The port of Melbourne has set an Australian container throughput record by handling 2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) last year, said port officials. “As the first Australian port to reach this (2 million TEUs) milestone the port has confirmed its status as the nation's premier container port and demonstrated its importance to our economy,” said Australia's Minister for Roads and Ports Tim Pallas.
Melbourne handles approximately 38% of Australia's container throughput, more than the ports of Adelaide, Brisbane and Fremantle combined and 25% more than the ports of Sydney.
“Melbourne port provides a critical international gateway for our exporters and importers, with links to over 300 ports across the world,” said Pallas.
This record-breaking achievement comes amid years of planning by the Port of Melbourne Corporation (PMC) and Victoria's state government to deepen the Port Phillip Bay shipping channel to accommodate the larger modern cargo vessels.
The controversial $760 million project has met strong opposition especially from environmental groups and has yet to be approved.
Industry players however believe that this latest data proves the validity of the expansion plans especially with regards to Melbourne's potential to be the catalyst for future economic growth both regionally and for the country.
Head of corporate relations for PMC Peter Harry told Portworld today that the record-breaking feat “underpins Melbourne's importance to the national economy.”
“It is crucial for us to realise that Melbourne has a higher throughput than Adelaide, Brisbane and Fremantle combined,” he added.
All news