With four terminals, DP World Australia has long been able to offer lines a contract covering the main three east coast ports plus Fremantle, which benefits both the terminal operator  and the carriers. DP World Australia manages all berth and vessel planning in the country from one central location using Navis N4 and other applications. This enables the  terminal operator to have visibility into operations across terminals, and to adjust service levels to compensate for sailing times and other delays. Patrick Stevedores can also  compete on this basis.

There is, however, a new player in the Australian market in the form of ICTSI’s Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) in Melbourne. Unlike the DP World and Patrick  Terminals in Melbourne, it sits outside the West Gate Bridge (which has an air draught limitation of 50m) and can, therefore, handle bigger vessels.

However, this does not appear to have been enough to lure CMA CGM. With just the one terminal in Melbourne, VICT cannot offer a three-call package along the east coast. It could,  however, put one together by working with Hutchison Ports Australia, which operates terminals in Sydney and Brisbane, but not Melbourne. Even with this option, though, deploying  bigger vessels to Sydney would still be a challenge, as the air draught at Hutchison’s Sydney International Container Terminal is even more constrained, restricting its low-profile cranes to a lift height of just 32m.

Speaking about the CMA CGM deal, DP World Australia’s CEO and managing director, Paul Scurrah, said the partnership extension provides both organisations with a strong platform  for future growth in the Australian market.

“We are delighted to be selected by the CMA CGM Group as its major stevedoring provider in Australia. In an exceedingly competitive market, locally and globally, securing the  partnership with CMA CGM Group reinforces our position within our industry as a leading and responsive trade enabler.

“The new deal deepens an already very strong partnership, and, as one of our key customers, we look forward to establishing and growing our relationship with CMA CGM Group. The  partnership gives both parties numerous opportunities to invest and further expand their services beyond our respective existing operations and locations.”

ANL’s incoming managing director, Xavier Eiglier, added: “This contract extension is strategically important for the CMA CGM Group and ANL, its major operator in Australia, as it gives us certainty of access to quality stevedoring operations around Australia.”

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This complete item is approximately 400 words in length, and appeared in the April 2018 issue of WorldCargo News, on page 9. To access this issue download the PDF here.