April 2017 signalled a significant milestone for Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) when we welcomed our first vessel, the OOCL Busan, as part of a regular weekly service calling at Webb Dock East in the Port of Melbourne. Our thanks and respect go out to the shipping lines forming the ASAL consortium (COSCO, OOCL & Hapag-Lloyd) for taking a chance on VICT as a brand new fully automated stevedoring facility, new to the Melbourne market.

With increased vessel performance and a steady decline in port stays, VICT’s key location allows the unimpeded berthing of newer, larger and more sustainable container vessels.

Our unique location on the bay side of the port, unhindered by the West Gate Bridge, means a faster turnaround time for imports and exports and easier berthing for ships. For the first time, 8,000+ TEU vessels can access the Port of Melbourne for service by VICT. In our short time of operating, VICT has serviced two 7,500 TEU vessels that were too large to go under the bridge. This demonstrates the unique positioning of VICT and the growth we can provide to the Port of Melbourne.

Efficiencies for customers

Future-thinking in its design, VICT introduces a full range of automated handling solutions which will eventually operate 24/7 to achieve the highest levels of safety and efficiency. We have also ensured we have taken on board valuable input from future customers to allow immediate efficiencies within the services we can offer.

For our shipside customers, we offer:

• Berth on arrival
• Berthing larger 8000 to 12,500TEU size vessels with up to 14.0 metres operating draught
• Larger vessels handled efficiently across two berths and with dedicated shipside equipment

For our landside customers, we offer:

• Industry leading Truck Turnaround Times.
  (Current times: Gate to Transaction = 20.5 mins & Gate In to Gate Out = 28 mins)
• Dedicated, fully autonomous landside handling equipment, which will facilitate the access to Vehicle Booking System (VBS) slots across all hours of the day, including unprecedented visibility to slots and containers.
• New VBS which is easy to use and provides a fairer, more efficient slot availability and distribution. We are delighted with how well industry has both received and adapted to this change.

Sustainable success

VICT’s state of the art design and engineering delivers a highly sustainable container terminal to the Port of Melbourne. We have liaised regularly with various stakeholders, including our closest neighbours, and we are committed to delivering an environmentally responsible operation. Our efforts in this area have been rewarded through achieving two of the highest possible rating categories of “Leading” from the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) for both VICT’s sustainable design and build.

Our pledge

VICT’s first year certainly wasn’t without its challenges. However, partnered with fellow forward thinkers such as our customers in the ASAL group, we continue to be pioneers together, striving for excellence within the shipping industry. Pushing the boundaries of what is possible through improvement via investment in leading global technologies also plays an important role. This dedication to innovation was publicly acknowledged in 2017 when we won the SMART Infrastructure Project Award at the National Infrastructure Awards held in Sydney. Later in the year, we went on to win the award for Supply Chain Innovation & Technology at the 2017 DCN Australian Shipping and Maritime Awards.

VICT delivers the extra capacity, longevity and efficiency that the Port of Melbourne needs to support continued growth with 1 million+ TEUs and the ability to service larger vessels. VICT’s high-tech terminal ensures a safe working environment for its employees and customers with a proven and enviable track record in setting high safety standards. We will continue to engage with all our customers, industry stakeholders and neighbours to understand and translate their needs into providing a great service.

By Anthony Desira, General Manager of Operations, Victoria International Container Terminal, Melbourne, Australia