This issue contains an article on Trends in Australian International Sea Trade. It examines Australia's maritime trade 1994–1995 to 2004–2005, including commodity exports and imports, trade regions and port activity.

• Waterline No 39
  
  water_039.pdf
  (753.21 KB)

This report presents the results of BTRE's eighth annual review of the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme. It covers the operation and impact of the Scheme up to (and including) 2003–04.

• BSPVES Monitoring Report 8
  
  mr_008.pdf
  (932.48 KB)

This report presents the results of BTRE's ninth annual review of the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme. It covers the operation and impact of the Scheme up to (and including) 2004–05.

• BSPVES Monitoring Report 9
  
  mr_009.pdf
  (452.43 KB)

Freight Measurement and Modelling in Australia aims to summarise the existing state of knowledge on freight in Australia and to present the time series data, analysis and sources which underpin the BTRE's long term freight forecasts. Consistently measured time series data are required to model and forecast freight flows. The report describes the methodologies evolved by the BTRE to do this. It also includes the results of modelling and forecasting undertaken using the derived series. Non-bulk freight is projected to increase by 82 per cent in tonne-kilometre terms between 2003 and 2020 (average 3.6 per cent a year).

The expected rate of growth in gross domestic product and reductions in freight rates are the key drivers of this growth as well as a continuing trend to national distribution by manufacturers, wholesalers and importers. With Treasury projecting some fall-off in the long term economic growth going forward, the non-bulk growth rate is slightly lower than in the recent past. Based on past trends, road's share of national non-bulk freight is projected to increase marginally from 74 per cent to 76 per cent, with the rail share declining from 21 per cent to 17 per cent and sea freight making up the balance (with air freight vanishingly small in tonnekilometre terms, albeit not in value).

These mode share projections, however, do not take account of the potential for rejuvenation of rail on north-south routes, in somewhat the same manner as has already occurred on east-west routes. Capital city freight tonne-kilometres are projected to grow by 3.0 per cent a year between 2003 and 2020 (compared with a 1971–2003 average of 5.0 per cent). While heavy vehicles comprise only 4 per cent of the metropolitan traffic stream, growth of this level implies a slight increase in the heavy vehicle proportion (to 4.2 per cent in 2020).

Rail is expected to remain the largest mode in shipping bulk freight (46 per cent share in 2003, 45 per cent in 2020), followed by sea freight (30 per cent and 29 per cent shares respectively). Rail is well suited for transporting to port Australia's large export tonnages in coal, other minerals and grains. Rail freight has fallen in most other bulk commodities.

• Freight Measurement and Modelling in Australia
  
  report_112.pdf
  (7.78 MB)

The Australian Sea Freight series presents statistics on the movement of Australian freight by sea, as well as information on port activity, fleet structure, and use of coastal permits. This edition focuses on sea freight activity around Australia during 2003–04.

• Australian Sea Freight 2003–2004
  
  ip_056.pdf
  (601.67 KB)

This issue contains two articles, one on the role of the new Maritime Security Identification Card system and the other on Australian International Shipping.

• Waterline No 40
  
  water_040.pdf
  (3.95 MB)

Paper given to the 29th Australian Transport Research Forum conference to be held from 27 to 29 September 2006 in Gold Coast. Authors: Krishna Hamal, Benjamin James, Mark Cregan.

• Port Level Forecasts of Container and Ship Movements in Australia: 2004–05 to 2024–25
  
  sp_002_Port_Forecasts.pdf
  (666.46 KB)

In addition to the usual content on wharf side indicators of productivity, Waterline 41 contains a feature article on a a set of new indicators of productivity improvements focusing on the interface between port terminals and the trucks and trains that deliver containers to and pick up containers from the terminals.

Indicators include number of trucks processed, container turnaround time, rail transported containers as percent of containers processed on the landside of terminal, and indicators on the availability and use of vehicle booking system time slots at port terminals.

The article includes preliminary estimates of the indicators. However these estimates are based on incomplete data and some, for example rail mode share, are unreliable. They are published at this stage to indicate the intended scope of the new indicators and for comment before formal reporting of the indicators starts in 2007.

• Waterline No 41
  
  water_041.pdf
  (3.73 MB)

This report presents the national and port level forecasts of container and ship movements through Australian ports over the next twenty years.

• Container and Ship Movements Through Australian Ports 2004–05 to 2024–25
  
  wp_065.pdf
  (1.3 MB)

Australian maritime trade: 2000–01 to 2004–05 extends data available through the BTRE's Australian Sea Freight publications by including information on markets, shipping lanes, key trade routes, traded commodities and passenger services associated with Australia's maritime trade.

• Australian maritime trade 2000–01 to 2004–05
  
  wp_069.pdf
  (696.31 KB)