HONG KONG's Hutchison Port Holdings and French shipping group CMA CGM are among the four bidders shortlisted for the contract to build and operate a third container terminal at the Port of Melbourne (POM), Australia.
The other two bidders that have qualified to participate in the next round of the tender process are Australian International Container Terminals, a consortium of International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) and Anglo Ports, and Qube Holdings.
The shortlisted companies are required to present their final proposals by September. Based on the second phase of the process, the Victoria state government authority plans to name the preferred bidder in early 2014 and launch the planned terminal facility by 2016, the port said in a statement.
"The high level of interest and calibre of companies shortlisted to build and operate the third terminal confirms the significance of this project and how much it is valued by the industry," Victorian Minister for Ports, David Hodgett said.
As part of the AUD1.6 billion (US$1.5 billion) port capacity project, the new terminal is expected to provide an annual throughput capacity of one million TEU. The port's development plans include automotive and on-dock inspection facilities, for which a separate bidding process is under way.
Located at Melbourne's Webb Dock East, the new facility is offered as a package that comprises around 30 hectares of waterfront terminal, a utility "off-dock" area and an adjoining empty container facility. POM handled 2.58 million TEU in fiscal year 2011-12, which ended June 30, 2012, up from 2.39 million TEU in the previous year.
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