BOXSHIP OOCL Rotterdam has set a new record within the Port of Melbourne and Australia for the highest container exchange in a single call – a total of 6,516 containers equating to 11,037 TEU.

The vessel called at Victoria International Container Terminal on 20 November and completed the record exchange in 90 hours with 72.4 berth moves an hour.

VICT chief executive Tim Vancampen said they were “honoured to achieve another record at the Port of Melbourne in what has been a challenging year especially for Victoria dealing with the pandemic”.

“The exchange highlights the need for larger vessels and increasing handling capacity,” Mr Vancampen said.

“At the same time, it poses new challenges for landside logistics that need to deal with these increasing peak volumes,” he said.

“In order to address those concerns, VICT offers a full seven days 24-hour coverage for receipt and delivery.

“We would like to congratulate OOCL on the milestone container exchange and thank them for having selected VICT as their terminal operator of choice.”

OOCL Rotterdam is a 323 metre ship, 43 metres in beam, capable of accommodating 8,063 TEUs and operates on the North East Asia A3 Central Service.

OOCL Australia managing director Eddy Declercq praised the stevedore’s efforts.

“We appreciate the high level of operational efficiency by VICT and cooperation by all stakeholders involved on all fronts at a time where every move counts towards our collective effort to address the container supply imbalance in the market and working together to keep trade moving,” Mr Declercq said.