Melbourne: Member companies of Shipping Australia, which represents the major users of Australian wharf and shipping facilities are meeting with severe congestion at the Port of Melbourne at the DP World facility. DP World has taken over terminal operations at Swanson Dock in Melbourne.
Port users had previously warned the Port of Melbourne Corporation that the continued growth of containers being handled would put existing facilities under severe pressure. Said Shipping Australia (SAL) CEO, Lew Russell in a statement this week: "Our fears have come to pass. SAL members using the DP World container terminal at Swanson Dock in Melbourne have complained they have been unable to ship out all the empty containers they need to, due to DP World yard congestion". This impacts on the facilitation of Australian trade, he added.
"One member alone said they had to cancel 3000 planned empty exports over the past two months. Other members have also experienced problems" Mr. Russell pointed out, adding that one problem appeared to be the late handover of the tank farm site from the Port of Melbourne Corporation to DP World which will not now be ready for occupation until late next year.
"There is a need for all stakeholders to work together to sort out a workable solution as soon as possible. Bringing forward the establishment of a new container terminal at Webb Dock must now be high on the agenda," he added. [03/10/08]
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