Qube Ports & Bulk is the pre-eminent supplier of stevedoring logistics and port management services in the Australian region. Qube Ports & Bulk has had a presence in Australia since 1852, through it's heritage as a shipping company, vessel agent and stevedore. Qube Ports & Bulk, until 2006 operated as P&O Ports Limited, now offers over 150 years of Australian stevedoring expertise, which extends to port development, management, general cargo and bulk material handling services.
In 2006, the global assets of P&O Steam Navigation company, including P&O Ports, we're acquired by DP World (hyperlink) and subsequently in May 2007, a consortium led by Kaplan Equity Limited, a private equity fund managed by Kaplan Funds Management (hyperlink) acquired the Automotive and General Stevedoring operations from DP World and launched the business P&O Automotive and General Stevedoring and DP World retained a shareholding in the company.
In November 2009, the Kaplan consortium acquired the 25% shareholding from DP World and the P&O Automotive and General Stevedoring business rebranded to become known as POAGS. The POAGS company continued to be owned by a consortium of significant shareholders composed of international shipping companies and investors that included the $AUD 200 million ASX listed Managed Investment Scheme, called Qube Logistics.
In late August 2011 the listed investment scheme, Qube Logistics completed a corporatisation of the held logistics assets and formed Qube Logistics Holdings Limited (ASX: QUB) (Qube). Qube was admitted to the official list of ASX Limited on 22 August 2011.
Qube Ports & Bulk is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qube.
Qube Ports & Bulk is a growing company with a significant shareholder that has a willingness to invest in the development of the organisation.
Qube Ports & Bulk operations in Australia consist of on-wharf, port precinct facilities in all Australian capital city ports and bulk and general stevedoring operations in a further twenty-four ports, together with cargo storage, shed operations, materials handling and distribution operations in all Australian states.
Management
The Qube Ports & Bulk Managing Director is Don Smithwick. He was the former director of Patrick's Automotive and General Stevedoring. He is supported by the Director Ports, Michael Sousa, and the Director Bulk, Todd Emmert. A major subsidiary, Giacci Brothers transport, is led by Peter Giacci. Additionally, the company is supported by a highly experienced management team and a regional state management structure.
Qube Ports & Bulk operations in Australia consist of on-wharf, port precinct facilities in all Australian Capital city ports and bulk and general stevedoring operations in 24 Australian ports, together with cargo storage, materials handling and distribution operations in all Australian states.
Commitment to the future
Qube Ports & Bulk is committed to servicing its existing clients, expanding and developing new business opportunities by extending services at existing facilities, creating new facilities by investing in infrastructure domestically and working in partnership to build new business opportunities.
Partnerships and joint venture arrangements
Qube Ports & Bulk has a number of partnerships and joint venture arrangements, including:
Northern Stevedoring Services (NSS), formerly Northern Shipping and Stevedoring (formed 1971), is located at Townsville Queensland with operations spanning regional Queensland’s major ports facilities in Townsville, Cairns, Gladstone and Mackay. NSS is a private company jointly owned by Xstrata Copper and Qube Ports & Bulk. The shareholders bring significant experience from the mining and stevedoring industries to NSS.
With a commitment to regional Queensland, NSS has invested in state of the art facilities and equipment, with a focus on setting the benchmark for the delivery of stevedoring and supply chain solutions for all clients. NSS is the only integrated stevedoring and supply chain service solutions within the region and is supported by regional Queensland’s largest and most efficient stevedoring workforce and a premier fleet of mobile equipment.
A Strong Partner
Qube Ports & Bulk has extensive expertise in providing general and bulk stevedoring and logistics services to our customers across a broad mix of industries and cargo commodities.
- General and Break Bulk Cargo
- Bulk Material Handling
- Motor Vehicles
- Containers
- Industrial Break Bulk
- Oil and Gas Servicing
- Steel and Metal Products
- Facilities Management & Maintenance
- General (livestock, Forestry, Grain)
- Specialist Heavy Lift & Project Cargo
Qube Ports & Bulk has significant industry expertise, is backed by a professional, dedicated and experienced labour workforce, coupled with specialised equipment and lifting gear for efficient and safe vessel operations and the highest standard of cargo care.
Qube Ports & Bulk currently handles more than 20million tonnes per annum of bulk products and with our continued involvement in a number of bulk commodity handling projects these volumes are expected to increase. Our significant and growing experience base in the efficient operation and management of multi-user bulk facilities will provide substantial value to project partners.
Coupled with the experience of our management and ownership team in multiple elements of the logistics chain and a proven track record in working successfully with port authorities, we believe that Qube Ports & Bulk will be a strong partner for the development, operation and management of bulk projects.