Shipping Australia is delighted to welcome GeelongPort as our newest corporate associate member.
GeelongPort is a major driver of Victoria’s economy, managing over $7 billion of trade and generating over 1,800 jobs across the state. As Victoria’s premier bulk port and the state’s second largest port, GeelongPort handles 12 million tonnes of cargo and more than 600 vessel visits each year.
The importance of Geelong as an Australian maritime hub is only set to grow following the announcement that the new Victorian ports regulator, Ports Victoria, will be headquartered in Geelong. And that follows on from earlier news that the TT-Line vessels will relocate to the port’s Corio Quay.
Bilal Ali Khan, GM Trade & Property, at GeelongPort commented upon its decision to join Shipping Australia.
“We are delighted to be joining Shipping Australia as its newest member and to have the opportunity to work more closely with Australia’s shipping industry to help grow trade throughout regional Victoria and Australia.
“GeelongPort as a regional port has a very important role to play in supporting regional Victoria’s economic growth. Our shipping activity is linked to key agricultural trades that underpin food production, construction inputs to support Victoria’s building industry and 50 per cent of the state’s fuel needs. We are growing and diversifying into other sectors including supporting the growth of our very important tourism sector with Spirit of Tasmania’s move to Geelong.
“It is working in partnership with our key stakeholders that will result in better outcomes for our region and help support the growth and prosperity of Geelong, Victoria and Australia more broadly”, Khan said.
Shipping Australia CEO, Melwyn Noronha, enthusiastically welcomed the new member onboard.
“The Port of Geelong is clearly already a vital maritime centre and, with plans to locate the new regulator and the Spirit of Tasmania vessels in Geelong, the port will only gain in importance. GeelongPort is already the premier regional port in Victoria and its membership of Shipping Australia will add expertise in a range of port-related policy, operational and bulk handling-matters.
“It is beneficial to all of Shipping Australia’s members to be able to access the viewpoint of such a key stakeholder in Australia’s maritime supply chain. We look forward to working alongside GeelongPort to the benefit of the port, to Shipping Australia’s members, to regional Victoria and to Australia”.
