Service Update – All Modes
FMA has continued to monitor the information sources from all modes and they indicate that volumes are generally down and the Canadian transportation system continues to function normally. There continue to be reports of container shortages for exports on the west coast.
Supply Chain Commentaries
Air Cargo – Aircraft conversion to all-cargo configuration
Air Canada is temporarily converting three Boeing 777aircraft to all-cargo configuration for use in moving time sensitive cargo, particularly cargo related to fighting the COVID-19 crisis. The full media report can be found at https://simpleflying.com/air-canada-777-removed-seating/
Marine
1) Idle Containership fleet Grows
The containership fleet has idled ships with a capacity of 3 million TEUs since the corona virus commenced. This is a new record. The article from The Loadstar is reporting that over 250 sailings have been blanked since the start of the second quarter. The Loadstar report can be found at
https://theloadstar.com/idle-containership-fleet-set-to-hit-record-high-of-three-million-teu/
2) Ships’ Crews confined to ships when in Canadian Ports
The latest directive from Transport Canada are requiring crews in both Canadian-flagged ships and foreign-flagged ships docking at Canadian ports to remain on-board. The Canadian Shipper report can be found at the first red bar below.
3) Port of Montreal Container Dwell Times
The Port of Montreal has updated it’s import container dwell-time graph to include the month of March. It shows the average dwell time in March was 3.4 days, down from 3,7 in February. The graph can be accessed at
https://www.port-montreal.com/files/PDF/BulletinsVSI/marchandises-report-dwell-import-rail-2020-03.pdf
Trucking
US Volumes Drop
TFreightWaves reports on the decline in volumes currently being experienced by the U.S. trucking industry. The article includes several graph showing the trends. The link to the article can be found at the second red bar below.
FMA Government Relations
FMA has continuing communications with Transport Canada Surface Policy and Marine Policy officials and with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). Any issues that FMA members wish to bring to the attention of of government officials can be forwarded by FMA to the appropriate people at Transport Canada or telephone calls can be arranged with officials.
FMA Office Operations
FMA staff are primarily working from home. If you need to talk with us, please send messages to me at the email address below and leave a phone number where you can be reached.
Updates Now on the Website
All the COVID-19 updates that FMA has issued are now uploaded to the website and there is a link to them on the home page at www.fma-agf.ca .
Our focus in the FMA updates continues be on supply-chain impacts of COVID-19. If members have questions where FMA may be able to help, please email your request.
Information from members will be useful in our continuing outreach to members and in our communications with the government and with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. As always, all individual company information will be kept confidential.
