`

B-Double

B-Triple

HPFV

Figure 6 Examples of truck sizes

Swanson Dock was upgraded in 2006 for a 30-year design life. Swanson Dock East and West
have provision for eight quay cranes each, three of which are post-Panamax.
Swanson Dock has good road connectivity to the major transport logistics areas in Melbourne’s
west, north and south-east via Footscray Road and CityLink. However, urban encroachment
has led to conflict on the road networks through the immediate inner west suburbs of Footscray
and Yarraville.
Rail connectivity includes a dual gauge rail loop and a 590 m long siding along the Footscray
road side of West Swanson Dock servicing DP World facilities, seven dual gauge sidings in the
Appleton Dock area and a further dual gauge siding which splits into three sidings servicing
Qube Logistics facilities at Victoria Dock. The Appleton Dock dual gauge sidings provide two
tracks for Emerald Grain unloading, three common user sidings over 900 m long and two
sidings in the former Patricks facility which is now to become a common access terminal. The
common user tracks also lead to a single wharf siding in the Patrick stevedoring lease area.

5.1.3 Leaseholders

Patrick holds the lease for SDE and DP World holds the lease for SDW.

5.1.4 Constraints

Notable constraints at Swanson Dock include:

 The air-draught under the Westgate Bridge. This limits vessels to around 9,000 TEU
capacity (refer Section 9) .
 The turning basin at the entrance to Swanson Dock limits the length of vessel that can
enter the dock to 320 m LOA.

 Coode Rd and Dock Link Rd currently restrict access for port (yard) equipment to the rail
tracks that run parallel to Footscray Rd at the North of the precinct.

 The maximum gross vehicle mass (GVM) along both Coode Rd and Mackenzie Rd is
109t, while the maximum GVM on Footscray Rd is 77t..

 The existing quay line length is not able to accommodate three 300 m vessels together.

 The width of the channel in the Yarra River constrains the maximum size vessel that can
safely access Swanson Dock. Vessels with beam greater than 42 m can create
unsatisfactory water level variations at other berths and infrastructure along the river. The
width and radius of the channel also impacts the navigability of vessels.

GHD | Report for GHD - Victoria Second Container Terminal Port Advice , 31/34508/ | 37
  The 210 m width of the basin restricts the maximum beam of vessel that can be berthed
together. The constraint is illustrated indicatively in Figure 7. Based on a minimum
passing clearance of 20 m between vessels20, the basin can only accept one 45 m beam
vessel and two 42 m beam vessels in conjunction with others.

Figure 7 indicative vessel beam limits applicable to Swanson Dock basin

5.1.5 Opportunities

Notable opportunities include:

 The wharf structure is able to accommodate Super Post Panamax cranes capable of
lifting two 20 foot containers simultaneously. Such cranes have a waterside outreach of
around 50 metres, rail gauge of 25.3 metres and a landside back reach of 20 metres. The
Safe Working Load is 65 tonnes under twin lift spreader with a lift height of 38 metres.

 Each terminal lease area isn’t currently fully utilised for container stacking operations.
 The arrangement of the basin at the northern end, provides opportunity to extend the
quay line on SDE and SDW up to 100m (each).

o A 50 m extension of quay line up to the edge of Coode Rd, would involve some
dredging and excavation and a new edge structure along the end of the basin.

o A 100 m extension, would involve dredging, excavation, the removal of parts of Coode
Rd and a new edge structure along the end of the basin.

5.2 Berth capacity

5.2.1 Existing situation

The berth capacity of SDE and SDW has been calculated based on the estimated number of
Ship to Shore Cranes (STSC’s) existing currently in combination with the stated berth lengths
and operating assumptions.

The resulting berth capacity is estimated at around 3.47 million TEU, as indicated in Table 9.

20 Guidance from VPC(M) Harbour Master

38 | GHD | Report for GHD - Victoria Second Container Terminal Port Advice , 31/34508/