Australia’s largest stevedore, DP World Australia, and the Tasmanian Ports Corporation, Tasports, reconfirmed their commitment for the development of an international container terminal at the Port of Burnie in North West Tasmania, the company said in its press release.
Tasports and DP World are proposing to provide an initial minimum of $20 million staged investment in new port infrastructure and capacity enhancements for the Terminal. The phased approach will allow large ships access to the Tasmanian market and provide Tasmania exporters with greater choice and access to world markets.
Tasports CEO Paul Weedon welcomed the renewed commitment by DP World Australia to progress plans to develop a full-service international container terminal in Burnie.
DP World Australia Chief Commercial Officer, Brian Gillespie, said allowing greater access to regular international container serviceswould significantly reduce shipping costs for export and import containerised freight.
DP World Australia will recruit a new workforce with 40 new positions required at launch.
There is a firm proposal on the table being negotiated in good faith between the two parties which is commercial in confidence at this point.
In November 2015, DP World Australia and Tasports announced an exclusive arrangement under which the two parties would work together to provide an international container terminal at the Port of Burnie in North West Tasmania.
Tasports’ 30 Year Port Plan clearly identified Burnie as the State’s future largest natural gateway for container freight into and out of the State.
The Port of Burnie was chosen as the most suitable location in Tasmania for its deep water port with direct sea access, enabling it to cater for large ships in the decades ahead.
Burnie is also directly connected to an intermodal rail facility which will allow containerised freight to be railed safely and efficiently to Launceston and Hobart.
Once fully developed, the new container terminal is planned to handle the equivalent of 200,000 TEU per annum.
About DP World Australia
DP World Australia is Australia’s integral port supply chain partner and part of the DP World network of 70 international container terminals. DP World Australia dedicated and professional team of 2,000 people operating marine ports in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle cultivate long-standing relationships with governments, shipping lines, importers and exporters, communities, and many other important constituents of the global supply chain.
About Tasports
Tasmanian Ports Corporation Pty Ltd (Tasports) is a state-owned company responsible for ten Tasmanian ports. Tasports delivers a diverse range of commercial operations across a large geographical base with the purpose of facilitating trade for the benefit of Tasmania. Tasports continues to deliver outcomes to support the long term growth of freight for Tasmania and is experiencing a steady growth in freight volumes. Tasports owns more than 800,000m2 of waterfront assets and is directly responsible for navigation safety, port security, towage and marine services and maintenance of key infrastructure assets.