No Aussie container growth in 2013, says DP World
DP World is forecasting a possible slowdown in Australia's imports and exports into 2013 as the ports operator considers automating its ports in Sydney and Melbourne, Cargonews Asia reports.
The managing director of DP World Australia, Ganesh Raj, told The Australian the feedback from customers and statistics from its global port operations in recent weeks suggested any growth in container cargo volumes into and out of Australia next year was unlikely.
“It's still not as busy as it should be. The volumes are there but we are not seeing any growth on the previous year – on the contrary it is lower than the previous year,” Raj said.
“I do not see a positive . . . our customers are saying (volumes) will either flatline or reduce over the next year. We go by our commentary given to our customers and also we go by what signs we see in our facilities around the ports, because we operate over 60 terminals around the world -- and from those numbers we can see a slowdown mainly for Australia and east Asia, from China to Europe,'' Raj said.
The comments come as competition between DP World and rival operator Asciano's Patrick intensifies as both look towards automation to replace manpower at some of their ports and they prepare for the entry of Hutchison Ports Holdings, which will start operations in Australia in the next 12 months.
At present, DP World has manned operations at Port Botany and in Melbourne, and it is moving to introduce semi-automated and automated equipment at its port site in Brisbane next year.
Patrick's port in Brisbane is fully automated and the company has also announced plans for the same model to be implemented at Port Botany in 2014, replacing more than half its workforce of 511 with its AutoStrad technology, The Australian reported.
Raj said his company was considering a number of options – including full automation – for its operations in Sydney and Melbourne, where it has more than 1,200 workers and uses manual stacking cranes.
DP World has already introduced full automation at a number of its overseas ports.
``We are exploring different concepts,'' Raj said. ``At this point we have not made up our minds in terms of what is the best option because Sydney is also a very utilised facility. There is quite a bit of analysis to be done before we make a decision on that.''
DP World is moving ahead with its port expansion at West Swanson Dock in Melbourne where it will today introduce another eight manned straddle carriers for containers at the port, making up a new fleet of 22.
As part of its expansion, the ports operator wants to close down a public road between its container terminal and intermodal terminal and join the two sites together. Its aim is to increase container capacity at Swanson Dock from 1.1 million TEUs to 1.8 million-2 million.
DP World will show its plans to Victoria's Port Minister Denis Napthine today as part of a site tour of its operations at West Swanson Dock.
