PORT of Brisbane and Blue Water Shipping have turned the sod at the site of a new warehouse on Fisherman Islands.
PBPL and the international transport and logistics provider have agreed to terms for a 10-year lease at the port.
The 5.2-hectare site would comprise a 15,000-square-metre warehouse plus a 500-square-metre administrative building, car parking and more than 30,000 square metres of hardstand along with a wash-bay and bond store.
The new site would enable Blue Water to establish its permanent landside transport and logistics operations in Brisbane, having occupied a casual lease site at the port for more than a year.
PBPL CEO Neil Stephens welcomed Blue Water to the port community and congratulated all involved.
“We’re delighted to work with Blue Water Shipping to identify a permanent site and now commence development of a purpose-built facility that will allow them to expand their current operations while providing potential for future expansion to support their growing business,” Mr Stephens said.
“Port of Brisbane is a well-established hub supporting southern Queensland renewables projects, and for Blue Water, with their significant focus on servicing Australia’s expanding renewable sector, there is no better location to call home.
“In 2022/23 Port of Brisbane handled a record 1.56 million TEU and as Queensland’s largest container port, it’s the logical location for a supply chain logistics leader like Blue Water to operate and grow.”
Blue Water Oceania managing director Steven Lofaro said the proximity to the wharf is “incredibly valuable” for the company.
“Our Blue Water chartered tonnage that services the Port of Brisbane will be even more at an advantage,” he said.
“Consolidating all our port activities within a single location and connecting shippers and consignees to our facility for streamlined one-stop import and export processing needs will unquestionably prove to be a significant asset.”
Blue Water Shipping has more than 70 international offices and offers services including road transport, sea and air freight, rail and courier transport, reefer and marine logistics and renewables as well as expertise in oil, gas, and project transports.
Its new facility, designed by Sparc Architects and project managed by Johnstaff, is currently out to tender.
Construction is expected to commence towards the end of 2023.
