PORT of Melbourne's Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) has started regularly receiving large containership calls, bringing the port in line with the major gateways of Sydney and Brisbane also on Australia's east coast.
VICT was developed as part of the port of Melbourne's port capacity project (PCP), a state of Victoria initiative devised to redevelop Webb dock east so as to deliver the extra capacity needed to support Melbourne's continued growth and maintain its position as the busiest port in Australia.
The terminal's design and unique location on the bay side of the port means that for the first time containerships can access the port of Melbourne without being restricted by the West Gate bridge or the Yarra River channel. This enables access for vessels of 8,000 TEU, which are increasingly important to the future of Australia's shipping industry and economy.
Now complete is the first rotation of the A3C Central China - east coast of Australia service that deploys six vessels operated by ANL, Cosco and OOCL with capacities ranging from 8,063 to 8,500 TEU. This represents a significant step up from the 5,500 TEU capacity vessels that also operate in this trade lane.
VICT reports that the A3C vessels have arrived with a high utilisation of 85 per cent but with a draft of 11 metres or less which means that these vessels are serviced comfortably within the 14-metre water depth and there is no need for further dredging of Port Phillip Bay.
Developed at a cost of A$660 million (US$466.64 million) by International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI), VICT is a fully automated terminal that commenced operations in March 2017 and in the same year won Australia's Smart Infrastructure Project award.
'We are pleased to see VICT realising its potential and facilitating access to more economic shipping capacity to importers and exporters,' said VICT CEO Anders Dommestrup. 'Larger vessels cascading into east coast Australia trades is an established trend and the ability to service them is fundamental to the port of Melbourne consolidating and expanding its position as a competitive gateway for international trade.'
VICT was developed as part of the port of Melbourne's port capacity project (PCP), a state of Victoria initiative devised to redevelop Webb dock east so as to deliver the extra capacity needed to support Melbourne's continued growth and maintain its position as the busiest port in Australia.
The terminal's design and unique location on the bay side of the port means that for the first time containerships can access the port of Melbourne without being restricted by the West Gate bridge or the Yarra River channel. This enables access for vessels of 8,000 TEU, which are increasingly important to the future of Australia's shipping industry and economy.
Now complete is the first rotation of the A3C Central China - east coast of Australia service that deploys six vessels operated by ANL, Cosco and OOCL with capacities ranging from 8,063 to 8,500 TEU. This represents a significant step up from the 5,500 TEU capacity vessels that also operate in this trade lane.
VICT reports that the A3C vessels have arrived with a high utilisation of 85 per cent but with a draft of 11 metres or less which means that these vessels are serviced comfortably within the 14-metre water depth and there is no need for further dredging of Port Phillip Bay.
Developed at a cost of A$660 million (US$466.64 million) by International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI), VICT is a fully automated terminal that commenced operations in March 2017 and in the same year won Australia's Smart Infrastructure Project award.
'We are pleased to see VICT realising its potential and facilitating access to more economic shipping capacity to importers and exporters,' said VICT CEO Anders Dommestrup. 'Larger vessels cascading into east coast Australia trades is an established trend and the ability to service them is fundamental to the port of Melbourne consolidating and expanding its position as a competitive gateway for international trade.'