Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT), operated by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) at the Port of Melbourne in Australia, has recently completed Phase 3A of its expansion project.
With the development of VICT, supersized ships can now sail directly into Port Phillip and dock at VICT, Melbourne’s sole port capable of handling them.
According to ICTSI, this translates to speedier turnaround times, more productivity, and a competitive advantage for Australian enterprises.
“Being the only fully-automated container terminal in the Southern hemisphere is truly a feat worthy of admiration,” Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said.
“This expansion that we are seeing today is a clear sign that Filipino companies can compete at some of the most advanced economies in the world. And in the case of VICT, they are in it for the long haul. We look forward to VICT’s continued success and growth.”
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Enrique K. Razon Jr., ICTSI Chairman and President, stated: “This additional investment redefines the Port of Melbourne’s landscape, setting new standards for operational efficiency and capacity.
“VICT can now accommodate the largest container vessels calling Australia – the neo-Panamax giants – solidifying the Port of Melbourne’s position as Australia’s number one container port.”
ICTSI noted that the AUD235 million ($152 million) project is being carried out in two parts. Phase 3A, completed in December 2023, intends to boost the terminal’s capacity by 30 per cent to 1.25 million TEU.
It expands the quay by 71 metres to 735 metres, or 769 metres with the mooring dolphins, and improves VICT’s quayside operations by allowing two 366-metre vessels to berth side-by-side.
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On the landside, three new storage blocks have been added along with 15 new truck lanes, enhancing the terminal’s booking system time slot offerings to the market by up to 30 percent per hour starting in January 2024.
VICT also acquired two automated ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, six auto container carriers (ACC) and six auto stacking cranes (ASC) as part of Phase 3A.
The ASCs have been operational since December 2023, supporting the increased yard capacity. The STS cranes, which have a reach of 22 containers across and are currently the largest port equipment in Australia, arrived in the third quarter and are now operational.
Phase 3B is scheduled to be completed in 2026 and will include the acquisition of another automated STS crane, three ACCs, four ASCs, and the construction of two additional storage blocks.
In November 2023, VICT announced it was approaching the final stages of Phase 3A.
