**Victoria International Container Terminal Boosts Asian Market Connectivity with Revamped Koala Service**

Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT), Australia’s pioneering fully automated container terminal managed by ICTSI, has significantly strengthened its maritime links to Asian markets through an enhanced Koala service. This revamped service, operated by MSC, marked its first call at VICT on October 4th, establishing a direct connection between the Port of Melbourne and key ports in China and Indonesia.

The integration of VICT into the Koala service rotation underscores MSC’s confidence in VICT’s ability to deliver world-class terminal performance. This fixed weekly route offers increased supply chain flexibility, catering to Australia’s largest consumer market and providing shippers with comprehensive coverage across the nation’s southern and western regions.

The Koala service’s route includes Shanghai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne, and returns to Jakarta and Shanghai. With Melbourne serving as the final major Australian port of call for outbound cargo, exporters throughout Victoria can now capitalize on this direct, weekly gateway to essential Asian markets. The complete rotation is anticipated to take approximately 35 days, utilizing a fleet of seven vessels.

Bruno Porchietto, Chief Executive Officer of VICT, highlighted the significance of the Koala service’s arrival. “This validates VICT’s pivotal role as Australia’s preferred gateway for high-frequency, reliable shipping line services,” he stated. “We deliver superior berth productivity with minimal operational variability, providing stakeholders with the predictability needed to plan logistics around a consistent weekly window.”

As Australia’s most advanced container terminal, VICT’s fully automated operations ensure rapid vessel turnaround times and schedule consistency, which are crucial for maintaining reliable weekly service calls. The terminal’s operational efficiency, coupled with the service’s extensive coverage, offers shippers direct and dependable cargo movement options, reducing the need for transshipments and improving overall transit times.

The addition of the Koala service to VICT’s offerings reinforces the Port of Melbourne’s standing as a vital hub in the Asia-Australia trade corridor. This enhances connectivity for importers, exporters, and logistics providers throughout the region. VICT remains committed to collaborating with major shipping lines to expand service options, thereby strengthening Melbourne’s regional connections and its access to global markets.

Enhanced Koala service at Victoria International Container Terminal