The Port of Geelong continues as Victoria’s key specialised bulk and break bulk goods port, trading in crude oil, petroleum products, chemicals, steel, woodchips, fertilisers and grains.
It has several multi-purpose berths, wharves and associated storage and processing facilities, which include Lascelles Wharf, Corio Quay, Bulk Grain Pier, Refinery Pier and Point Henry Pier.
The port’s trade figures in 2016-’17 were bolstered by favourable grain growing conditions across Victoria and southern New South Wales resulting in a large harvest in 2016. This generated over 2.3 million tonnes of grain exports through the port supplying customers across Asia, Europe and Africa. GrainCorp’s Geelong terminal achieved its highest ever month of exports in February 2017.
In 2016 Victorian Regional Channels Authority introduced Dynamic Under Keel Clearance® to the Geelong’s shipping channels. This software has allowed vessels to sail with up to 20cm additional draught. With the ability to load more cargo a number of records were set in 2016-’17 including:
* Record cargoes loaded onto a vessel for wheat, barley, canola and woodchips; and
* Grain, woodchip and crude oil vessels loading to a new maximum draught of 11.9m.
Geelong Port is actively pursuing new trade opportunities to utilise their mix of multi-purpose berths, wharves and associated storage and processing facilities. GeelongPort’s holdings are well positioned and with the release of additional portside land, Geelong Port is well placed to facilitate the growth of the port.
Growth in trade will result in further opportunities for the port to expand its economic and employment contribution to Geelong.
