Maersk Line Opens New Container Depot

Maersk Line announced the opening of a new container depot at Nexus Industrial Estate in Altona, Australia, officially opened by Victorian Minister for Ports and Major Projects, the Hon. David Hodgett MP.

Through taking over a 5ha facility, Maersk Line said it has become the anchor tenant at Salta Properties’ 40ha Nexus Industrial Intermodal Terminal at Altona. Salta Properties is developing two Nexus Industrial Intermodal Terminals, one in Altona and the second is a larger 180ha site at Dandenong South, which will open in the coming months.

Maersk Line’s Container Depot houses a 20,000 liter container wash bay facility with a state-of-the-art ‘first-flush diversion’ water treatment system; a provision to ‘pre-trip’ up to 180 TEU refrigerated containers prior to distribution; a 2,500 sq. m container repair workshop facility plus a 1,500 sq. m container survey area; and a sealed yard of 43,000 sq. m. “We have been able to configure the layout of the depot ensuring we optimize the space available which in turn allows us to cater for future volume growth in the area,” said Anthony Randell, Operations and Customer Service Manager, Maersk Line – Australia. “The new depot will also ensure we are more efficient in our container handling helping reduce truck and fork lift miles inside the depot which equates to improvement in truck turn times. We believe that we now have the most sophisticated and technologically advanced container depot set up in Australia.”

Salta Properties’ Executive Chairman, Sam Tarascio Snr said the new Maersk Line facility sets a benchmark for container parks: “Salta Properties welcomes Maersk Line to Nexus Industrial and has valued the opportunity to work with the international shipping line to develop an innovative solution to its business operations.”

“The wider community will also benefit from Maersk Line shifting to Nexus Industrial in Altona from its previous site at Francis Street in Yarraville where traffic congestion has been an issue,” Tarascio continued.

Nicolaj Noes, Managing Director – Maersk Line, Australia and Papua New Guinea said, “Successful logistical solutions are holistic logistical solutions and that is what we have achieved here, with a solution that offers a platform for productivity gains for Melbourne based importers and exporters, superior turn times and access for the transportation community”. Nicolaj added, “It presents a future proof platform for a continued optimization of metropolitan rail solutions, a safe and inspiring work environment for the team on the ground and it is a location chosen with due consideration ensuring no disruption to the local community. It is a new standard in depot operation in Melbourne that is future proofed while offering immediate value.”