This Paper presents the results of statistical analyses of ship characteristics which have been undertaken to provide input to models of ship costs and operations in particular trades. Standard least squares regressions were performed on the data to relate particular ship characteristics to deadweight. Deadweight was selected as the common denominator for the regressions because of its universal acceptance as a measure of ship size and because of its wide use in the reporting of statistical information.

• Regression Analysis of Ship Characteristics
  
  op_038.pdf
  (4.11 MB)

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)

The study shows that the coal export trade from the port of Hay Point will provide most of the shipping which will use Hydrographers Passage.

• Evaluation of the Construction and Operation of Navigational Aids in Hydrographers Passage
  
  op_056.pdf
  (2.84 MB)

Oil spills are basically chance events, their occurrences and characteristics being governed by probability distributions. Many properties of these distributions can be applied, with reasonable confidence, to the prediction of the location, number and size of oil spills around the Australian coast.

The analyses described in this Report are aimed at identifying the most appropriate statistical distributions underlying oil spill occurrences in Australia, and at interpreting the results to assist the planning process. In particular, the results are used to estimate future levels and locations of chemical dispersant stockpiles.

• Marine Oil Spill Risk in Australia
  
  report_053.pdf
  (4.1 MB)

This study was undertaken to assist in the development of manpower policies for the Australian merchant navy. More specifically the objectives were to review the recent recruitment, promotion and wastage characteristics of personnel in the industry, to estimate the numbers of recruits required in future years to sustain industry growth and to assess the mobility of labour within the industry.

• Employment and Mobility Characteristics of Australian Merchant Navy Personnel
  
  op_058.pdf
  (2.52 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)

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)