DP World celebrated the launch of the most advanced semi-automated terminal in Australia with the grand opening of its facility at the Port of Brisbane today.

Australia’s Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Jamie Briggs was joined by DP World chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, DP World Australia chairman Holly Koeppel, and DP World Australia managing director and CEO Paul Scurrah, in officially opening the terminal.

The upgraded DP World Brisbane facility includes 14 automated stacking cranes (ASC), which are operated remotely, taking workers off the quayside to the safety of the control room, and improving productivity.  The new equipment is also more energy efficient, using 30 per cent less energy than conventional terminal equipment, said a statement.

Bin Sulayem said: “Automation is the way of the future.  It offers skilled jobs and opens new doors for people who may not otherwise consider a career in terminal operating, including women.  Importantly, automation improves productivity, offering more efficient and faster service to customers.  We are proud to be at the forefront of this sea change in port operations and delighted that DP World Brisbane is leading the way in Australia, benefitting Australia’s importers and exporters and contributing to the growth of the Australian economy.”

Under the new system, containers are transferred by manned shuttle carriers from the quay crane to a waterside exchange area at the front of a module serviced by ASC. The overall annual capacity of the seven modules has risen from around 500,000 TEU (twenty foot equivalent container units) to around 900,000 TEUs, providing DP World Brisbane with significant future development capability, it said.

DP World Australia is a joint venture 25 per cent owned by DP World.  DP World operates its four marine terminals in Australia.  - TradeArabia News Service