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Messages - Mike Cornwall

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1
Yes Stephen, one of those ships the Seaspan Fraser arrived at the anchorage AM the 30th Nov and will not berth until the 15th Dec.
It will not get any better until well into next year.
There are not enough workers or straddles. One ex worker was told last week that he did have enough experience. He had driven straddles for 14yrs !!!. But he was in his early 60's, Another guy could not even get an interview, 62yrs old. ex helicopter pilot
Also yellow strads that have been "enhanced" for automation, cannnot be used in the manual area. Last week 6 of these were unused and we had more drivers than useable strads.
Situation hopeless !.

2
The situation is really very complex. They wanted automation to get rid of troublesome humans. But automation is simply not working.Why ?. In all honesty I don't know why, but there are problems after problems. Plus the old cranes could lift 1x40 or 2x 20 boxes, and the yellow strads could lift the same. The new cranes can lift 4x20 or 2x40 boxes. However the the autostrads (the blue ones) can only lift 1x20 or 1x40. See the issues. Complete waste of money. The autostrads only do around 60% of productivity compared with a manned strad. So they need more of them at 2.5 mill each. They are very very slow. (Ask a truckie) Automation has been put back till next March. Covid is blamed, but the system is not working, plus the Xmas rush and upcoming export season are almost upon us. Automation by then will be about 3yrs late.
As to why TGA can do it, the guys are not being thrashed as we are. They cannot hold train people here quick enough to keep pace with resignations. All of us work to support our lifestyles, but here if you have a young family, you leave home b4 the kids wake up, and you come home after they are back in bed. Imagine what your wife/partner thinks of that day after day. Then when you have a day off, make arrangements to do things, and POAL tells you at 1pm the day b4, "sorry you have to work". What does that do for "family life". This happens EVERY week. In the end people say "bugger this" and they resign. Poal are deceitful, they have no integrity, and frankly are dishonest, they favour one group over another (The Co union, Portpro, over MUNZ),therefore you often end up with the wrong people being promoted, and behaivour issues are often decided on the same basis. People are promoted on loyalties rather than talent. Remember also the new cranes (3x25mil each) have been here for 2yrs now and are not used anywhere near their capacity, the new strads have been almost 3hrs, (27 @ 2.5mill each) and only a few are used each day, sometimes none. All in all it is a shambles, if they swallowed their pride and went back to 8hr shifts most of the problems would go away. but they are too arrogant to do that. But after you have killed 2 people in 2yrs, the birds will come home to roost very soon.

3
Hi Steve,

Problem is lack of staff.People are leaving and signing off due to excessive hours. You cannot keep working 5x12hr shifts, have 1 day off, and then do it all again. This normal. Days off are advised for the weeks ahead, and then often changed the day before. So family life goes out the window. People are tired and this is why we have had 2 deaths in the last 2yrs. As a union we have tried to get the company to change, but they up until now will not listen However you may see some changes before Xmas as they are due to be sentenced for Laboom's death on the 4th of Dec, the Akl Council will release their report on Amo's death in the first half of December. An interim report not yet made public, has been exceptionally scathing on the company. Expect fireworks in the next few weeks. Xin Zhang Zhou was on the pick for 8 days and will be at least 4 day alongside. Mostly we can only work 3 maybe 4 cranes at a time. We have 7.Trucking companies are also very angry, and some owner drivers are re-locating to CHC as they cannot make a living with all the delays at Ferguson and Metrobox. Shipping Companies are tearing their hair out and the word is we will probably lose another customer.

