Containerisation

A typical example of modern world-class container facilities is shown in Fig. 17 of Port Botany and these can be compared with Fig. 18 showing shipping facilities existing at Darling Harbour, Sydney, until the early 1960s. Port Botany container berths meet the unique requirements of the container trades, in that each terminal has approximately 1,000 metres of wharfage, capable of accommodating at least three present day container ships, three 35 tonne wharf cranes, 15.25 metres of water at the face of the berths, 42 ha of 'backup' land, paved to meet the 100 tonne axle loadings imposed by mobile container handling equipment, and major road and rail links. Fig. 17 also shows the 2 km armoured revetment wall constructed to protect the reclamation and create a still water port in the area of Botany Bay originally most exposed to wave attack. The design of this port to ensure that container ships can be loaded and unloaded regardless of offshore wave heights of 10 metres would not have been practical without current mathematical and physical modelling techniques.

17 Port Botany: Container Terminals as well as bulk liquids and LPG Terminals

18 Darling Harbour: Sydney -Jetties built in the 1920s

Specialised container terminals have been provided at Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle, Brisbane, Darwin and Geelong. In addition, container cranes are also available at Townsville, Newcastle and Burnie.

Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering