OCEANIA

Fremantle at least eight years off capacity ceiling

11 years ago

The port of Fremantle has at least eight years to go before it reaches its maximum container capacity, even if the annual box growth rate is high, Western Australias transport minister Dean Nalder has told the state parliament.

Australia's fourth largest container port, Fremantle will go up for auction on a long-term lease

Should the average annual growth be low, the port may not hit its capacity until about 2036, he said.

The state government is pursuing key strategies to increase the percentage of freight moved by rail from Fremantle, principally investment in rail infrastructure at the port itself and on rail lines running to and from the port.

Improvements in the efficiency of rail operations are seen as boosting the port’s productivity.

The current market share for freight moved by rail is around 14% with a target of 30%, and subsidies are being offered for containers moved by train to help attain that figure. The current estimated annual capacity of the port is put at about 1.4m teu.