Terminal Appointment System Project (TASP): An analysis of Burnie Chip Export Terminal unloading operations and related industrial supply chains

Between 2013 and 2017, the Burnie Chip Export terminal (BCET) experienced a tremendous growth in volumes. Through the combined efforts of TasPorts staff and the cooperation of the wood chip supply chains stakeholders, the total throughput of the BCET facility surpassed 1.5 million tons of wood chips in 2017. The Tasmanian forest industry and TasPorts were able to capitalize on the increased market demand for woodchips with the existing infrastructure in the state’s ports.

While this success is a tribute to the outstanding efforts of TasPorts staff and stakeholders, the sustained operation of the facility at high utilization levels has inevitably put strain on the system evidenced through a number of factors including terminal congestion. As a consequence, the productivity and efficiency of terminal, the functioning, operation and maintenance of equipment and logistical challenges faced by transport contractors and forestry companies are all under increasing pressure.

Strategic decisions about investment in port infrastructure are expensive and time consuming. Time being a specific constraint when the facility is already operating at or over its nominal capacity. Capital expenditure decisions are also unlikely to have an immediate impact on issues experienced at BCET.

In this context, the critical point to investigate is how the use of existing terminal infrastructure can be improved to ensure that the facility produces or unlocks value for its customers and their supply chains. Another closely related aspect is to allow planned and emergency maintenance and investments to be brought online as fast as possible by distributing the workload in an even and controlled way. Last, the opportunity arises to identify potential areas for operational, tactical and strategic investments.