Milestone at VICT: Giant container vessel docks at Port of Melbourne

Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) is marking a significant milestone with the arrival of the super-sized ship, the M/V CMA CGM Pelleas, which has docked at the Port of Melbourne.

At 350 meters in length, the container vessel is the largest ever to dock in Australia. The ship is nearly 43 meters wide and has a carrying capacity of just under 10,000 TEUs, said VICT’s parent company ICTSI.

VICT’s chief executive officer, Bruno Porchietto, said that super-sized vessels like the CMA CGM Pelleas are likely to become more common at the VICT terminal.

“There is a global trend by shipping lines toward the use of larger ships, which are more efficient due to their carrying capacity,” Mr. Porchietto said.

“It’s a strong signal of where the future lies for the Port of Melbourne and VICT – by the end of the year, our facility will be capable of docking two of these vessels or even larger simultaneously.”

Mr. Porchietto also said the VICT facility located at Webb Dock has significant advantages due to its location over the legacy terminals at Swanson Dock.

VICT’s expansion project at the Port of Melbourne is making good progress – aimed to boost VICT’s capacity up to 1.25 million TEUs when it is completed in late 2023.