Kalmar signs new automation contract with Port of Melbourne’s VICT

Finnish manufacturer Kalmar has signed a new automation contract with Victoria International Container Terminal Ltd’s (VICT) new terminal in Melbourne, Australia, as part of Phase 2 of VICT’s automated container terminal project at Webb Dock East.

The terminal, which is fully owned by the Philippines-based port operator International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), is scheduled to receive eight additional automatic stacking cranes (ASC) and related automation from the manufacturer in the final quarter of 2016.

As part of the first phase of the project scheduled to be in operation by the end of 2016, Kalmar, part of Cargotec, is providing 12 ASCs, 11 autoshuttles and automated truck handling, which is integrated with its terminal logistic system and the terminal operating system (TOS) provided by Navis.

The second phase of VICT’s project is planned to be operational by December 2017. When fully built, the new terminal is expected to have an annual capacity of 1.4m teu.

Olli Isotalo, president of Kalmar, said: “Together, the Kalmar and Navis delivery represents a fully automated turnkey solution for VICT.”

“All the automation system components are configured together to support targeted terminal performance.”

The project started in 2014, when a consortium including ICTSI and Anglo Ports, through its Australian subsidiary VICT, had signed a contract with the Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC) to build and finance a new container terminal and empty container park at Webb Dock.

Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI head of the Asia-Pacific region, said: “This is a premier project for ICTSI and our goal is to deliver a global standard in modern container terminal design, innovation and operations in Australia’s premier port.”

The Port of Melbourne ranked 60th in the 2015 issue of CM’s World Top Container Ports, having handled 2.5m teu in 2014.