Rail automation live in Australia
NewsQube commenced “normal automated operations” at the import/export terminal (IMEX) of the new Moorebank rail facility near Sydney in May and June this year.
DP World not giving up on Burnie
DP World Australia and the Tasmanian Ports Corporation have “reconfirmed” their commitment to develop an international container terminal at the Port of Burnie in North West Tasmania, Australia.
The Burnie project is one that has been in the planning stages for many years, and in 2015 DP World Australia (DPWA) entered into a two-year agreement with the Tasmanian Government-owned TasPorts to explore development of a container terminal on the north-west coast of Australia’s island state of Tasmania.
That agreement was for a one-berth facility with a likely annual capacity of 200,000 TEU sited at Burnie’s existing No.6 berth. At the time DPWA said the proposal was conditional upon the Australian Government successfully passing legislation to reform coastal shipping regulation to allow foreign-flagged tonnage to carry domestic container cargo without financial penalty.
DPWA now says it is proposing to spend a minimum of A$20M on new port infrastructure and capacity enhancements for the Terminal, including refurbishing the existing STS crane and purchasing one new unit. Tasports CEO Paul Weedon welcomed the renewed commitment by DPWA.
Mr Weedon said: “The Port of Burnie is a strategic piece of port infrastructure required for the future of Tasmania. Tasports’ 30 Year Port Plan clearly identifies Burnie as the State’s future largest natural gateway for container freight into and out of the State.”
DP World Australia Managing Director and CEO, Paul Scurrah, said: “We are committed to connecting Tasmania with the world economy. Tasmanian exports are set to grow as soon as we can get direct shipping connections to major international ports, and the cities of Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. The project is fantastic news for Burnie, the local economy and its citizens. We are proud to be associated with the town.’’
What has stalled development in Burnie before, however, are the cabotage restrictions in Australia preventing domestic cargo being moved between tow Australian ports by non-Australian flagged vessels. Most containerised cargo from Tasmania is carried to Melbourne on domestic ro ro vessels.
DPWA Chief Commercial Officer, Brian Gillespie, said allowing greater access to regular international container services would significantly reduce shipping costs for export and import containerised freight, but regulatory changes does not appear imminent. In mid 2015 the Australian Federal Government introduced a Shipping Legislation Amendment Bill that would have brought in permits for foreign vessels to carry Australian trade between to Australian ports. However, the legislation was voted down by the Senate in December that year.
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