The Bradfield Bulletin - 29 August 2025

AT THE end of last week, my girls’ high school celebrated Book Week - the annual test of a parent’s creativity, budget, and sanity, usually involving a last minute dash for a costume (often with questionable results).

Things have changed now that my kids are older. Gone are the days of sewing costumes and twirling proudly - now, any parental involvement is officially “cringe.”

This year, we may have hit a new low. My almost thirteen year old went as… a crayon. By that, I mean a pink hoodie and jeans. She was one of several crayons, but being the pink crayon required zero effort. This is where we are now! 😂

This week in shipping has been a little more exciting than my girls’ Book Week costume. The China–Australia route has climbed to new highs, while the China–US market is softening, with rates dropping another 6% on this trade lane. Bad weather is still causing disruptions, slightly reducing capacity, and it’s been reported that a few extra loaders have been added to help ease pressure on the busy East Coast market.

With Golden Week about a month away, we’re already seeing warnings of blank sailings. In some cases, the sailings can be pulled without notice.

I feel like I've been a little behind this week, so what's been missed?

💠Major Hamburg port warehouse fire injures six
💠APM Terminals to invest $1B in Indian ports
💠Panama fleet accidents down 23%
💠HD Hyundai signs MoU for U.S. shipyard cooperation
💠VICT secures new 4-year EA
💠South African port productivity stagnant despite growth
💠DP World profits surge on vast forwarding network
💠Typhoon Kajiki causes widespread damage in Vietnam
💠MSC captain pleads not guilty to drunk operation
💠Antigua & Barbuda aim to be green shipping hub
💠Australia Post partially suspends U.S. mail
💠Qube announces new chair
💠WiseTech & ACFS partner to streamline container transport
💠Hutchison Ports sign new 4-year union deal
💠Townsville port announces piling works
💠ILA sues Virginia Port Authority over semi-automated cranes
💠U.S. rail mega-merger faces union & shipper opposition
💠Port of Auckland posts record profit

Is there anything to add?

After a busy week, there hasn’t been much time for photos at the Inner Harbour, but here’s a quick shot of the roll-on/roll-off vessel Beluga Ace before departing Fremantle for Adelaide. She can carry 6,800 vehicles and features six liftable decks, compared to two on most car carriers, allowing for a wider mix of vehicles and heavier cargo.

Enjoy your weekend everyone, and dont forget .. Monday is the start of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) season!