4
Shipping News and information / CMV Ship Ownership
« on: September 12, 2020, 03:39:44 AM »
There is something that I find rather puzzling about the ownership of the former CMV fleet, and hopefully someone with sound real knowledge, like Bob Scott, can shed some light.
Mu understanding was that, with the exception of Astoria, the fleet was owned by Global Marine out of Greece. They set up CMV, and this was their shop front that was presented to the punters. So CMV could not raise any money to pay their debts, which included carter costs and wages, but as they (CMV) had no real assets.
So my questions are:
1/ Why did Global Marine let them go under, after all they would still not get paid their charter fees, why not continue to pay the bills until this Covid thing is all over. After all Global still have all their costs to pay, with the exception of wages.
2/ Why has the court seized the ships and are now auctioning them off if Global do indeed own the ships. How can they be assets of CMV if CMV do not own them.
I have worked in the shipping operations all my life and so I do have an idea how it all works, but I can't figure this one out.
Love to hear some sound ideas on this. (IE; not nonsense speculation)

5
I see the Lica Maersk is sitting out in the anchorage at Auckland. Arrived there the 3rd and not berthing until the 10th with no destinations showing.  All a bit strange. Brent/Stephen, you guys heard anything. Long time for a big ship like that to sit around.

6
Yes the reason for that Stephen is that Pacifica have lost one complete voyage and look like losing a second due to delays at Ferguson. The place is a complete shambles due to automation installation hindering work and staff burnout due to excessive hours. Not short fix in sight.

7
I hear that Maersk  are making a few changes ref NZ and Australia. In future all NZ services will be run and controlled from Sydney. Also the Nthn and Sthn Star services will be "rationalized".

Anyone heard this, and just what will it mean.

8
Hi Stephen,

Bit of a surprise for us as well.  Even us at Rorts of Dorkland aren't sure what's going on here.

9
Re Prinsendam.
There will be some seriously peeved customers if this ship goes. We cruised last year on Volendam and were blown away by the HAL loyalty of so many of the passengers. And ALL loved the Prinsendam and said it was their favourite HAL ship.

10
Just returned for a cruise on Pacific Pearl this morning. Whilst on board several crew talked about the future expansion of P&O Australia. Apparently they have been informed via crew meetings that P&O Aust will take over Ryndham and Statendam from Holland America in late 2015. These area additions apparently and not replacements.
Seems to be more than a rumour as I heard it from 4 different sources and all said they had been advised by the company.

11
Does that mean Maersk have pulled out of the service and are starting their own service,as it used to be. Or are they just packing their bags and going home.

12
Stephen,

We took all the boxes we loaded last week,back off her except, the Nelson boxes. The others will go south on the OOCL New Zealand on Monday.
Appears she has significant engine problems. In the bosses words "it's rooted".

13
Stephen


She's a mystery to us also. She has mechanical issues to be resolved plus safety issues. We can't/wont work her till these are done. I am working this arvo on her, this was yesterday, but when I left work last night this had been canned for some reason. I am surprised to now see her at FX again. So I'm not sure what happens when I get to work in a couple of hours.
Word is though, she's a dog.
I'll keep you posted.

Mike

14
Shipping News and information / Re: Costa Allegra at ALIAGA
« on: October 29, 2012, 12:22:04 AM »
It makes me very sad indeed to read this and to see the photo of her at Aliaga.
We did a 14 day cruise out of Singapore on her in 2009 and loved it. Frankly she became our favourite ship of those we have cruised. She was quirky, different, rolled to her own tune, and was very "Costa".
She had funny little touches in her design, like the round skylight in the Casino, that came up in the middle of the pool on the deck above, and the running water over the Murano bar that flowed from the spa above to the pool. And as for lunch in the main restaurant overlooking the stern.
Fantastic.
And just the right size also.
I am glad that I took all those interior shots now.
We had intended to do a Red Sea cruise on her before Egypt turned to custard, but have now missed that one.
That photo at Aliaga, heeling over, white funnel, unwanted amongst all that rubbish. Terrible.

But the memories will remain.

15
quote;  "passengers will be able to walk to the CBD"
YEAH RIGHT!!!!
Some of the young fit ones maybe, but your normal old fat ones?. LOL. They can barely make it from their cabins to the buffet!.
That is typical rubbish daily press reporting.

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