Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) has officially started its Phase 3B expansion at the Port of Melbourne, with the project expected to increase terminal capacity by approximately 18%.
Melbourne’s VICT proceeds with expansion project
VICT, a wholly owned subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), announced the start of the expansion following a ceremony led by VICT CEO Bruno Porchietto.
Port of Melbourne CEO Saul Cannon, BildGroup CEO Matthew Dinnison and other representatives from the companies involved in the project attended the event.
According to VICT, the additional capacity will support future trade growth while strengthening services for both waterside and landside customers.
Phase 3B continues a broader expansion programme at VICT’s Webb Dock East facility.
According to ICTSI’s previously announced plans, the phase includes an additional automated ship-to-shore crane, three automated container carriers and four automated stacking cranes.
Two additional container storage blocks are also planned as part of the development.
VICT completed Phase 3A of its expansion in 2024. That phase increased annual terminal capacity by 30% to 1.25 million TEUs.
The development also extended the quay to 735 metres and enabled VICT to simultaneously handle two vessels of up to 366 metres in length.
Phase 3A included two automated ship-to-shore cranes, six automated container carriers and six automated stacking cranes.
VICT has continued investing in equipment during 2026.
In June, ICTSI announced the deployment of four new hybrid automated container carriers at the terminal.
The company said the equipment forms part of an expansion programme designed to increase VICT’s annual capacity to more than 1.6 million TEUs, while improving operational efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of terminal operations.
The latest Phase 3B works are expected to further strengthen the terminal’s ability to accommodate future container trade growth at Australia’s largest container port.
VICT is Australia’s first fully automated container terminal and operates at Webb Dock East.
Earlier this year, VICT extended its operating agreement at the Port of Melbourne by 26 years.
The agreement extends the terminal operator’s tenure from 2040 to 2066, providing a remaining contract period of around 40 years.
At the time, the Port of Melbourne said VICT was implementing an investment programme scheduled for completion in late 2027.
The programme includes a new neo-Panamax ship-to-shore crane, four hybrid automated carriers and extensions to two container stacking blocks.
The Port of Melbourne expects container trade to double over the next 30 years, increasing the need for additional terminal and landside capacity.
