Transport operators have been faced with significant port delays and road congestion since a technical issue issue hit the Port of Melbourne over the weekend.
The DP World West Swanson Terminal experienced complications with a terminal operating system upgrade, which has impacted truck turnaround times at the site.
Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA) says these delays have resulted in transport operators having to work extra shifts and trying to gain additional VBS slots in a scramble to catch up. “This will mean that transport operators will be forced to work all available terminal shifts this week and into the weekend, at extra operating costs,” they said.
The alliance added, “Road congestion in the Port’s Swanson Precinct has been severe, with the newly created, yet inadequate East/West road connection (due to its single lane each way design) – Intermodal Way – resembling a truck parking lot for some time on Monday.
“The congestion in the Port has been amplified due to the ongoing lane and turning restrictions on Footscray Road due to continued works on the West Gate Tunnel Project. This has meant that many trucks must rely on transiting via Intermodal Way, rather than being able to utilise Footscray Road for key movements.
“If Intermodal Way is at stand-still, then these trucks are literally just stuck until the congestion eases.”
This congestion, CTAA says, has had a flow-on effect to other facilities in the Swanson Precinct, including Patrick East Swanson Terminal, with some trucks unable to return to their yards due to the chronic road congestion.
Following the IT issues at DP World at the Port of Melbourne on the weekend, yesterday the effects were also felt at terminals in Brisbane, Sydney and Fremantle, with all DP World terminal gates closed for a short time.
In Brisbane, the terminal’s automated stacking cranes and truck arrival kiosks were disabled; in Sydney, the 1100 hour time zone for truck arrivals was cancelled; and in Fremantle trucks were diverted to the truck marshalling area until the IT systems could be recovered.
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