Trading On The Seas; North Queensland And China Steaming In The Fast Line

Trading North Queensland to China and South-East Asia

Trading and economic relations between Townsville North Queensland and China has been fast-tracked this week, increasing the City’s bulk export and import shipping capacity out of northern Australia with a direct transit route to and from Singapore, with connecting services to Chinese ports.

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The more direct and faster-transit times is expected to increase trading volumes through the Townsville Port and deliver a boost for local traders and businesses seeking faster, more efficient and competitive shipping services to South-East Asian markets.

The China Navigation Company’s ship liner business, Swire Shipping, announced the new service in a press release saying “Swire Shipping is changing its North Asia Express (NAX) service, bringing super-fast transit times between Townsville North Queensland and South East Asia.”

The 20-day frequency service will offer the fastest transit times to/ from major Asia and Southeast Asia international ports and will be supported through the deployment of ships with larger tonnage capacity.

Shippers will enjoy an eight-day transit to Singapore, 17-day transit from Shanghai and a 15-day transit from Ningbo.

Swire Shipping General Manager Jeremy Sutton said that Swire’s long term commitment to Australia had provided sustainable shipping services between Australia and the Asia Pacific region since 1883.

“Swire has provided services to and from Australia for more than 130 years and our North Asia Express service enhancement will provide the best options for shippers, as well as the import needs of the community in Townsville; and most likely boost trade for North Queensland.”

Swire Shipping Commercial Sales Manager North and Central Queensland, Natalie Adamsson, said that the Swire team was dedicated to providing Townsville with great services.

“Our team in Townsville is looking forward to helping local business to optimise Swire Shipping’s market-leading transit times to better meet their logistics needs,” said Ms Adamsson.

“Swire Shipping provides flexible, multipurpose liner services with capacity for conventional, refrigerated and project cargoes using a fleet of modern and eco-friendly vessels as a long-term commitment to deliver sustainable shipping solutions to its customers.”

Port of Townsville Limited General Manager Business Development Claudia Brumme-Smith said that the changes to the North Asia Express service from Swire Shipping would be hugely attractive to North Queensland farmers.

“Swire Shipping now offer the fastest transport times to Singapore, meaning our customers and producers have even more opportunity to access the market of one of the most vibrant trading cities in the world; which is also the logistics hub of Asia,” said Ms Brumme-Smith.  

“The new eight-day direct service from Townsville to Singapore gives growers even more options to export time sensitive cargo including locally grown fruit and vegetable products such as avocado, mango and melons to Singapore and other Asian markets.

“The service is another great opportunity for North Queensland businesses to connect with the world.”

Swire Shipping is supported by more than 100 employees across five offices in Australia in Townsville, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne and Sydney.  Eight of Swire Shipping’s liner trades serve Australian ports including Townsville, Darwin, Gladstone, Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Port Kembla, Geelong, Melbourne and Bell Bay, bringing more than 500 port calls to Australia per year.

Swire Shipping is the liner shipping division of The China Navigation Company (CNCo) and operates multiple liner trades in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, North America and the nations of the South Pacific, in addition to providing services to India, the Middle-East and Europe.

Swire Shipping’s network of services operates a versatile fleet of multipurpose ships capable of carrying a wide range of cargoes including containerised, refrigerated, project, breakbulk and heavy lift cargoes.

Further reading:

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Development frenzy emerging between local builder alliance and national property retailers

Kirwan – Top Price Property of the Week – 1 Crown Close – $655,000

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Magnetic Island – Top Price Property Winner of the Week – 3-5 Endeavour Road – $520,000

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Wide load alert for $193m Port expansion in Townsville

Image: Entrance to Port of Townsville.
Photo: Port of Townsville Annual Report

The first stage of the planned $1.64 billion Townsville Port expansion has been submitted to the State Government for environmental approvals, releasing $193m of economic impact on the City and creating a wide load alert in the Northern Australian port.

Ships the size of three football fields will be able to access the Port when stage one of the expansion project is completed, increasing the existing capacity of ships from 238 metres in length to 300 metres.

The width of the ships will increase also from 32 metres to 40 metres. The channel will be widened from 92 metres at its narrowest point to 180 metres.

The waste from the dredging needed for the expansion will be carried out in accordance with strict environmental requirements. No capital dredge material will be dumped at sea. The material will all be placed in a fully contained area at the Port.

The project is anticipated to cause over 8000 trucks to be taken off the roads and highways cutting carbon emissions and making the roads safer for passenger vehicles.

The project has been in the planning for 10 years. When the business case that has been submitted to the Treasurer Curtis Pitt and Ports Minister Mark Bailey for consideration has been environmentally and operationally approved, the widening project is expected to take 4 1/2 years to complete. This includes one year to set up of the bunded area for the dredge material and 3 1/2 years for the actual dredging. 

Eighty percent of the works will occur at the harbour entrance, adjacent to Platypus channel, and the remaining 20 percent of works will occur in the sea channel. An independent Scientific Oversight Panel will monitor the works with the authority to stop works if the impacts are deemed inaccessible at any time.

Widening the port is essential to bring it up to standard with other capital city ports because ships have gotten bigger over the past 40 years and they cannot fit into Townsville's narrow channel. 

Shipping companies are bypassing Townsville to capital city ports but will gladly steam in and out of Townsville if they can safely navigate their ships through the Port.

If the billion dollar Port expansion had not been considered for the expansion, freight costs for local businesses from capital cities 1300 kilometres away will continue to increase, while passenger cruise ships business opportunities will be missed.

Port of Townsville chief executive officer Ranee Crosby's commented to the Townsville Bulletin where she said "That means over time, less commercial ships and cruise ships will be able to access our port, stifling trade opportunities and potentially putting an end to the boom we are seeing in cruise ship visits to Townsville over the next 10 years".

The project is expected to generate 120 new full-time equivalent jobs in Townsville during construction.

TREN identified that Industry Space in the City is critical to a smart city future and the Port as a heavy industry player in the Townsville property market and its economy is a critical strategic asset to the City.

The expansion of the Port and the increased capacity for trade is a positive announcement by the Port of Townsville.

Cruise ship birth for boarding passenger in Townsville

Townsville's Port Authority and PnO Cruises Australia have announced the Townsville Port will see passengers boarding cruise ships in the City for the first time in its 104 year history, .

PnO's Pacific Eden cruise ship will be the first to complete partial ship turnarounds at the Townsville Port next year.

Port of Townsville Limited CEO Ranee Crosby said; "The announcement was an incredible opportunity for the region."

"A lot of hard work has been done by the Townsville White and Grey Ship-Attraction Committee over the past 18 months to lure more cruise ships to Townsville, and this announcement by PnO is a huge step forward towards achieving the end goal of home porting," said Ms. Crosby.

The partial turnaround decision by PnO from September 2018 is expected to generate jobs and more money flowing through the local economy.

For many of the cruise ship enthusiasts and holiday makers from the North Queensland region had to fly, train or drive to ports to the south or north of the City to experience their lifetime dream of cruising.

This announcement means that people will be able to embark on a cruise from Townsville and not have to travel further afield on connecting journeys.

"We are very appreciative that PnO Cruises Australia has given us this opportunity and I know that Townsville will be up to the task.", Ms. Crosby said.

Tickets are expected to go on sale in the coming months with prices yet to be finalised.

The Port of Townsville is a transport asset of national significance employing hundreds of people and supporting export and import industries handling 30 difference commodities across the Northern Australia regions worth an estimated $11 billion in trade.

The Port of Townsville is expecting 11 cruise ship visits this year, and 18 in 2018.