Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT), International Container Terminal Services, Inc.'s Australian operation and the first fully automated container terminal in Australia, has received the inaugural call of COSCO Shipping Lines' recently launched ANE service.

ICTSI said the ANE service directly connects Australia's southeastern coast and New Zealand, providing coverage up to Bell Bay in Tasmania.

Catering to the speed-to-market requirement between key Eastbound and Westbound Trans-Tasman lanes ports, the service has this port rotation: Melbourne – Bell Bay – Sydney – Auckland – Melbourne. COSCO operates the ANE service together with OOCL.

"VICT looks forward to the opportunities that come with being part of such an important route, as well as a stronger partnership with COSCO Shipping Line and OOCL," said VICT's chief commercial officer Olga Coelho.

COSCO's new service commenced with the arrival of the 1,100-TEU boxship Contship Yen at VICT on May 12.