Dear Valued Customer,
We would like to inform you that the Port of Melbourne has been experiencing significant landside congestion caused by IT issues at DP World's West Swanson Terminal (WST) following a Terminal Operating System (TOS) upgrade earlier in the week. The congestion, which began over the weekend, has severely impacted truck turnaround times, forcing transport operators to work extra shifts and seek additional Vehicle Booking System (VBS) slots to catch up, incurring higher operating costs.
The situation worsened due to road congestion, particularly along Intermodal Way—a single-lane connection—causing trucks to be delayed further. Restrictions on Footscray Road due to ongoing construction for the West Gate Tunnel Project (WGTP) have compounded the issue, forcing more trucks onto Intermodal Way.
Additionally, delays have affected other facilities in the Swanson Precinct, with trucks stuck and unable to return to their yards due to the chronic road congestion. Recovery for transport operators will take several days, with a backlog of containers to process, further worsened by weather-related disruptions, including high winds in Melbourne and vessel schedule delays at Port Botany, Sydney.
The IT issues also impacted DP World's other terminals in Brisbane, Sydney, and Fremantle, temporarily disabling equipment and closing gates, adding to the nationwide impact. Transport operators are expected to recover, though it will take time and come at an increased cost.
Our teams will continue to monitor the situation, provide updates, and manage through the associated challenges to the best of our ability, minimising the impact to your supply chain.
Thank you for being our Valued Customer. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the notice held within, please contact your Key Account Manager or a C.H. Robinson representative.
Sincerely,
C.H. Robinson.