DP Worlds Expanded Melbourne Terminal Geared Up for Volume Growth

DP World Australia DP World Australias new 30,000 sqm Melbourne terminal expansion was commissioned on 15 March, marking the start of capital investment projects in 2016-17. Conducted at the former Bentley Chemplax site, the completion delivers an additional 450 ground slots or 100,000 TEU of container capacity per year, increasing the terminal capacity to 1,4m TEU per year. The construction commenced in September 2015. “Bentley Chemplax is a part of an extensive capital investment program, which has also seen us invest in new quay and automated stacking cranes, an empty container handling facility in Sydney, and ten new next-generation straddle carriers in Melbourne,” DP World Australia Chief Financial Officer, Jason Varsamidis, comments. “This will enable our Melbourne team to handle additional volumes and offer improved truck turn times, as fewer consolidated moves will be required at the terminal,” DP World Australia CEO, Peter Scurrah, says. Following the Bentley Chemplax project, the Melbourne terminal is to enter its next expansion phase, with the partial closure and redevelopment of Coode Road scheduled to start in 2016. The expanded terminal is open for testing and its official opening is scheduled for April. According to the company, the development is the terminals largest expansion project since 2010, representing the first of new investments in DP World Australias hardstand infrastructure, yard equipment and wharf assets.