The first phase of Australia’s largest RoRo and automotive terminal at Webb Dock West in Melbourne was officially launched on April 10, the Melbourne International RoRo and Automotive Terminal (MIRRAT) confirmed.
MIRRAT was awarded the rights to design, construct and operate the new terminal, as part of the country’s AUD 1.6 billion (USD 1.2 billion) Port Capacity Project, in July 2014 by the Port of Melbourne Corporation.
Under the first phase of the project, a new 185,000 square metres facility north of the current Webb Dock West car terminal was constructed, while the second phase will see the incorporation of the current automotive terminal at the south end of Webb Dock West from January 1, 2018, taking the total size of the facility to 355,000 square metres.
Once finished, the facility will have a capacity to handle up to a million units per annum and, with a total berth length of 920 metres, it will capable of accommodating three vessels at the same time, MIRRAT said.
The facility will also include a 8000 square metres fully enclosed and weather proof cargo storage area, a maintenance area and truck parking facilities.
The project is expected to increase the number of vehicles handled by the port of Melbourne from the 2013 level of 370,000 vehicles to some 600,000 cars in 2025, and eventually to one million vehicles in 2040, the company said.
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