News / Capacity to handle bigger box ships will give port of Melbourne a boost

The OOCL Seoul docks at VICT in Melbourne

Australian container supply chains could be set to change after the first call of an 8,000 teu-plus vessel at the port of Melbourne as carriers seek to capitalise on soaring Asia-Australasia demand.

Melbourne’s ICTSI-operated Victoria International Container Terminal (IVICT) last week handled the 8,063 teu OOCL Seoul, the first call of the enlarged joint Asia-Australia service operated by OCCL, Cosco and ANL, which upgraded its vessel sizes from 5,500-6,000 teu to 8,000-8,900 teu following successful berthing trials at the port.

“The vessel’s arrival ...