The Bradfield Bulletin - 6 June 2025

IT'S BEEN a short and challenging week in WA, with wild weather slowing port ops and causing delays. But on a brighter note, I did manage to get my hair coloured last weekend, so no mascara touch ups have been needed!

Transpacific volumes are heating up again, with spot rates from Shanghai to LA jumping 57% in just a week, up 117% since early May. The surge comes as businesses rush to get cargo moving ahead of possible new US tariffs, pushing demand (and prices) way up.

Over on the water, did you know a quarter of all containership tonnage is now on the Asia–Europe tradelane? That’s up from one fifth, driven mostly by the Red Sea crisis and vessels detouring via the Cape of Good Hope, adding time and soaking up capacity.

In Mexico, their biggest port is still heavily congested, with truck wait times blowing out past 72 hours, financial pressure is building on local carriers.

Meanwhile, salvage efforts are now underway for the Morning Midas, a car carrier that caught fire off the coast of Alaska recently. The crew safely abandoned ship after a fire broke out in a deck carrying EVs. The vessel is still burning but remains afloat. Salvage teams and fire-fighting tugs are en route, and authorities are keeping a close eye on the situation.

And back home, the Fair Work Commission handed down its Annual Wage Review, a 3.5% increase to the minimum wage and award rates from 1 July. If you’re covered by the Road Transport or Clerks awards, updated pay guides are coming soon.

So what else is happening out there?

💠 Records show that vessel abandonments are up 33% year on year
💠 Tripoli port shutdown sparks Libya crisis
💠 Solong containership captain pleads not guilty in fatal tanker collision off UK coast
💠 First phase of Mersin port expansion completed
💠 GEODIS launches low-carbon air freight solution GEODIS AirSmart
💠 Monsoonal rains cause havoc in Bangladesh as ships driven ashore
💠 Port of Duqm to undergo $550M upgrade
💠 CMA CGM feeder collides with barge on River Scheldt; two overboard, one injured
💠 DP World partners with VIMC to launch new domestic route in South Vietnam
💠 Tasmania’s largest transport project complete as Bridgewater Bridge opens in Hobart
💠 CMA CGM eyes multi-billion euro Algeria expansion
💠 Singapore and France launch maritime pilot projects under enhanced partnership
💠 Norwegian project to upcycle eight ships in NOK1.3B deal with Hoegh Autoliners
💠 HHLA acquires majority stake in Ukrainian terminal
💠 APM Terminals Lazaro Cardenas unveils new electric cranes
💠 Inbound connect expands into Singapore and New Zealand
💠 Port of Brisbane unveils Vision 2060
💠 First major construction milestone at Western Sydney International Airport complete

What have I missed?

Yesterday, the MSC Archimidis finally arrived at Fremantle. It's a large vessel - 318m long, but at 43m wide, she’s a touch slimmer than the Sydney Express that just departed.

Have a great weekend everyone (and a long weekend in some cases!).