Melbourne’s long-awaited West Gate Tunnel has officially opened!

After nearly eight years of construction, this new tolled alternative to the West Gate Bridge is set to reshape travel in the city’s west. The major infrastructure project links the West Gate Freeway at Yarraville with CityLink and the Port of Melbourne, aiming to ease congestion, improve freight access and remove thousands of trucks from local streets, with weekend toll-free travel planned for January 2026 as part of the launch.

ACCC Builds Case for Waterfront Reform as Stevedore Charges Hit Record Highs

Container terminal operators’ fees, especially landside charges for picking up and dropping off containers, have risen sharply and have become a major cost burden for trucking companies and shippers. This points to a market failure, where limited competition and unavoidable fees are dragging up supply-chain costs. The ACCC says now it has assembled enough evidence in its latest report to push for changes, suggesting they are ready to act in the new year to tackle these high costs.

Western Australia has unveiled a major road safety reform package

This is aimed at cutting road deaths by expanding the use of safety cameras, reviewing penalties and boosting education and awareness. The plan will bring in hundreds of new cameras, more targeted enforcement and flexible penalty options that could reward low-risk drivers with caution notices, while imposing tougher penalties on high-risk offenders, supported by $80 million in government funding. The reforms also include additional road safety advertising and upgrades to key road networks.

Construction has officially begun on the Beveridge Intermodal Precinct

In Melbourne’s north, a $1.62 billion project set to become Australia’s largest and most advanced logistics hub. This facility is located at the critical southern end of the Inland Rail freight line and is designed to significantly improve the country’s supply chain. The main benefit is a major shift of cargo from road to rail: once operational (expected mid-2028), the terminal will remove an estimated 167,000 truck trips from roads each year by utilising long, double-stacked trains, which are far more efficient. The federal government is championing this project as a way to cut freight costs, reduce traffic congestion, and lower Australia’s transport emissions by 12.1 million tonnes over 25 years.

ASIA

Thailand weighs blocking fuel exports to Cambodia amid border conflict

Thailand’s military is considering blocking fuel exports to Cambodia as clashes along their disputed border intensify, with officials also tightening export controls through Laos amidst concerns supplies are being diverted to support combat operations. This move follows a de facto halt to formal fuel exports since July and reflects a strategy to constrain Cambodia’s access to strategic fuels, which could indirectly affect regional logistics and energy supply flows.

GLOBAL

The Global Shipping Fleet’s Capacity Problem

While the industry keeps ordering large and mega-sized ships, the smaller vessels that are essential for regional and feeder services are getting old and are barely being replaced. Many of these small ships are close to retirement, and by 2030 a large part of the small-ship fleet could disappear altogether. This matters because many ports and regional routes rely on small vessels and can’t simply switch to bigger ships, meaning the industry could soon face a shortage, even while containership orderbook skyrockets.

Big carriers are not returning to the Suez just yet

Despite some optimistic reports about a return to normal. While one major French carrier, CMA CGM, has confirmed that a single service between India/Pakistan and the US East Coast will fully resume transiting the Suez Canal, this remains the exception.

Global trade still expanding, but momentum is uneven

A UN agency update reported global trade is on track to grow and push through a new annual record level, even as higher costs and geopolitics keep momentum patchy. For Australian traders, that combination often means demand stays “there,” but volatility remains—so pricing, lead times, and capacity can change quickly lane by lane.

Recent Incidents Highlight the Cost of Being Uninsured

This month saw two high-impact events on major containerships that underline how quickly things can go wrong at sea. General Average was declared on the ONE Henry Hudson after a prolonged fire at the Port of Los Angeles, meaning all parties (including importers) must now contribute to shared salvage costs before release. Meanwhile, the One Continuity lost at least 45 containers south of the Canary Islands during heavy weather, with damaged boxes being unloaded and the vessel diverting to Las Palmas. Both cases serve as stark reminders of the financial and operational implications of cargo loss, especially for shippers without adequate marine insurance. Stay informed on potential risks you can face and how to minimise them HERE.

We Wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy new Year!

FOLLOW US ON LINKEDIN!