BIFAlink January 2022

BIFAlink January 2022

January 2022 The magazine of the British International Freight Association BIFA link Issue: 377 www.bifa.org

Reducing cybercrime: get smart, not lucky – Pages 10-11

INSIDE

6: News UK government sets out path to net zero 8: Training CDS eLearning classroom sessions are to be reintroduced TT Talk on Protecting your cargo from wet damage 17: Policy & Compliance UK launches discussion paper on the Single Trade Window 14: Policy & Compliance

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Robert Keen’s Column

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When uncertainty is the only certainty

BIFAlink is the official magazine of the British International Freight Association Redfern House, Browells Lane, Feltham TW13 7EP Tel: 020 8844 2266

As I wrote my column for this issue of BIFAlink , I had just finished watching the Prime Minister deliver a pre-recorded message to the UK public in which he advised that the “tidal wave” of infections from the new variant of the COVID-19 virus meant that he could not rule out further restrictions being introduced ahead of Christmas. By the time you are reading this column, we will all know for sure whether the measures in place, the so-called Plan B, combined with a hugely ambitious acceleration of the booster campaign, turned out to be the correct approach, or whether new measures did become necessary to protect public health, with Christmas festivities being curtailed or reduced as a result. When I consider the issues facing Members at the moment, either in their private or

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business lives, I am reminded of that old saying, “Uncertainty is the only certainty there is”. Clearly BIFA Members continue to face great uncertainties on the business front as we head into 2022. No one knows for certain what the effect will be on cross-border movements of the more stringent rules covering customs processes and declarations from January 2022. It is anyone’s guess how the massive disruption affecting all modes of transport over the last 18 months will pan out in the new year, though plenty of industry experts are giving their opinions. Closer to home in Feltham, the team that puts together the BIFA Freight Service Awards is hoping that we will still be able to hold the annual luncheon, in person, at The Brewery in London on 20 January. However, as a contingency we are preparing to switch to an online format as we did in 2021, but we are keeping our fingers crossed that with a huge number of entries and the event being sold out in early December, that we can finally all get together again. Whilst there is also some uncertainty about the phased roll-out programme that will see CHIEF replaced by CDS in the customs entry processing environment, there can be no doubt about the success of our CDS eLearning training programme, which launched in September 2021 to educate users on the main differences between CHIEF and CDS. Since its introduction, the course has had over 200 enrolments and users have been sharing their valuable positive feedback with us, as you can read in the article on page 8. Other articles in this issue contain some valuable input on matters of uncertainty and risk. On pages10-11, we provide advice on how Members can protect their businesses from the ever-increasing risks of cybercrime. Page 14 brings some information from TT Club on measures Members can take to avoid insurance claims relating to wet damage to cargo, and page 16 offers an overview of the risks, uncertainties and costs that we all face as a result of the ever-growing emphasis on the need to decarbonise global supply chains. One thing that is certain is that in November last year, FIATA held its bi-annual General Meeting (the equivalent of an AGM), and the governance posts for the next two years were voted on. The board is formed of seven non-executive directors (known as the Presidency), and I was honoured to be elected as Secretary General for the next two years. The last time BIFA held a Presidency position was in 1995/1997 when Brian Kelleher, former BIFA National Chairman, was President. BIFA Directors Steve Parker and Mark Bromley were also elected to governance posts with Steve continuing as Customs Affairs Institute Chair and Mark assuming my old role as Multimodal Transport Institute Chair, which should be seen as a testament to BIFA’s active participation in FIATA. The other part of the quote I used in paragraph three above is that “knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security”. And with that thought in mind, I send you my best wishes for 2022 and hope that both your private and business lives are as secure and certain as they possibly can be in the new year that is now upon us.

[email protected] Executive Director Spencer Stevenson [email protected] Executive Director Carl Hobbis [email protected] Policy & Compliance Advisor Igor Popovics [email protected] Policy & Compliance Advisor David Stroud [email protected] Editorial Co-ordinator Sharon Hammond [email protected] Communications Manager Natalie Pitts [email protected] Membership Supervisor Sarah Milton [email protected] Published by Park Lane Publishing [email protected] Contributors

Robert Keen, Robert Windsor, David Stroud, Spencer Stevenson, Carl Hobbis, Sharon Hammond, Natalie Pitts, Nezda Leigh Note to media: If you wish to use items in this magazine that are older than 1 month, please contact the editor to ensure that the item in question still reflects the current circumstances. Please be advised that BIFA DOES NOT OFFER LEGAL ADVICE. BIFA is not a law firm and the authors of this publication are not legally qualified and do not have any legal training. The guidance and assistance set out herein are based on BIFA’s own experience with the issues concerned and should not be in any circumstances regarded or relied upon as legal advice. It is strongly recommended that anyone considering further action based on the information contained in this publication should seek the advice of a qualified professional.

Robert Keen Director General

January 2022

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News Desk

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Ocean carriers enjoy rising revenues Ian Matheson, from Impress Communications, reviews some recent news that might impact on Members’ business

ON THE OCEAN All global ocean carriers have seen revenues increase substantially as a consequence of the record-high freight rates, and in terms of earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), according to Transport Intelligence. The shipping lines reported US$37.24 billion in operating profit in third quarter of 2021 alone, which adds up to nearly US$80 billion in operating profit so far this year. Alphaliner’s latest survey at the end of November reported a slight drop in the global inactive container fleet, which stood at 161 ships of 523,059 teu, accounting for 2.1% of the global cellular fleet capacity. This totalled 24.83 million teu, with no ‘structural’ idling of ships by the lines. Ahead of World Trade Organization meetings in December, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) called for maritime transport to be prioritised during the negotiations on the critical issues and challenges confronting the multilateral trading system and impacting the global economy, including liberalisation of maritime transport services. IN THE AIR As the air cargo sector scrambles to add cargo capacity to meet unprecedented demand, December saw Boeing agree a plan with Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering (STAECO) to add two

The Port of Felixstowe achieved a milestone by reaching the 100 million teu mark at the end of 2021, after handling its first container in the 1960s. The milestone box was loaded at berth eight, the port’s newest facility.

IN BUSINESS Various international transport organisations, including IATA, ICS, IRU and ITF, issued a statement in December calling for cross-border transport workers to be allowed to continue to do their jobs without overly restrictive travel rules. They warned that governments’ knee- jerk reactions to the Omicron variant would put supply chains, and the workers that enable them, at risk. According to Transport Intelligence, the global freight forwarding market could report 12% growth for 2021 driven by an especially strong first half, although the pace of growth slowed in the second half of the year. A recent study suggests that global sourcing and supply chains have continued and extended during the COVID-19 crisis, despite some early signs last year that shippers would shorten their supply chains in favour of more regional and local supply. It says that global supply chains have been a major enabler in the recovery of countries from the effects of the pandemic.

shipping demand during the height of the pre-holiday peak shipping season when freight rates jumped higher and aircraft were more full, analytics company Clive >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20

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