International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) has outlined a significant proposal for the expansion of the Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT), its 100 percent owned subsidiary in the Port of Melbourne, Australia.
The proposal would dramatically increase efficiencies and pave the way for larger ships to berth at Australia’s pre-eminent port.
According to their official statement, ICTSI could invest over AUD500 million (USD343 million) in addition to the more than AUD700 million (USD481 million) it has already invested in Victoria, Australia since the establishment of VICT in 2014; making ICTSI one of the largest foreign infrastructure investors in the state of Victoria.
Under the proposal, ICTSI would undertake a phased development of the Webb Dock North Container Terminal and integrate its operations with VICT. The design will deliver higher operating efficiencies at a lower development cost and, importantly, with a significantly reduced environmental impact compared to competing proposals.
The development is set to increase VICT’s container capacity to 3.7 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), allowing for four container berths with the ability to service vessels up to 14,000 TEUs and up to 367 meters in length.
ICTSI’s executive vice president, Christian Gonzalez , said that the company is the ideal long-term strategic partner for the Port of Melbourne to ensure it can meet the growing demands of Australia’s busiest container port.
“Victoria’s growing economy presents the Port of Melbourne with the opportunity to consolidate its position as Australia’s number one container port”, Mr Gonzalez says.
“ICTSI is keen to solidify its partnership with the Port of Melbourne to deliver the lowest cost, most efficient and environmentally sustainable solution.
“Our vision for this operation is in lockstep with that of the Port of Melbourne’s own vision as it examines strategies to expand capacity and facilitate the growth of Victorian economy.”
ICTSI has already engaged multiple global firms to assess the merits of its proposal in comparison to current expansion designs for the Port of Melbourne.
Jacobs Engineering undertook a detailed technical assessment, including estimates of construction costs, while Boston Consulting Group focused on market and economic assessments.