PRODUCTIVITY has risen at Port Botany following the end of industrial action, NSW Ports says.

In a report on activity at both Port Botany and Port Kembla, NSW Ports chief executive Marika Calfas also commented on the resilience of ports in operating during the pandemic.

“Following the suspension of industrial action at DP World Australia and Patrick Terminals, shipping schedules remain off-window at all ports and may take a couple of months for schedule integrity to be restored,” Ms Calfas said in a statement to customers.

“Containers that should have been handled at Port Botany during September will now be handled during October and November,” she said.

“However, we are seeing productivity and capacity improvements at Port Botany following the suspension of the industrial action.”

Ms Calfas said the COVID-19 pandemic had affected “virtually every sector of the economy”.

“One of the notable successes of this period has been the resilience of the ports and freight supply chain,” she said.

“Port Botany and Port Kembla have demonstrated their important role as key trade gateways servicing NSW.”

NSW Ports CEO Marika Calfas. Credit: NSW Ports

Ms Calfas welcomed the suspension of industrial action targeting both DPWA and Patrick Terminals, however, it was critical these agreements were “finalised without further industrial action, to ensure our ports and supply chains continue the efficient flow of goods to support NSW and Australia and avoid further impacting on the NSW economy during this difficult economic period”.

As at Friday 9 October there was:

  • One container vessel waiting to enter Port Botany, two container vessels approaching the boarding ground and six container vessels at berth.
  • Four vessels scheduled to omit Port Botany, with no new omissions announced during the past week.
  • DPWA and Patrick Terminals have more cranes in operation and greater throughput
  • DP World and Hutchison are permitting shipping lines to exceed proforma window exchanges, by agreement, to assist with the evacuation of empty containers. The trade-off being a one-to-two day delay to berth at the terminal.
  • NSW Ports understands that DPWA will have cleared the backlog within the next 10-14 days and Patrick Terminals is experiencing up to 21 days delay in scheduled vessel arrivals.
  • There are containers that have been delivered, or are sailing to Port of Melbourne, and will need to be trans-shipped to Port Botany. We understand that process could add up to three to four weeks.