether passenger or freight have limited space and rates have increased significantly.

Update: 23 March 2020

As an essential service provider, Champion Freight will remain OPEN throughout stage 3 & 4 of the COVID-19 alert level response announced today by the New Zealand government.

• The Champion Freight head office and distribution centres remain OPEN.
• Where possible, our staff have been advised to work from home.

Other Policies

As communicated on the 18th March 2020, we have implemented the following additional policies and procedures to ensure the health and wellbeing of our loyal customers, dedicated team and the wider community:

• Strict cleaning and hygiene practices in our offices and distribution centres.
• Site visits are limited to essential only.
• All visitors must stay 2 metres away from other people where possible.
• All visitors must use their own pen to sign documents.
• Our staff have been advised to stay home if they feel unwell and we request all third-party service partners to do the same.

Please contact us the Champion Freight head office if you have any questions.