DCN October Edition 2019

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
go through Port Spencer based on freight costs alone, making an
800,000 tonne goal achievable.
The use of bunker systems and the fact the port will not
be landlocked mean that the port can also move quickly to
accommodate growth.
“If we go fairly well, we could expect to receive more grain very
quickly,” he says.
Mr Rodda expects the new port would bring much-needed
freight savings and competitiveness.
“We think this could be a $30m saving to the farming
community every year,” he says.
The company is aiming to start construction in the first quarter
of next year and operating by December 2020. But Mr Rodda says
”there’s a strong likelihood we’ll be operating by the 2021 season”.
PORT INVESTMENTS
Aside from the work being done at FACT, Flinders Ports’ major project
is the Outer Harbour Channel Widening Project at Port Adelaide.
Mr Sleath says the $80m dollar investment by the company
will put Port Adelaide at the same level as the largest ports in the
country and will enable the world’s biggest cruise and container
ships to berth in South Australia.
Dredge specialist Boskalis has been contracted to undertake the
widening project.
The channel is being widened by 40 metres to allow post
panamax-sized vessels to call to at the port without restrictions.
The project has involved the removal of 1.6m cubic metres of
sediment and will result in new port limits for the outer harbour of
350 metres maximum LOA and 49 metre beam, while the channel
depth will remain at 14.2 metre.
“This is a vital project for the state as 99% of our imports
and exports by weight are transported through our ports and all
containers through the Flinders Adelaide Container Terminal,” Mr
Lammin says.
Mr Lammin says that a smaller scale project – but one which is still
hugely important – is Flinders Ports’ investment in infrastructure in
the fishing, seafood and tourist centre of Port Lincoln.
“Over the coming five years, we expect to continue investment
of between $15–18m in the maintenance and upgrading of our
critical infrastructure,” he says.
“This expenditure will be reflected across a broad range of assets,
such as the regional wharves, fuel berths, the main jetty and
various fenders/mooring structures.”
Tourism is providing strongly for South Australia through the
cruise industry.
Mr Lammin says the popularity of cruising as a holiday choice
has seen a significant growth in the number of cruise ship visits.
February was a record-breaking month for cruise ships and the three
months to March were up nearly 25% on the same period last year.
He says Flinders Ports is working with the South Australian
Tourism Commission to expand the industry.
In the coming cruise season, Wallaroo will be introduced as a
new South Australian cruise destination with the cruise ship Vasco
De Gama visiting the port three times.
“SATC has a strong strategy and an ongoing commitment to
increasing the number of cruise ships visiting South Australia.
Their strategy predicts 100 cruise ships to Adelaide by 2020,” Mr
Lammin says.
“We were thrilled to be advised that Princess Cruises announced
13 additional visits to Adelaide in the season 2020/2021.
“As the Outer Harbour Channel Widening Project is nearing
completion, Flinders Ports is working with the cruise lines to assess
the ability to bring in larger cruise vessels in future.”
Mr Lammin says an upgrade to the passenger terminal at
Port Adelaide, the gateway to Adelaide, has been well received by
passengers during the last two seasons.
He says investment in core infrastructure such as the ports is
vital to the South Australian economy.
Adelaide’s container terminal alone supports more than 6000
jobs, while annual exports through Port Adelaide exceed $8bn and
imports, $6.5bn.
“It is vital to continue investment such as this to ensure the
success of the significant local industries such as fishing, grain,
petroleum and fertiliser industries,” Mr Lammin says.
Flinders Port Holdings
44 October 2019
thedcn.com.au