The Port of Melbourne is experiencing significant congestion following IT problems at DP World West Swanson Terminal (WST). The issue stems from a Terminal Operating System (TOS) upgrade, which began causing disruptions over the weekend and into the week.
- Truck turnaround times at DP World WST have worsened, with transport operators working extra shifts and scrambling for additional VBS slots to catch up.
- Road congestion in the Swanson Precinct has been severe, particularly on Intermodal Way, which has only a single lane each way. Trucks were at a standstill for extended periods on Monday.
- Restrictions on Footscray Road, due to the West Gate Tunnel Project, have pushed more trucks onto Intermodal Way, worsening delays.
- These delays have impacted other facilities, including Patrick East Swanson Terminal (ESD), with operators expecting several days to recover from the backlog.
- High winds and vessel disruptions in Melbourne and Sydney have contributed to “vessel bunching,” worsening the situation.
National Impact:
The IT issues at DP World extended to other terminals across Australia:
- Brisbane: Automated Stacking Cranes (ASCs) and truck arrival kiosks were disabled.
- Sydney: The 1100hr truck arrival time zone was cancelled.
- Fremantle: Trucks were diverted to the Truck Marshalling Area (TMA) until systems were restored.
