The Port of Vancouver, Canada’s busiest container port, now faces a second looming threat of a labor strike.

Canadian union truckers that service the port voted unanimously on Dec. 21 to support their bargaining committee and to hold a strike authorization vote in January as part of an effort to win new contracts.

The move comes on the heels of a threatened January strike by union docker foremen that service the Canadian West Coast ports.

The Vancouver Container Truck Association/Canadian Auto Workers union, which represents about 750 truck drivers that service the port, allege that more than half of the port-servicing trucking firms are undercutting union contract-guaranteed rates for the drivers.

The current collective agreements between companies and union members expire on Dec. 31.

The Chamber of Shipping, the leading voice for our Province’s marine carriers and others working with the Pacific Gateway, are calling on industry and labour to find an immediate solution to the current impasse in negotiations between the BC Maritime Employers Association and ILWU Local 514.  Negotiations between the two sides are not progressing and the union has approved a strike vote that could initiate a stoppage as early as January 2, 2009.

“With the highly volatile global economy in recession, it is imperative that our Pacific Gateway remain open,” said Captain Stephen Brown, President of the Chamber of Shipping.  “At a time when BC businesses are hurting and jobs are at risk, we believe that the deal being advanced by the employers through BCMEA represents a generous and respectful offer. It is expected that job action by the union would lead to all of BC’s major ports shutting down.

The current worldwide economic slowdown has made the transportation sector even more competitive.  Canada’s Pacific Gateway faces strong competition from US coastal ports.  The BC Chamber of Shipping has already seen significant shifts by carriers, particularly on the cargo and container side, to these competing ports. “We are proud of BC’s Pacific Gateway that our governments, businesses and workers have built together but we are deeply concerned that a shutdown during this economically uncertain time will jeopardize that success,” added Brown. 

Western Canada Marine Response Corporation, the certified response organization under the Canada Shipping Act, has published in the Canada Gazette an increase to the annual membership fees from the $450 to $600 per vessel and per prescribed oil handling facility effective January 1, 2009.   To view the fee justification documents, visit www.burrardclean.com.

 The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued the interim rule regarding importer security filing and additional carrier requirements (better known as “10 + 2”) and comes into effect on January 26, 2009.

Carriers are currently required to submit advance cargo information for vessels no later than 24 hours before the cargo is laden aboard a vessel at a foreign port. This is commonly referred to as the "24-Hour Rule." Carriers are not currently required to submit vessel stow plans or container status messages to CBP.

Under existing requirements, importers of record are required to file entry information with CBP within 15 calendar days of the date of arrival of a shipment at a United States port of entry. Inaddition, within 10 working days of the entry of the merchandise, entry summary information must be submitted. Importers are not currently required to submit advance cargo information to CBP.

On October 20, 2008, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will begin random inspections of containers for Asian Gypsy Moths at various terminals. Inspections will be conducted at the exit gates and are not expected to create any delays at the gates.  The program will begin at Vanterm (est. 50/day) and Prince Rupert (est. 10-15/week). If live egg masses are discovered, the containers will be moved and cleaned immediately by CFIA at a location within the terminal.  View CFIA Notice.

Effective October 20, 2008 Canada Border Services hours of operation for the Marine Front Counter located on the ground level of 1111 Dunsmuir Street in Vancouver, BC will be Monday to Friday 8:00 to 16:30 hrs.  This will coincide with the commercial release hours and personal effects clearance hours.  Please attempt to conduct all marine business during the above hours.