International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) has won the race to build and operate the Port of Melbourne’s third container terminal.
The project, representing ICTSI’s first Australian venture, will see the Philippine operator work alongside Anglo Ports through their subsidiary, Victoria International Container Terminal Limited (VICTL) and will include the design, construction, commissioning, operation, maintenance and financing of the terminal as well as an empty container park at Webb Dock.
“This new concession represents a major milestone for ICTSI, not only because it is our first concession in Oceania, but also because it establishes us as one of very few truly global operators with facilities on six continents,” said Christian R. Gonzalez, head of ICTSI’s Asia-Pacific region.
“It is a premier project in a country that is considered to be a leader in infrastructure development, and we plan to introduce leading edge and proven technologies that will consistently deliver the highest levels of port performance.”
“Finally, we are pleased to have a partnership with the Port of Melbourne Corporation and their Port Capacity team who have conducted the entire tender process with efficiency and transparency,” said Gonzalez.
The development of the Webb Dock Container Terminal will incorporate the latest container handling and automated technologies from the gate to the quayside, according to ICTSI, who has agreed a 26-year lease for the facility.
“These leading edge solutions will ensure not only superior operating efficiency, but will limit the noise and light impact on surrounding communities,” added Gonzalez.
The first phase of the terminal, scheduled to open by December 31st 2016, will boast one 330-metre berth dotted with three post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes, 23.7 hectares of yard and an off-dock area to deliver an estimated capacity of 350,000 TEU. The terminal will be able to handle vessels with a capacity of up to 8,000 TEU.
Servicing the terminal will be a 10-hectare empty container park with a working capacity of around 200,000 TEU.
Construction of the terminal superstructure and facilities is planned to commence in late 2014. A second phase, planned to be operational by December 31st 2017, will deliver an additional two post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes on a second 330-metre berth.
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 660 metres of berth, and will be able to handle up to 1.4 million TEU annually, with the empty container park’s capacity rising to 280,000 TEU.
Investment for the full development of the Webb Dock Container Terminal and the ECP is estimated at around AUD$550 million dollars, and forms part of the Port of Melbourne’s AUD$1.6 billion Port Capacity Project.
The new facility will create around 200 new jobs at the port.
VICTL is 90 percent owned by ICTSI alongside its Australian partner, Anglo Ports Pty Limited.
