Revolution in cargo handling

Case study: the effect of containerisation on

By Peter Chinn, who andling of containerised cargo imported by a vessel at his wharf worked for Customs for cargo revolutionised was properly accounted for in 40 years, including on the shipping. In Sydney, for accordance with Customs requirements. Sydney waterfront from example, special terminals He would receive the manifest for 1959 to 1964. His earlier were built at Glebe Island and Whitethe ship from the ship’s owners/agents years were spent as an Bay (and later at ) withand would acquit deliveries by Customs assistant wharf examining cranesH for offloading/loading containers. entries or other acceptable officer, later advancing to Containers gradually rendered documentation. The officer would also wharf examining officer in redundant virtually all the existing collect duty from crew and passengers charge of wharves at Woolloomooloo and wharves in the port as containerised as well as clear passenger's effects. Pyrmont cargo replaced the old methods of cargo With the coming of , handling. a major procedural and organisational Container terminals required large change came into effect. Authorisation areas for the stacking of containers for delivery of cargo (and accounting for pending removal and, in Sydney, depots cargo) was centralised in a branch at were established at areas such as the Customs House where importers , Waterloo, Villawood and and agents attended, instead of at a Chullora. These were lower-rent areas, wharf office. Nearly all wharf offices well away from the waterfront where were closed and the Sydney waterfront Customs and maritime activities had was divided up into four or five traditionally been located, but connected geographical areas, each under the with the ports by rail. At times, Customs control of an inspector with a staff of had staff permanently established at examining officers and assistant these container depots. examining officers who carried out With the exception of bulk cargoes examinations and other Customs control such as coal, wheat and ores, the cargo tasks at wharves. handling process before containers was This system represented a more labour-intensive, slow and inefficient. effective and efficient use of resources. Teams of waterside workers would Around the same time, another radical descend into the holds of a ship to change came into effect: documentary physically move individual packages on control. This involved officers visiting to a rope sling (rather like a large rope shipping company premises to examine net). records to verify compliance with all When full, the corners would be Customs requirements. attached to the hook of the ship’s crane Over the intervening years, which would then haul the load out of enhancements have been made to our the hold. Once on the wharf, another controls of import and export cargo team of waterside waters would unload while at the same time meeting - and the contents. anticipating - the requirements of the Wharfies would trundle most importing and exporting communities. crates/cases on a two-wheeled barrow Australian Customs has always been into the wharf shed where cargo was attuned to change and has a proud checked in by tally-clerks and stacked. record in successfully meeting all Under the old system, Customs had challenges. permanent offices at about 40 wharves in the port of Sydney. Each was under the charge of a Wharf Examining Officer who was responsible for ensuring all