Rowsthorn to call in ACCC over Capital Stevedoring- POAGS link

Toll Holdings spin-off Asciano may alert the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to the proposed link between Tasmanian Ports Corporation’s (Tasports) Capital Stevedoring arm and P&#38O Automotive and General Stevedoring (POAGS). Prospective Asciano chief executive Mark Rowsthorn told Lloyd’s List DCN : &#8220It’s an interesting turn of events and I’m sure the ACCC would be interested in that. &#8220You’ve got the port owner doing a deal with a stevedoring operation on an exclusive basis. &#8220I would have thought that it’s anti-competitive. &#8220We’ll be talking to the ACCC about it.&#8221 Tasports executive manager &#8211 marketing Charles Scarafiotti responded later saying he failed to see on what basis the ACCC would become involved. &#8220As a port company, we wouldn’t be locking other companies out,&#8221 Mr Scarafiotti said. &#8220I can’t see how that would be anti-competitive. &#8220As a port company, we’ve been running a stevedoring business for some time and we’ve been able to separate it and not give it exclusive or preferred rights. &#8221It’s early days as far as we’re concerned and we are yet to detail the terms of our joint venture.&#8221 In Geelong, where Asciano hopes to build an Australian automotive trades gateway, talks with developer Frank Costa &#8211 who owns land needed for the gateway and who wants to build a homemaker centre on it &#8211 had not been held recently. &#8220We are very keen to retain a port precinct and a buffer around our port activities,&#8221 Mr Rowsthorn said. Mr Costa believes a compromise is possible. &#8220I’ve tried as much as I possibly can to keep an open mind and I can understand where [Toll&#93 is coming from on the port’s progress and wanting to see adjacent land embargoed,” Mr Costa told the Geelong Advertiser this month. &#8220(But) I think their proposal focuses on the wrong side of the railway line.&#8221 Mr Rowsthorn sent another salvo across the bows of QR. &#8220With all the trouble that QR are having with their coal customers in providing the right level of capacity and rolling stock &#8211 well, obviously, we’re looking at that, were talking to the right parties to take a piece of that,&#8221 Mr Rowsthorn said. He revealed that Asciano’s Middle East venture was in a partnership bidding for a US$6bn-US$8bn, 2,400 km freight rail link between Damman and Jeddah.

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