The oil tanker Phoenix Advance has created a record by breaking the Geelong Shipping depth. This is a great achievement and augurs for multi-million-dollar benefits from a new channel clearance monitoring system.
The last unmatched drought was 11.9 metres. The Singapore-flagged crude carrier charted this. This navigates the way for operators to increase loads on vessels, with significant returns.
Viva Energy Geelong refinery chiefs estimate allowance of 10cm of extra draught on an oil carrier equates in $1 million in savings a year.
Kudos
Victorian Regional Channels Authority chief executive Captain Peter McGovern
He hailed introduction of the Melbourne-developed Dynamic Under Keel Clearance, DUKC, system at Geelong Port as one of the most significant achievements during his decade at the helm. Some ships would be able to carry 7000 to 9000 more tonnes of cargo. This makes Geelong more competitive in the long term, ships around the world are getting bigger. If Geelong wasn’t able to offer at least some advance in size then ships might be going to think that Geelong slowly slips down the lead ladder.
The authority charges ships according to gross tonnage and for their draughts. Every centimetre over 10.7m there’s an extra charge. If the ships sink deeper, it will mean more money. The attraction for the ships, if you can put 7000 more tonnes of woodchips in then the attraction for the woodchippers is they sell 7000 tonnes more and the attraction for the ship is it’s being paid to carry 7000 more tonnes of cargo.
Viva Geelong refinery general manager Thys Heyns
He said the plant accounts for more than 50 per cent of Geelong Port trade and about 20 per cent of all ship visits to Geelong and he hailed the benefits from the keel clearance system as significant. For Viva Energy, each additional 10cm in vessel draught results in a saving of about $1 million per annum. During the past few years, they have worked closely with parties, including the VRCA, to maximise the size of vessels that can be accommodated on refinery berths. As a consequence, they can now concurrently berth two large crude or other feedstock vessels that helps reduce ship demurrage costs.
The channels authority paid $180,000as the annual fees for the DUKC system.
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Source: Geelong Advertiser
