Ports Victoria celebrating largest vessel to ever visit Swanson Dock – ‘Seaspan Breeze’ – as a triumph for port stakeholders’ teamwork.
On its departure today, Ports Victoria is reflecting proudly on its team’s facilitation of the navigation of Seaspan Breeze, the largest vessel ever to transit the Yarra River into Swanson Dock.
At an impressive 337 metres in length and 48.2 metres in width, Seaspan Breeze made the delicate transit into dock, arriving in Melbourne last week and leaving today.
Ports Victoria CEO Craig Walker said the trial visit underscored Ports Victoria’s commitment to safely managing the challenges of vessels of increased sizes and complexity heading into Victorian waters and ensuring their seamless and safe passage through Melbourne’s iconic waterways.
“This exercise had been the culmination of a year’s work led by Ports Victoria in undertaking extensive simulations, utilising the expertise of the most reputable pilots from Australia and around the globe.”
“As would be expected with a trial of this scale and significance, there were proportionate controls devised and undertaken to ensure it would be done so safely and efficiently,” he said.
“We want to acknowledge the outstanding work on this project of our Harbour Master’s team and the Vessel Traffic Services Officers who are rightly recognised around the world for their vigilance and diligence.”
A huge effort went into coordinating this operation, involving collaboration with Port of Melbourne (PoM), Port Phillip Sea Pilots, Svitzer Towage, Patrick Terminals, Ocean Network Express and other key stakeholders and Mr Walker extended his thanks to all.
“This undertaking was a significant milestone and we’re extremely pleased that it has come together as well as it has,” he said.
“This is a fabulous example of how well Victoria’s key port stakeholders can work together, and I look forward to meeting with many of them at our next Stakeholder Forum coming up in Geelong next week (November 6) as we discuss and share other future challenges and opportunities.”
Mr Walker said both the arrival and today’s departure of Seaspan Breeze were impressive reminders of Ports Victoria’s ongoing dedication to supporting safe, efficient and innovative maritime logistics for the state of Victoria.
