Early Webb Dock decision vital, says Russell

The state government had been expected to reveal its plans on a site for operations of a third container stevedore last month but the decision had not eventuated.

Shipping Australia has been "a strong advocate of the Victorian Government bringing forward this development because it is timely to prepare now for the recovery of container throughput which is already showing signs of an upturn", chief executive Llew Russell said.

Mr Russell pointed out that the Webb Dock development would provide the potential for the increased capacity being dedicated to a third stevedore similar to the new berths under construction in Brisbane and Sydney, which will be operated by Hutchinson Port Holdings.

"Shipping Australia continues to support the introduction of a third major container stevedore where it is commercially viable to do so and where it would not have a negative impact on future investment," Mr Russell said.

"It is important to ensure that the sea-land interface in Melbourne is up to the task of coping with the forecast growth in container throughput.

"This involves planning at the earliest possible stage for the required supporting infrastructure was well as information technology systems which can generate increased productivity and transparency.

"The new PortBIS system under trial by Tradegate is one such port-based data communication system which will help to achieve that objective."