The Port of Newcastle is pushing ahead with its plans to expand its container handling capability with a $28.4 million investment in two mobile harbour cranes.
The German-built 40 tonne Liebherr L550 cranes are due to be operating at Mayfield 4 berth next year.
The port committed to the investment prior to the Federal Court's judgement, which labelled the port's push to establish a $2.4 billion container terminal as "fanciful" and "far-fetched".
The port is presently constrained from building the terminal by an agreement which requires it to fund state compensation payments to NSW Ports, the operators of Port Botany and Port Kembla, if it handles more than 30,000 containers a year.
While the new cranes will significantly increase the port's container handling capacity, it will still remain well under the cap when the cranes are in use.
"As the Hunter's trade gateway to the world, the mobile harbour crane investment will enable the port to leverage the full use of our abundant channel, rail, road and land capacity to accommodate existing and new trade and ensure the Port of Newcastle is best placed to meet the demands of customers into the future," Port of Newcastle chief executive Craig Carmody said.
"Naturally, we would also like to be announcing the next stage in our game changing $2.4-billion multi-purpose deepwater terminal project. Although we are not presently in that position, Port of Newcastle's goals are unwavering.
"We are firmly focused on seizing opportunities that will create a broad mix of trade opportunities which help to support our local industry, boost jobs in addition to the 9000 positions the port directly and indirectly supports now, and build a prosperous local, state and national economy."
It is estimated a Newcastle-based container terminal would attract $2.4 billion of private investment and generate more than 15,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute $2.5 billion to the national economy.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has thrown his support behind the proposal as recently as May.
Port of Newcastle's executive manager trade and business development Paul Brown said the cranes would increase efficiency at the port and provide an enhanced alternative for customers currently moving both oversized equipment and containerised cargoes through the east coast's capital city ports.
"Our customers already benefit from the port's uncongested road, dedicated freight rail and berth access and this investment will enable both existing and new customers to utilise the port's infrastructure to move their oversized equipment and containerised cargo even more efficiently through Newcastle."
"Port of Newcastle is excited about this upgrade to our Mayfield 4 berth service offering. Our team look forward to working with customers and new trades alike to identify how the mobile harbour cranes service can benefit their supply chain, improve efficiency and further support their ability to successfully compete in international markets," Mr Brown said.
