AUSTRALIA’s Port of Newcastle (PON) has continued pushing into the container trade with two Liebherr mobile harbour cranes recently, reports Bulimba, Queensland-based Grain Central.
This development occurred despite financial requirements for the Port of Newcastle (PON) to compensate Port Kembla and Port Botany operators.
PON has been pushing to develop a deepwater container terminal for years.
PON chief executive officer Craig Carmody declared the US$28.4 million investment marks an increase in container-handling capabilities at the Port’s Mayfield 4 berth.
Mr Carmody stated it hoped the new infrastructure will make PON a viable alternative to Port Botany, Port of Brisbane, or Port Kembla for exporters.
‘Industry has been very clear – they don’t want to have to pay more to send their container exports to Port Botany or Port of Brisbane when they could be taking advantage of Port of Newcastle’s enviable road and rail network and potentially save millions of dollars a year,’ said Mr Carmody.
‘These two new mobile harbour cranes will allow us to move cargo and containers within the limits that the Port Commitment Deeds (PCD) bind us so that we can give our customers a viable alternative.’
‘As a global trade gateway and the world’s largest coal export port, diversification isn’t an option, it’s a must, so we are taking what action we can while continuing to advocate for the removal of the PCD,’ said Mr Carmody.
