Developing new sustainability framework for Port of Melbourne

Port of Melbourne published its 2021 Sustainability Report a couple of days ago, outlining their sustainability progress over the 2021 financial year. 

“This year, we have continued to progress the Port Development Strategy, completing rehabilitation works at Swanson Dock East and undertaking planning for similar works at Swanson Dock West,” said Saul Cannon, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Port of Melbourne.

“We have progressed our sustainability focus in the last year by developing a new sustainability framework for the Port that will guide our strategy and future priorities. The sustainability framework helps the Port manage sustainability risks and drive new opportunities that contribute to positive social and environmental outcomes.”

Since the end of the 2021 financial year (June 30), their Board has approved a sustainability strategy based on this framework.

The strategy outlines the Port’s sustainability objectives and priorities and will guide the Port’s work in engaging with the community and stakeholders to support ongoing operations and the delivery of the Port Development Strategy.

As Australia’s largest container port, Port of Melbourne is a vital trading gateway for south-eastern Australia, facilitating more than one-third of the nation’s container trade and playing a critical role as a key driver of economic activity.

Port of Melbourne services the south east of Australia, including Tasmania, and occupies a central position in the freight and logistics industry.

Their 30-year port development strategy provides a clear plan to meet and enable sustainable trade growth over the long term by driving investment and innovation across PoM’s operations and into the broader supply chain, with ultimate benefits for the economy and community at large.

Moving forward their strategic approach for a sustainable port is guided by the three key pillars of the sustainability framework:

• Environment;

• Social;

• Economy.

Also, they have prepared the FY21 Sustainability Report drawing upon the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and are working towards compliance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards: ‘Core option’.

The Port of Melbourne has continued its significant program to prepare themselves for the changing nature of international shipping.

In response to increasing container trade around the world, container ships are growing in size and increasing the capacity to deliver greater economies of scale by handling more trade with less ship visits. These larger vessels tend to be modern, fuel efficient, quieter and produce lower levels of greenhouse gases per container moved.

The largest capacity container ships to visit the Port of Melbourne to date are a 10,622 TEU vessel which called at Webb Dock International Container and a 9,784 TEU vessel at Swanson Dock Terminal.

Also, extensive work has been done around Swanson Dock to allow the two container terminals to accommodate larger ship sizes.

Work across the Port to accommodate large ships has included:

• Selective dredging of the Yarra River channel and Swanson Dock swing basin;

• Bollard upgrades;

• Construction of a mooring dolphin at Webb Dock.

The Dredging Program Environmental Management Plan (EMP) details the environmental management requirements to be followed for the ten year program of dredging activities undertaken by Port of Melbourne.

Dredging of channels, berths, swing basins and silt traps is one of the critical asset management strategies required to be undertaken to achieve the performance and regulatory requirements to allow the safe navigation of vessels throughout all port waters.

In order to achieve compliance, the Plan is being undertaken to:

• optimise the performance of channels and berths within port waters;

• maintain the declared depths of the shipping channels, berths, approaches and associated swing basins;

• maintain the depths and capacity of all sundry areas of the port;

• manage the placement of dredged material within the Port of Melbourne Dredged Material Ground (PoMDMG) and South East Dredged Material Ground (SEDMG).

“As we head into the 2022 financial year, despite the ongoing uncertainty from the impact of COVID-19, I am confident we are well positioned to manage the sustainable growth of the Port of Melbourne,” said Mr. Cannon, Port of Melbourne CEO.

“Our focus in the coming year is delivering on the priorities identified in the sustainability strategy. These include furthering our work on climate resilience, reducing our environmental impact, continuing to engage with local communities and stakeholders and progressing our health, safety and wellbeing and diversity and inclusion programs.”