The winning bidder for the rights to build and operate a new container terminal at the Port of Melbourne’s Webb Dock has been chosen following a competitive 18-month bidding war.
Consortium Victoria International Container Terminal Limited came out on top against big names in the industry including, CMA CGM, Hutchison Port Holdings, Qube Holding Ltd, ANL Container Line Pty Ltd and Macquarie Specialised Asset Management.
The consortium comprises of Philippines-based International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) and Australia’s Anglo Ports Pty Ltd will operate the terminal, meaning there will now be three operators in Melbourne and four in Australia, promoting increased competition in shipping.
Victorian Minister for ports, David Hodgett, said: “Victoria is the freight and logistics capital of Australia and to keep Victoria internationally competitive it is vital that we develop high quality infrastructure.”
Along with a new automotive hub, the new international container terminal is part of the AUS$1.6bn Port Capacity Project which the Port of Melbourne says is vital as a critical infrastructure project needed to drive competition and enhance economic growth in the Victoria region.
“The delivery of additional international container capacity through this new terminal will greatly assist in meeting the demands of trade growth, including the continued increase in Victoria’s exports to Asia and other emerging world markets including China, Korea and India,” he added.
“The new terminal will handle over one million standard containers each year and Victoria International Container Terminal Ltd will concentrate on promoting off peak truck movements to improve the efficiency of Victoria’s transport logistics and feed expanding supply chains,” explained Mr Hodgett.
When fully developed and as required by volume growth, the 35.4 hectare terminal will have a total of six post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes on 660m of berth, and will be able to handle up to 1.4 million teu annually.
The Port of Hastings is also being developed as Victoria’s second international container port.
Victoria International Container Terminal Limited will now set up its Australia base in Melbourne.
Work on the new terminal is expected to start late this year and it is hoped that the new container terminal will be up and running by 2016.
