Featured NewsNSW Celebrates 40 Year Container Trade Anniversary
NSW Celebrates 40 Year Container Trade Anniversary
This month marked the 40th anniversary of the arrival of the first dedicated container ship in Sydney – an event that heralded a new era in shipping which revolutionised world trade.
International container trade in Australia as we know it today began with the arrival of the UK-based ‘Encounter Bay’ at Balmain Wharf on April 3, 1969.
This was the beginning of the world’s first long-haul containerised freight service -- the Europe to Australia run – and it ushered in a new era that’s been fundamental to the development of the Australian economy.
One container ship replaced about 8 conventional ships when taking into account increased capacity and quicker round voyage times.
"The 'Encounter Bay' Circa 1969
The ‘Encounter Bay’ was the first cellular container ship to carry more than one thousand TEU* (1138), compared to as many as 4,500 TEU for the larger container ships which visits Botany Bay today.
The ships expected to berth at the new third terminal at Port Botany will have capacity up to 8,000 TEU, significantly larger than the ‘Encounter Bay’ which first entered Sydney Harbour.
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*TEU, Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit