With the introduction of cellular container ships in the overseas liner trades, cargo which had traditionally been handled at many ports around Australia was centralised on a few major ports. This change had had a substantial impact on port activity, utilisation of existing facilities, waterside employment and land transport activity.

This report presents the results of a study to determine whether existing cargo centralisation arrangements minimise total transport resource costs and to explore the potential for change.

• Cargo Centralisation in the Overseas Liner Trade
  
  report_052.pdf
  (4.95 MB)

Estimates of the operating costs of ships are central to the analysis of a range of issues in shipping and ports investment and operations. As part of BTE studies a substantial body of information on ships operations had been assembled. This paper has generalised that information into statistical relationships for three ship types serving Australia–Bulk, Roll on/Roll off and Container Vessels. The scheme for the analysis follows that of Goss (1974).

• An Estimate of Operating Costs for Bulk, Ro-ro and Container Ships
  
  ip_004.pdf
  (2.58 MB)

This Information Paper identifies for 1979–80 the freight movements which occurred on Australian railways and the sizes of particular flows. To a large extent this Information Paper represents an update of an earlier Bureau of Transport Economics (BTE) publication entitled Australian Rail Freight Movements, 1975–76.

• Australian Rail Freight Movements 1979–80
  
  ip_008.pdf
  (6.68 MB)

The main aim of this Occasional Paper is to provide the background to the operations of this industry for consideration by the National Road Freight Industry Inquiry and other interested parties. The paper also identifies and reviews possible solutions to key problems confronting the industry.

• Overview of Australian Road Freight Industry: Submission to National Inquiry 1983
  
  op_059.pdf
  (9.37 MB)

This report is on the economic and financial benefits and costs of providing standard gauge railway lines to the ports of Brisbane, Melbourne and Geelong. The terms of reference for the study also required the BTE to examine the possible standardisation of the Tocumwal-Mangalore railway line because of the interdependence between the proposed Tocumwal-Mangalore and Melbourne-Geelong links. As a result, the study covered standard gauge links to Fisherman Islands (Brisbane), Swanson Dock (Melbourne) and Geelong, with the latter project including a standard gauge connection between Tocumwal and Mangalore.

• Evaluation of Standard Gauge Rail Connections to Selected Ports
  
  report_054.pdf
  (10.45 MB)

This Paper contains an analysis of the productivity of the Glebe Island and Seatainer terminals in Port Jackson over the period 1977 to 1981. The results of this work should not only enhance public understanding of the factors which affect container berth productivity but should also be valuable for future comparison with the productivity of other terminals.

• Container Terminal Productivity in Port Jackson from 1977 to 1981
  
  op_065.pdf
  (5.48 MB)

The first-generation container terminals in Port Jackson were built as a rapid response to changes in shipping and cargo handling technology in the 1960s. Many of the lessons learned from these and other first-generation terminals were incorporated into the designs of the new container terminals built in Botany Bay in the late 1970s. This Paper contains an analysis of the productivity of the Container Terminals Australia Limited (CTAL) operations in Port Botany in 1983 and includes comparisons with the operations of the older Seatainer and Glebe Island terminals in Port Jackson. The results of the work give valuable insight into the changes that have occurred in container terminal operations and productivity.

• Container Terminal Productivity in Port Botany: CTAL Terminal
  
  op_070.pdf
  (4.38 MB)

Early in 1984 the Bureau of Transport Economics carried out a survey of trucking operations, primarily to assist the National Road Freight Industry Inquiry in its data collection activity. This Paper describes the survey and sets out its major findings. Both road transport (for hire and reward) and ancillary operators were covered, with particular attention being given to the ownerdrivers. The main aim of the survey was to collect information on the structure of commercial truck activity in Australia including administrative, operational and equipment details. Certain limited road freight task related information and income data were also collected. In terms of business activity, the survey covered the 1982–83 financial year.

• Survey of Trucking Operations 1982–83: Methodology and Results
  
  op_075.pdf
  (7.18 MB)

Contestable market theory suggests that if certain criteria are met, abovenormal profit-taking would be reduced or eliminated because of the threat of entry to exploit even transitory profit opportunities. In this Paper, the criteria which must be met for a market to be contestable are examined with the aim of determining whether Australian liner markets are inherently contestable and therefore theoretically self regulating in the sense that shippers will receive services at or near average costs. The Australia/Europe trade is examined in detail to provide a practical basis for the arguments presented. The assessment, however, is intended to apply to Australian liner markets in general.

• Contestability Theory: An Assessment of its Relevance to Australian Liner Shipping
  
  op_076.pdf
  (2.09 MB)

Volume 1 of the Bureau's Report No 60, 'A Study of Liner Shipping Services into and out of Australia', presents a distillation of the findings of the study and was intended to address the interests of a wide audience and provide a succinct basis for an understanding of the liner shipping industry.

• Vol's 1 and 2: A Study of Liner Shipping Services Into and Out of Australia–Volume 1
  
  report_060_v1.pdf
  (6.08 MB)

• Vol's 1 and 2: A Study of Liner Shipping Services Into and Out of Australia–Volume 2
  
  report_060_v2.pdf
  (23.7 MB)