The shipping platform

Location: Melbourne is situated at the N end of Port Phillip Bay in the state of Victoria. General overview: The port has facilities for most cargoes and is an important transport link for Bass Strait and Tasmania. The container facilities at Swanson Dock have ensured Melbourne's position as one of Australia's prime container ports. The port has 34 commercial berths including 2 modern purpose built four berth international container terminals. Multipurpose berths handle cargoes ranging from timber to motor vehicles and specialised berths for dry cargoes, including cement, grain, sugar and gypsum, also facilities for a variety of liquids from molasses to petrochemicals. There are specialised cruise ship berths. Bunkers, water and provisions are available throughout the port. Traffic figures: Approx 3,300 vessels, 79,700,000t of cargo, including 2,400,000TEU and over 68,000 passengers handled annually. Load line zone: Summer. Max size: LOA 290m, draught 12.1m (with tide), approx 150,152DWT. IMO Class 1 This cargo can be accepted in Melbourne however is subject to certain clauses / restrictions, in particular below from the port: You will note that particularly with class 1.1, 1.5 and 1.6 once the quantity is 50kgs or above the separation distance to protected places is outside the beam of the vessel in most cases. Please refer sec 5 and 6 of our Class 1 Dangerous Goods Management Plan and the Australian Standard 3846. Where there is a separation distance between the Class 1 Dangerous Goods and protected places greater than the beam of the vessel, where there may be an impact on port operations the terminal operator must convene a risk assessment including all affected parties that will determine any potential impacts and will be used to mitigate the risk by re-determining the berthing arrangement and vessel movements. Affected parties include the ship manager, terminal operators, near neighbours, wider shipping operations, Port of Melbourne and potentially WorkSafe Victoria if there is any risk to protected places on land. The separation distance is determined by the Ship manager/Master of the vessel and terminal operator using table 4.2 of AS 3846 and the distance is calculated from the stowage location and quantity of Class 1 Dangerous Goods on the vessel. Failure to comply may result in the vessel being denied entry to the port or, if at a berth, immediate removal to the Outer Anchorage. You will need to discuss with the terminals directly about who is prepared to accept the cargo including the possible requirement for a risk assessment if the separation distance is outside the vessel beam. WorkSafe as the regulator will also need to sign off on a completed risk assessment if one is required.