Port of Melbourne's VICT Launches Stage 3B Expansion, Annual Throughput Capacity to Exceed 1.6 Million TEU

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) has launched the Stage 3B expansion project at the Webb Dock East terminal in the Port of Melbourne. The project will add automated ship-to-shore cranes, automated container transport equipment, automated stacking cranes and container yards. Upon completion, the terminal's handling capacity is expected to increase by approximately 18%, with overall annual throughput capacity to exceed 1.6 million TEU. VICT is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI).

The Stage 3B project plans to add 1 automated ship-to-shore container crane, 3 automated container transport units and 4 automated stacking cranes, while constructing 2 new container storage blocks. The new equipment will be integrated into VICT's existing automated terminal system to expand quayside handling, horizontal transport and yard operation capacity.

VICT also deployed 4 new Kalmar hybrid automated container transport units this year. These units have completed commissioning and entered operation, using lithium-ion batteries and energy recovery technology for container transport between the quayside and the yard. ICTSI has incorporated them into the terminal's overall capacity expansion plan, with the goal of increasing VICT's annual handling capacity to more than 1.6 million TEU.

Stage 3B continues on the basis of the Stage 3A expansion. VICT's Stage 3A was completed in 2024, increasing the terminal's annual handling capacity by 30% to 1.25 million TEU, and adding 2 automated ship-to-shore cranes, 6 automated container transport units and 6 automated stacking cranes. The project also extended the terminal's quay line, enabling VICT to simultaneously berth two container ships of up to 366 meters in length.

The ship-to-shore cranes added in Stage 3A have an outreach of 60 meters, can span 22 rows of containers, and have a lifting height of 49 meters, serving large New Panamax container ships. Previous expansions also added yard modules and landside truck operation positions, improving reefer and general container storage capacity.

VICT is located at Webb Dock East in the Port of Melbourne and is Australia's first fully automated container terminal. The terminal uses an operating system composed of automated ship-to-shore cranes, automated stacking cranes and automated horizontal transport equipment, and began commercial operations in 2017. Terminal information disclosed by ICTSI shows that VICT currently has approximately 36 hectares of terminal area, approximately 769 meters of quay line and 7 ship-to-shore cranes.

In February this year, VICT signed an operating contract extension agreement with the Port of Melbourne, extending the operating term of the Webb Dock East terminal from 2040 to 2066. ICTSI also announced a new round of investment plans, including the addition of 1 New Panamax ship-to-shore crane, 4 hybrid automated transport units and the expansion of 2 yard blocks. The related investment plan is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.