Patrick Port Botany breaks container record

A record of more than 1 million twenty foot equivalent units (TEU) moved through the Patrick Port Botany container terminal in the 2007/08 financial year.

Asciano Chief Executive Officer, Mark Rowsthorn commented, “over the past 10 years container volumes through the terminal have been growing at an average of 7 per cent per annum. Patrick’s ability to accommodate this consistent growth has been achieved by a combination of strategic investment in equipment, improved operational efficiency and providing capacity ahead of demand.”

Patrick has invested over $120m to upgrade its Port Botany terminal over the past 3 years. Part of this significant investment includes the introduction of 5 Rail Mounted Gantries (RMGs).

Mark Rowsthorn

“The new RMG’s, once fully commissioned will provide increased rail transport capacity and will greatly improve the overall road and rail interface within the terminal precinct”, Rowsthorn said.

Patrick has also taken delivery of six new straddles which will be introduced in the next few weeks. The straddles provide further operational flexibility and the company say they will ensure continue to provide a high quality of service to our valuable customers as container volumes continue to grow.

“What we would like to see is a greater focus from Government on the rail links to and from the Port. The significant investment Patrick has made in its RMGs must be complemented by an efficient rail system. This is the only way the NSW Government will achieve a 40% rail mode share for port container traffic”, Rowsthorn said.

“As per the Patrick submission to the Port Botany Commission of Inquiry, our terminal is capable of handling approximately 2 million containers per year. In order to address congestion issues in Sydney we need more capacity on our road and rail corridors to and from the port. Improvements in landside infrastructure are critical and should be the NSW Government’s highest priority at this time,” Rowsthorn said.