Container lines are losing up to A$400,000 ($343,400) for a round trip to Melbourne because of draught restrictions, the inquiry into channel deepening has been told. Shipping Australia warned that lines could add a container levy if dredging does not occur.
Melbourne fears a gradual diminution of trade volumes, with ships choosing instead to call Adelaide, Sydney or Brisbane and feed cargo to and from Victoria by rail.
Melbourne has just set an Australian record for container handling in a 12-month period, topping 2m teu.
