Swanson Dock A Story of Progress and Innovation

Swanson Dock has undergone significant transformations over the years, reflecting the city's commitment to progress and innovation. The dock was first established in 1914 as a major shipping facility.

The dock's early years were marked by the introduction of new technologies, including the use of electric cranes and conveyor belts. This enabled faster and more efficient loading and unloading of cargo.

As the city continued to grow, so did the dock's importance, with the addition of new berths and warehouses. By the 1920s, Swanson Dock had become a major hub for the import and export of goods.

Today, the dock remains a vital part of Melbourne's port operations, with ongoing investments in modernization and expansion.

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The construction of Spencer Street bridge over the Yarra River in 1929 reduced the capacity of the riverside wharves, leading to expansion downstream of port facilities. This expansion initially included Appleton Dock.

Swanson Dock was constructed in 1968 on the former Coode Island as Melbourne's first all-container shipping terminal, reflecting the rapid world-wide change to shipping cargo in uniform sized containers.

Swanson Dock was officially opened on 7 March 1969, by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Rohan Delacombe, during the 6th biennial conference of the International Association of Ports and Harbors, Melbourne Harbor Trust hosted.

The first international ship to dock at Swanson Dock was the Encounter Bay.

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Swanson Dock East has a berth length of 884 metres, serviced by six container cranes with 40 hectares of container storage and roadways.

The dock's rail facilities were originally provided in the 1960s, but were later removed. They were restored between 2002 and 2003 with a new 1500 metre long siding.

Swanson Dock West has 944 metres of wharves with seven container cranes and 34 hectares of space, potentially expanding as trade grows. This allows the dock to accommodate the largest container ships trading with Australia.

The first international ship to use Swanson Dock West 1 berth was the Encounter Bay, a former P&O vessel with a beam of 30.48 metres and an overall length of 227 metres.

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Innovation and Excellence is a hallmark of the Swanson Dock project. Our team's creativity and expertise shone through in the Phase 1 ECI process.

A significant challenge arose when it was discovered that the deck couldn't be loaded with heavy construction equipment for a significant period. This led to the development of a grillage beam arrangement that transferred the loading onto strong points within the deck footprint.

Our temporary works designers worked closely with the nominated piling subcontractor to design the grillage beam arrangement. This ensured the works could remain confined within the site footprint while achieving the project's program.

The grillage beam arrangement was a game-changer for the project's progress. The fender beams also required rehabilitation, which presented another opportunity for innovation.

To rehabilitate the fender beams, we developed a fender access platform that provided a safe working platform across a 15m x 4m footprint. The platforms allowed safe access from land to the front, soffit, and rear faces of the fender beams.

Our in-house engineering team was recognized for their outstanding work, winning the 2019 Worksafe Victoria "Best Solution to a Specific Workplace Health and Safety Issue" Award for the fender access platform development.