The Bradfield Bulletin - 4 July 2025

THIS week started with me trying to rotate and flip the mattress alone, doing my best not to strain my back (doesn’t take much these days!).

I thought that was going to be the struggle of the week, but mother nature thought otherwise. Shipping movements and most operations came to a standstill in NSW as a fierce weather system closed in. Numerous port omissions and changes to rotations followed, sending schedules into a spin.

We all know it’ll take time to catch up from just a few days of disruption. Fremantle’s turn looks to be next, with the weather set to shift in coming days.

Meanwhile, Europe’s also feeling the heat, literally. Piraeus Terminal temporarily suspended vessel operations due to extreme temperatures, while a marine heatwave is driving Med sea surface temperatures well above normal.

On the global stage, tariff talk ramped up as we near the July 9 expiry of the White House’s tariff pause. Trump took to social media claiming a trade deal with Vietnam, dropping US tariffs on Vietnamese goods to 20% (down from 46%), in exchange for Vietnam eliminating tariffs on US products. But there’s a catch: 40% tariffs will apply to transhipped goods, targeting China’s alleged use of Vietnam as a workaround for rebadged exports. Debate and uncertainty grow as the deadline approaches.

What else has been keeping everyone busy?

💠 Gladstone Ports Corp has named Andrew Johnson as its new CEO

💠 Hannah Crowther steps into the role of GM – West at Svitzer Australia

💠 Maersk challenges Brazil’s Santos port bidding rules in court

💠 Pakistan invests $42M to upgrade ship-breaking yard sustainably

💠 Maersk faces $1.5M fine linked to Damco merger negligence

💠 Hellmann Worldwide Logistics expands its Melbourne operations

💠 Port of LA to serve as a venue for events during the 2028 Olympic Games

💠 Qantas Freight pilots plan protected industrial action over pay talks

💠 Flinders Adelaide Container Terminal Set for $350M+ Boost

💠 FMC Launches Anti-Trust Probe into World Shipping Council

💠 HMM to Expand Algeciras as Transshipment Hub

💠 India’s Mazagon Dock buys 51% of Colombo Dockyard for $53M, its first global deal

💠 NTSB releases initial findings into the Mexican Navy tall ship’s crash into the Brooklyn Bridge

💠 Saudi Ports Authority signs SAR2.2bn ($586m) deals to upgrade eight key ports

💠 Indonesia’s state-owned oil giant Pertamina seeks a $700M loan to fund new vessel builds

Earlier this week, Fremantle Ports welcomed the container ship Westport. Ironic I thought, as it’s also the name of W.A.’s future port. I didn’t make it down there in person, but I managed to catch it on the harbourcams. Interestingly, the ship was facing the opposite way to the other vessels, likely for operational reasons. She’s the one in the middle.

Have a great weekend all and Happy 4th of July if you are celebrating!

Amanda Bradfield is Head of International Freight & Logistics at Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA).