DCN October Edition 2019

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Mr Lammin says the de-bulking of grain has
been beneficial overall and containerisation is
allowing the transport of amounts that might not
have otherwise been viable for shipment.
“While we still support the bulk handling
and shipments of grain across the state, the
containerisation of grain has been a positive change
for the ports,” he says.
“Since deregulation approximately 10 years ago,
we have seen grain being transported in containers as well as
in bulk.
“These containers are exported through the Flinders Adelaide
Container Terminal, and grain is now one of our major
container export commodities.
“This means that exporters can send smaller amounts, and a
variety of pulses and cereal grain.”
Mr Lammin sees mining as providing future growth
opportunities for the Flinders Ports.
“As the market is improving in the mining sector, we are
seeing some great potential bulk and containerised project
opportunities coming up for the state and border districts.
Flinders Port Holdings are certainly looking into how we can be
involved,” he says.
SA’S CONTAINER TERMINAL
Flinders Adelaide Container Terminal general manager David
Sleath points out that the group handles much more than grain.
“We are very lucky in South Australia to have a vast array of
produce that forms a vital part of the South Australian economy,”
he says.
“Some of our key commodities are our exports through our ports
include wine, citrus fruits, table grapes, hay and containerised
grain, malt, wool, frozen and chilled meat.
“Scrap metal exports, lead product, and copper cathode are also
some of our top bulk exports for South Australia.”
FACT, the state’s only container terminal, is one of Flinders Ports
busiest facilities.
FACT processed more than 420,000 TEU in 442 container vessel
calls during the 2019 financial year, compared with 413,000 tonnes
as a result of 430 ships the previous year.
Mr Sleath says that although grain is down, renewable energy
Kieran Carvill, CEO, T-Ports
Left: Mark Rodda, CEO, FREE Eyre
Right: Stewart Lammin, CEO, Flinders
Port Holdings
projects in the state are still pushing up freight, despite many
having reached maturity.
FACT is investing for future growth and efficiencies. Two new
weigh-in-motion weighbridges were successfully installed in 2018,
and an intermodal facility upgrade has recently been completed,
which involved the installation of a new rail spur and the laying of
additional hardstand.
“The intermodal facility operational footprint has effectively
doubled resulting in increased storage capacity and operational
efficiencies,” Mr Sleath says.
“Another great initiative that is happening at present at FACT is
a new project to increase the servicing efficiency of non-reversible
high productivity vehicles which visit the terminal.”
EYRE PENINSULA DEVELOPMENTS
Flinders Ports is still waiting to see what impact the
development of grain shipping facilities on the Eyre Peninsula
will have on its operations.
Construction of the Lucky Bay port is due
for completion in December and shipments are
expected to begin in January or February.
T-Ports contacted growers in 2017 to secure
expressions of interest for grain to be exported
through the new port facility at Lucky Bay. In this
process, there were 120 growers who supported
the project by expressing an interest to deliver
more than 377,000 tonnes of annual grain
throughput.
T-Ports has built storage facilities of 360,000-
500,00 tonnes in 10 bunkers at Lucky Bay and
another 140,000 tonnes in six bunkers at Lock.
“T-Ports will be open for grower receivals
for the 2019 harvest,” CEO of T-Ports Kieran
Carvill says.
“The bunker sites are now ready for harvest
deliveries. All infrastructure is built and
FREE Eyre; Image supplied; Barb Woolford
40 October 2019
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