Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) waps up Phase 3A expansion project, becoming only terminal in Melbourne that can handle supersized ships.
Port of Melbourne-based Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT), managed by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), has concluded Phase 3A of its expansion project.
The AUD 235 million (USD 153) expansion project at Australia’s first fully automated container terminal is being executed in two phases.
The Phase3 A enhances VICT’s capacity by 30 percent, reaching 1.25 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). Key upgrades include a 71-meter quay extension, facilitating the berthing of two 366-meter vessels simultaneously.
Landside improvements consist of three storage blocks, 15 truck lanes, and enhanced booking system time slots by up to 30 percent per hour, operational since January 2024.
According to ICTSI, supersized ships can now sail directly into Port Phillip and dock at VICT, as the only terminal in Melbourne capable of receiving them.
The Philippines-based terminal operator added that this would translate to faster turnaround times, improved efficiency, and ultimately, a competitive edge for Australian businesses.
As part of the investment, VICT has also acquired two automated ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, six auto container carriers (ACC), and six auto-stacking cranes (ASC). The auto-stacking cranes have been operational since December 2023. The STS cranes, which have a reach of 22 containers across and currently the largest port equipment in Australia, arrived in the third quarter and are now operational.
“This additional investment sets new benchmarks for operational efficiency and capacity at the Port of Melbourne,” Enrique K. Razon Jr., ICTSI Chairman and President, said.
“With the completion of Phase 3A, VICT can now accommodate the largest container vessels in Australia, contributing to the Port of Melbourne’s recognition as the nation’s primary container port.”
The Phase 3 expansion was inaugurated remotely at The Ritz-Carlton in Melbourne, with Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. acknowledging VICT’s journey since 2017.
The project represents the biggest investment from a Filipino company in Victoria.
“Being the only fully-automated container terminal in the Southern hemisphere is truly a feat worthy of admiration,” President Marcos 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.”
Phase 3B is scheduled to be completed in 2026 and will include the acquisition of another automated STS crane, three ACCs, four ASCs, and construction of two additional storage blocks.
