Last car carrier visits Sydney Harbour

The last car carrier to visit Sydney Harbour discharged its cargo at Glebe Island on 15 November.

The last visits marks the final step in the Government’s plan to transition the vehicle import trade from Sydney to Port Kembla, part of the NSW Ports Growth Plan announced in 2003.

The car import trade had been progressively moved from Sydney Harbour to Port Kembla since June this year, following an upgrade of the Port Kembla facility.

Over the last few years Sydney Ports Corporation has worked with industry and Port Kembla Port Corporation to ensure this has been a smooth transition of the vehicle import trade from Sydney.

Although this is the last car carrier to visit, Sydney Harbour will remain a working port, retaining import of construction materials, cruise shipping, long-term oil imports and maritime construction, maintenance and repairs into Glebe Island and other berths.

The port facilities in Sydney Harbour not only play a vital role in the NSW economy, but are also central in terms of the identity of the harbour.

Sydney has been a working harbour since the beginning of European settlement. Last year there were 784 commercial vessel visits to Sydney Harbour including bulk cargo vessels and cruise ships.

The area around White Bay and Glebe Island has been used for wharfage since the early 1900s, with the Glebe Island container terminal opening in 1973. Cars have been imported through Glebe Island since this time.

Cars will continue to be stored at Glebe Island and White Bay storage and warehousing facilities over the coming months.