King Island farmers get new Bass Strait shipping route cutting costs in half
Port Anthony terminal in Victoria opens late October. It cuts freight and livestock costs by about 50 per cent.
Bass Strait Freight operator David Harris is building a terminal at Port Anthony in South Gippsland. The terminal will serve King and Flinders island farmers moving into interstate live cattle markets.
The new service will bypass Tasmania's Bridport port, which has a shallow channel. Ships must cross a narrow tide window there.
The 15-hour service to Port Anthony is expected to reduce cattle and general freight costs by about 50 per cent. Harris estimates the terminal can handle up to 40,000 cattle a year.
Bridport's shallow entrance forces large vessels to time crossings carefully. Sand buildup has made operations increasingly difficult.
The Victorian port at Corner Inlet is investing in the berth and livestock facilities.
- Port Anthony, South Gippsland, Victoria
- Terminal location
- about 50 percent
- Cost reduction
- 15 hours
- Service duration
- up to 40,000
- Annual cattle capacity
Why it mattersIsland farmers can now export livestock and freight at half the current cost. This makes interstate markets possible for them.
AustraliaTasmanian island farmers gain cheaper access to mainland markets; changes agricultural supply chains for King and Flinders island cattle and dairy operations.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 11 h ago
