Port of Melbourne dredging (VIC)

Keeping trade flowing through Australia’s busiest port

Port of Melbourne Operations Pty Ltd (PoM) is Australia’s largest container and general cargo port, handling more than one-third of the nation’s container trade.

As the regulated landlord manager of the port, PoM is responsible for the strategic planning, development and management of the port’s operations under a 50-year lease which commenced in 2016. PoM is responsible for maintenance dredging of channels and berths within port waters in the Port of Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay. This is performed under a Dredging Consent and Environmental Management Plan Conditions, as well as responsibilities and accountabilities to the Harbour Master for safe shipping operations.

Our role

MBB was engaged as Procurement Managers when PoM took to market a 12-year long-term maintenance dredging contract to continue to fulfil its dredging program and consents. The process enabled participation and competition between international dredging and marine contractors with the required capability, capacity and equipment for the 2-yearly dredging of at the south channel and 4-yearly dredging at the northern channel and Yarra River.

Our services

MBB led the market engagement and PoM stakeholder coordination through the following procurement stages:

• Procurement strategy and plan
• Market briefing
• Expression of Interest (EOI) stage
• Request for Tender (RFT) stage
• Contract finalisation, documentation and Executive Team and Board reporting

To deliver these, we worked with the PoM team to:

• Develop and approve of EOI and RFT documentation, including engaging and aligning inputs with the PoM probity, legal, technical, stakeholder and comms and operations teams and advisors
• Develop an Evaluation Plan and Evaluation Report with recommendation to award and support board approvals

Manage, coordinate and support the procurement, evaluation and contract award processes, including mobilisation of the evaluation panel, design and facilitation of interactive tender workshops with shortlisted tenderers, engagement and alignment with key PoM internal stakeholders and advisors, and information management and security.