๐๏ธ ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ ๐ฒ๐น๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ ๐จ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๏ธ
Victoriaโs Essential Services Commission (ESC) is investigating a complaint that Port of Melbourne channel fees may result in a port user paying twice for materially the same navigation and channel-related infrastructure or services.
No finding has been made against the Port at this stage. The ESC expects the investigation to take up to six months.
The complaint concerns Port of Melbourne fees for Shared Channels and Dedicated Channels. The complainant alleges it is charged by Port of Melbourne for channel-related services while also paying another party for materially the same navigation and channel-related infrastructure or services within the same port waters.
The ESC will assess whether the fees comply with the Port of Melbourne Pricing Order, including its cost-recovery and non-duplication principles and the fair-and-reasonable pricing objectives under the ๐๐ฐ๐ณ๐ต ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต ๐๐ค๐ต 1995.
Channel fees are charged once per ship visit, based on a vesselโs gross tonnage, for the provision of channels and associated services in Port of Melbourne waters. Separate charges apply to Shared Channels, which can be used by vessels bound for Melbourne or Geelong, and Dedicated Channels, which serve vessels travelling to Melbourne.
These are not marginal charges. They sit within the cost base of every vessel call and can ultimately influence shipping-line economics, port-call decisions, freight rates and the competitiveness of Victorian importers and exporters.
The Pricing Order gives Port of Melbourne a reasonable opportunity to recover the efficient costs of prescribed services.
The ESCโs role is to test whether pricing remains fair, reasonable and compliant with that framework.
Importantly, this complaint investigation is separate from the ESCโs broader inquiry into Port of Melbourneโs Pricing Order compliance for 1st July 2021 to 30th June 2026. That wider inquiry is examining whether any non-compliance was significant or sustained, with a final report due by 31st December 2026.
Port of Melbourne will be able to respond to a draft report, and the regulator will publish its reasons and explain its findings once the investigation concludes.
The outcome will matter beyond the individual complainant. Clear, non-duplicative and evidence-based port charges support confidence for shipping lines, terminal operators, freight forwarders and cargo owners, particularly at a time when supply-chain costs and reliability remain under close scrutiny.
This is not an allegation of wrongdoing; it is a regulatory process to test whether the pricing framework is being applied correctly. But it reinforces a simple principle for Australian logistics, port infrastructure charges should be transparent, proportionate and tied to services actually provided.
๐ธ and reference https://www.fullyloaded.com.au/port-melbourne-channel-fees-esc-investigation/
