DP World celebrates grand opening of Automated Brisbane Terminal

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, the Hon Jamie Briggs MP, was joined by DP World Chairman, His Excellency 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% less energy than conventional terminal equipment. 

DP World Chairman HE Sultan Ahmed 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.” 

DP World Australia Managing Director and CEO, Paul Scurrah said: “The breadth of change is testimony to the DP World Australia philosophy to provide customers with a superior service, the delivery of innovation, creating value and return to shareholders ahead of demand. Our vision is to establish ourselves as market leader in the Australia and New Zealand region. The completion of the Brisbane terminal redevelopment takes us one step closer to that vision. 

“I take this opportunity to thank our partners for their expertise and tireless efforts in delivering on this project, our customers for their support and patience as we brought the terminal online, and the unstinting and continuing efforts of all employees at DP World Brisbane over the past five years.” 

DP World Australia Chief Operating Officer, Mark Hulme, said: “The Brisbane mode-change project brought together a major terminal operating system upgrade, a variety of sophisticated terminal handling equipment and an advanced computerised control system. 

“The new development will provide excellent customer service as a result of higher waterside productivity, added stacking capacity, more consistent operational performance and additional pickup and delivery flexibility.” 

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.

DP World Australia is a joint venture 25% owned by DP World.  DP World operates its four marine terminals in Australia. 

THE PROJECT 

The Brisbane expansion has been more than a simple combination of civil, electrical and equipment contracts. Over 30 separate contracts were awarded to provide a comprehensive upgrade to systems and services as well as the physical infrastructure. The key elements of the project were: 

Civil

Site surcharge to limit terminal settlement.

Foundations and rail track system for eight ASC modules.

600 metres of quay apron pavement and drainage.

New truck entry and exits.

New roadway and roundabout.

Miscellaneous buildings including IT, optical container recognition (OCR) sheds, reefer towers and main security office.

New lighting. 

Equipment

14 x 50 tonne capacity Kalmar Shuttle Carriers. Shuttle Carriers are twin lift and have installed a NOW Solutions Position Detection System (PDS) to ensure containers are placed in the right locations both in the waterside interchange zones and under the ship to shore cranes.

14 ASCs.

Container landing (twist lock) platforms.

Shuttle access platforms or alternatively improved means of access. 

Electrical

New HV and LV system with amended connection to supplier.

23 reefer tower distribution boards combined with 115 reefer tower switchboards.

Energy monitoring system. 

Systems

Navis SN4 terminal operating system.

Improved 1-Stop vehicle booking system to provide greater flexibility and transparency to the trucking industry.

CAMCO gate operating system including OCR and electronic signage.

Accuweigh weigh in motion system to measure the axle loads of vehicles leaving the terminal.

NOW Solutions access control and Position Detection System software.

Wi-Fi upgrade to extend and improve coverage.

Security and operational upgrades with 115 additional cameras.

TBA terminal optimisation controls. 

Other

Training Simulator.

Workshop redesign to cater for shuttle carriers. 

Key ASC Facts

7 Modules with a capacity of 900,000 TEUs per annum.

14 Kalmar ASCs (2 ASCs per module).

Rail span: 9 containers wide.

Stacking height: 1 over 5 containers.

Hoisting speed: 40 metres / min loaded, 70 metres / min (empty).

Trolley speed: 60 metres / min at rated load.

Gantry speed: 270 metres / min.

Safe working load: 40 tonnes.

Crane weight: approximately 220 tonnes.