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International Container Terminal Services, Inc. inaugurated the Phase 3A expansion of Victoria International Container Terminal at the Port of Melbourne in Australia
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Completed in December 2023, the expansion increases the terminal’s capacity by 30% and extends its quay by 71 meters
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VICT also acquired two ship-to-shore cranes, six auto container carriers and six auto stacking cranes as part of Phase 3A
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Phase 3B is scheduled for completion in 2026
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The inauguration was led by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. together with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and ICTSI chairman and president Enrique K. Razon, Jr.
International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) officially inaugurated the Phase 3A expansion of Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) at the Port of Melbourne in Australia.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., together with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and ICTSI chairman and president Enrique K. Razon, Jr., unveiled the plate to mark the inauguration of VICT’s Phase 3 expansion. The remote ceremony was held at The Ritz-Carlton in Melbourne.
“Being the only fully-automated container terminal in the Southern hemisphere is truly a feat worthy of admiration,” Marcos, who is in Melbourne for the 50th ASEAN-Australia Summit, said.
He added: “We are delighted that since VICT started operations in 2017, it has grown to become a major player in Melbourne, giving healthy competition to its peers. This expansion that we are seeing today is a clear sign that Filipino companies can compete at some of the most advanced economies in the world. And in the case of VICT, they are in it for the long haul. We look forward to VICT’s continued success and growth.”
The AUD235 million (P8.5 billion) project is being carried out in two phases. Phase 3A, completed in December 2023, will increase the terminal’s capacity by 30% to 1.25 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). It extends the quay by 71 meters to 735 meters or 769 meters with the mooring dolphins included, and will enhance VICT’s quayside operations by allowing two 366-meter vessels to berth side-by-side.
On the landside, three new storage blocks have been added along with 15 new truck lanes, enhancing the terminal’s booking system time slot offerings to the market by up to 30% per hour starting in January 2024.
VICT also acquired two ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, six auto container carriers (ACC) and six auto stacking cranes (ASC) as part of Phase 3A. The ACCs and the ASCs have been operational since August 2023, supporting the increased yard capacity. The STS cranes, which have a reach of 22 containers across and currently the largest port equipment in Australia, arrived in the third quarter of last year and are already operational.
Phase 3B is scheduled for completion in 2026 and will include acquisition of another automated STS crane, three ACCs, four ASCs, and construction of two additional storage blocks.
“This additional investment redefines the Port of Melbourne’s landscape, setting new standards for operational efficiency and capacity,” Razon, Jr. said in a statement.
“VICT can now accommodate the largest container vessels calling Australia – the neo-Panamax giants – solidifying the Port of Melbourne’s position as Australia’s number one container port,” he added.
With the expansion of VICT, supersized ships can now sail directly into Port Phillip and dock at VICT—currently the only terminal in Melbourne capable of receiving them. ICTSI said this translates to faster turnaround times, improved efficiency, and ultimately, a competitive edge for Australian businesses.
