Extended operating hours

Empty container park operator CC Containers and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) have agreed to extend the operating hours of CC Containers’ depot in Yarraville for the collection and receipt of MSC empty containers on a six month trial basis. From 17 January, the depot will be open from 6.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and on Saturday mornings from 7am to 11am.
This development follows the announcement in December 2010 by Maersk Line to extend the operating hours of the MRS empty container park from 17 January 2011. “The two largest container shipping companies in the world have taken a leadership position on funding a trial of extended Empty Container Park (ECP) operating hours as called for by landside stakeholders in the Port of Melbourne. They are to be warmly applauded”, commented Victorian Transport Association Deputy CEO, Neil Chambers.

“As we said at the time of the Maersk Line announcement, we are urging all of our container transport members to encourage their importer, exporter and freight forwarding clients to consider shipping with MSC ahead of other shipping lines given their willingness to help to reduce their customers’ landside container transport costs by providing the added flexibility of extended ECP operating hours”, Chambers stated. However, it is noted that the extended hours at CC Containers will only relate to the pick up and delivery of MSC containers.

“Again, we call on all container shipping lines servicing the Port of Melbourne to negotiate in good faith with their empty container management providers to reach agreement on funding the reasonable additional costs of extended ECP operating hours.”