The CMA CGM Pelleas — the longest container ship to ever dock in Brisbane — has arrived at the DP World Fisherman’s Island Terminal.
In a statement, DP World said this milestone underscores Brisbane’s increasing importance as a gateway to Australia and a trade hub connecting businesses with customers in the region and around the globe.
The Pelleas is about 350 metres long, and it can transport over 9,600 containers and as much as 111,000 tonnes of cargo.
The vessel is currently on the A3 Central Express service, which is a loop starting in Kaohsiung and making calls in Xiamen, Shanghai, Ningbo, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Earlier this month, the Pelleas also berthed at DP World’s terminal in Port Botany, setting a similar record as the longest vessel to dock at the New South Wales port.
“The arrivals of the CMA CGM Pelleas in our Brisbane and Sydney terminals as part of a service from Greater China are prime examples of how DP World is helping to connect the APAC region,” said Nicolaj Noes, executive vice president for Oceania, DP World.
“Our Fisherman’s Island Terminal operates with DP World’s hallmark precision and efficiency, making it the right facility to welcome and service the mammoth CMA CGM Pelleas. As Brisbane and Queensland prepare to make their mark on the global stage with the Summer Olympics in 2032, DP World’s reliable trade infrastructure and services will help fortify the city’s and state’s links with the rest of the world,” he added.
DP World said the arrival of the Pelleas at the Port of Brisbane is a testament to Queensland’s commitment to enhancing its infrastructure, including its ports, to keep pace with its growth ambitions.
The state has pledged to invest over A$50 billion (US$31.73 billion) in infrastructure over a four-year period from 2021.
Annually, it exports roughly A$125 billion (US$79.35 billion) and imports around A$72 billion (US$45.7 billion), with most of its key trading partners in Asia.
Serving vessels of this size at DP World’s terminals in Australia demonstrates the scale and quality of the company’s infrastructure and operations and its role in connecting Australian enterprises with trade opportunities in the region.
This includes enabling businesses to tap into the potential of Southeast Asia, which is forecast to contribute A$534 billion (US$339 billion) via two-way trade with Australia by 2040 by leveraging DP World’s strategic presence and network.
“With the CMA CGM Pelleas calling at Brisbane prior to her journey north to Asia, we’re once again thankful to our great supporters within the Port of Brisbane, in particular DP World, who have ensured the smooth operations of this vessel. The deployment of the CMA CGM Pelleas on our A3C services represents an ongoing commitment to the reliable and continued sustainable liner service between Australia and Asia,” said Shane Walden, managing director, ANL & CMA CGM Agencies Oceania.
Neil Stephens, CEO of Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd, for his part, said: “The Pelleas is the longest container vessel to call at the Port and demonstrates the vital role that the Port of Brisbane will continue to play in driving Queensland’s and Australia’s trade and economic growth into the future.”
The Fisherman’s Island Terminal offers stacking cranes, an advanced operating system and 900 metres of quayline. Customers have access to a full range of electronic business support, including electronic customs import release of cargo, electronic data interchange (EDI) reporting, and web-browser-based information services.
Adjacent to the container terminal is the Brisbane Multimodal Terminal (BMT), with road and rail links to the city and the rest of the region. The dual-gauge rail link and location of the BMT make it possible to move large volumes of cargo into and out of the port by rail.