These modifications will synchronize their landside pricing tariffs, which are set to take effect on 1 January of each calendar year. As part of this transition, each terminal operator issued a 60-day industry notice on 1 November 2024, with additional 30-day notices planned for early December 2024, ensuring the implementation of the new tariffs by 1 January 2025.

For Patrick Terminals and DP World Australia, which operate across multiple locations in Australia, this adjustment establishes a uniform nationwide commencement date of 1 January for their landside tariffs. 

Moreover, the Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA) has expressed its support for this initiative, as it enables transport operators to communicate updated charges to their landside customers on an annual basis, encompassing the two principal terminal operators nationwide (Patrick Terminals and DP World Australia) as well as VICT in Victoria. 

With all terminal operators agreeing to announce price changes simultaneously, they will no longer have the opportunity to observe competitors' rates prior to determining their own, thereby eliminating the practice of "follow-the-leader" pricing strategies.

Additionally, the CTAA recognizes the potential for further discussions aimed at aligning the National Voluntary Protocols on container stevedore landside charges, originally established by the National Transport Commission (NTC), with these revised Victorian Protocols. However, any such national alignment is anticipated to require a considerable amount of time for implementation.

Should this alignment be realized, it is conceivable that Hutchison Ports’ terminals in Sydney and Brisbane, along with Flinders Adelaide Container Terminal (FACT) and AAT in Brisbane, may eventually adopt a unified date for landside fee adjustments. For the time being, however, these terminals will continue to operate under their current cycles for landside fee assessments and adjustments.