Port businesses

Within the port, services are provided to shipping and freight operators by private sector companies operating under long-term leases with Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC).

Terminal operators
Most of the freight passing through the Port of Melbourne is handled by the two container terminal operators at Swanson Doc - DP World and Patrick Stevedores.

Patrick Shipping and Toll Shipping operate dedicated terminals for Bass Strait trade.

There are also terminals for general cargo and automotive cargo.

Other operators handle bulk cargoes from a variety of common user and dedicated terminals.

For information on these operators and the trade they handle, see PoMC's Customer Handbook.

The major terminal operators are investing continually in the development and upgrading of facilities and logistics systems. There has been considerable change among the terminal operators over the last few years as a result of vertical and horizontal integration in the transport and logistics industry. The major operators now provide integrated sea and land transport services beyond the port terminals.

Port service providers
Supporting shipping operators are a number of companies providing port services , including sea pilots, lines boat, tug operators and maintenance firms. PoMC, through its Shipping Management Centre , coordinates the provision of these services to shipping operators.