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ACFS expands on strategic developments

National port operator Australian Container Freight Services (ACFS) Port Logistics is in the midst of a substantial infrastructure push, bolstering its growth path in recent months.

With work either in motion or completed on facilities in multiple states, the past few months have seen steady movement for the business formed by Arthur and Terry Tzaneros, which continues its nation-wide expansion since being established less than 15 years ago.

The most recent of these was an expansion of its national biosecurity services across its five major ports throughout Australia.

“This investment in our facilities has increased our capacity to fumigate up in excess of 700 TEU [twenty-foot equivalent unit] per day nationally with a thre-day KPI turnaround whilst offering prompt and professional services to all our valued clients and to the extended industry,” the company says.

NSW

Honing in on NSW, one of the largest projects for the company is the creation of an intermodal hub in St Marys on Sydney’s western outskirts, developed by Pacific National, for which ACFS has committed a 25-year lease as the site operator.

There, Pacific National will be operating the train services on behalf of ACFS (port shuttle), connecting to regional NSW and other parts of Australia.

The first stage is a 10-hectare development, while the overall site will comprise 37 hectares.

Meanwhile at Port Botany, the company expanded its empty container capacity with the addition of ACFS e-Link’s 100,000sqm facility at Molineux Point.

The facility adds another 3,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) capacity to the “constrained sector” of empty container depots, and operates 24/5, “providing efficient access for shipping lines and transport companies”, ACFS notes.

“With the upcoming peak season, this will provide welcome relief to the supply chain, and minimise container detention for the entire industry.”

Finally, a facility is being developed at Eastern Creek to host subsidiary ACFS e-Solutions’ planned e-commerce and third-party logistics (3PL) services.

The 20,680sqm warehouse is to have five docks, office space and capacity for unpacking and packing more than 100 TEU of containers a day.

VICTORIA

ACFS notes it recently completed the Melbourne-based transition of its e-Depot (Coode Park) to the 70,000sqm ACFS Appleton rail facility that services regional trains up to 1.2km in length.

It offers shipping lines, importers and exporters direct access to rail.

“With the support of key shipping lines (ANL, Hamburg Sud, Hyundai, Maersk, OOCL, One, Sinotrans, Swire, TS Lines), exporters are now able to benefit with a reduced supply chain cost, as the transport leg of containers is no longer required for the above mentioned shipping lines.”

ACFS also signed a 10-year lease at Salta Properties’ Altona inland port.

Joining the Maersk Shipping Line, the facility will be used as a distribution and collection hub for inbound and outbound containers.

It aims eventually to be fully connected by rail to the Port of Melbourne and is designed to reduce truck trips into the port by 3,500 per day.

Salta’s managing director Sam Tarascio says securing ACFS as a tenant was a “milestone transaction” for the terminal, while ACFS notes it is “proud to be part of this revolution”.

And, earlier in the year, ACFS opened the gates to its new 60,000sqm empty container depot at Webb Dock, which services shipping lines from Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT).

SA

Across in Adelaide, ACFS lauds the opening of its new 3PL and e-commerce offering at Gillman.

The addition of the 5,040sqm facility comprises a real-time paperless WMS, “racking in single select and bulk, insulated for wine storage and adjoining an empty depot for reduced logistics supply chain costs”.

That space is part of the former Kerry Logistics business, with ACFS now occupying nearly the entire lease area – excluding one warehouse and some office space.

QUEENSLAND

Travelling north, ACFS secured new hardstand area at the Port of Brisbane, with a further area currently being progressed for approval and development.

The current addition comprises 17,953sqm of 125-tonne container rated hardstand.

“This new area of capacity will be able to facilitate the storage of approximately 2,000+ TEU fully laden containers and will have additional capacity for 96 reefers under power,” the company explains.

“This expanded area will also allow ACFS to expand our fumigation area for stink bug season at our Curlew Street site, expanding the capacity to fumigate in excess of 200 TEUs, making ACFS the largest and most efficient fumigation provider to avoid any unnecessary delays in the supply chain.”

Tzaneros tells ATN there are further large strategic developments in progress, set to be unveiled in the future.

– Published by ATN on 15 October 2019