Toll Group has announced a $311million investment to boost freight between mainland Australia and Tasmania.
The Bass Strait project includes $170 million to build two new ships and $141 million to upgrade terminals, wharves and berthing facilities in Melbourne and Burnie.
Toll managing director Michael Byrne says it will see shipping capacity increase significantly for the route.
“This is the largest-ever investment by a logistics business in the Bass Strait and underpins Toll’s commitment to the Australian domestic market and the Bass Strait trade.
“Toll is the gateway between Tasmania and mainland Australia. We are proud to support the state’s local economy by helping businesses reach interstate and international markets. Equally important, Tasmanian consumers depend upon Toll to import products, particularly retail goods, and we are proud to support this exchange.
“Bolstering our carrying capacity means we can support the Tasmanian exports boom driven by demand from Australian and Asian markets,” Byrne says.
The new ships and facility upgrades will deliver a number of transport improvements.
This includes 40% more capacity for containers and trailers, increased refrigerated freight handling and faster turnaround times due to terminal upgrades at McGaw Wharf and Webb Dock providing more efficient loading and discharge of the ships.
The new, 700TEU purpose-built ships will commence operations on March 1, 2019.
They will replace Toll’s existing ships, and continue to operate overnight services on a six-day per week schedule.
Works to update the wharves have commenced at Webb Dock in Melbourne. They are scheduled to begin in Burnie later this month.
