Subscribe to Pilbara Ports Authority's quarterly e-newsletter, the Pilbara Portal, for the latest corporate, operational & community news from the ports of Ashburton, Dampier and Port Hedland.
subscribe to the pilbara portal
CEO Message Pilbara Ports Authority has released its 2020 Annual Report. The report provides an overview of PPA’s strong financial and operational performance during the 2019-20 year. It also outlines emerging trade developments such as the establishment of an LNG bunkering hub in the Pilbara which will play a significant role in the shipping industry’s efforts to reduce emissions. To read more about this and other PPA initiatives, you can download a copy from our website.
We recently received approval from the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources for the new, permanent wash bay at the Port of Port Hedland. The wash bay is part of PPA’s biosecurity facilities at the Port, which allow PPA to operate as a Class 1.1 Approved Arrangement Facility and a Biosecurity First Point Port of Entry under the Biosecurity Act 2015. The biosecurity facilities at our ports have been constructed in a staged approach over the past few years and the most recent approval allows the Port to move away from using the previous smaller and temporary facility. Congratulations to PPA’s Landside Operations team on this milestone.
We continue to work to ensure COVID-19 does not get into our ports, our host communities, or the surrounding mines. We have implemented well-established plans and protocols in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and we are in regular contact with government departments and agencies, as well as industry stakeholders. The health and wellbeing of our staff remains our priority.
The PPA Board was in Port Hedland for their August meeting, and attended events with staff and members of the community. They thanked and recognised staff for their efforts in delivering PPA’s record 2019/20 results and visited the Spoilbank Marina site.
This edition of the Pilbara Portal provides an update on the Spoilbank Marina project, which is expected to break ground early next year and create local jobs and business opportunities in the Pilbara. You can also read about WA Premier Mark McGowan’s recent visits to Port Hedland as well as PPA’s Marine Cadetship Program.
Please enjoy this edition and we look forward to sharing more updates in the next one.
Spoilbank Pilbara Ports Authority is leading the delivery of the Spoilbank Marina project to create a vibrant new amenity for the Hedland community. The project is expected to create more than 200 jobs during construction and will provide a boost to the local economy as the State recovers from COVID-19.
On 13 November, the first sod was officially turned by Minister for Ports Alannah MacTiernan, marking the first major milestone in the delivery of the project.
The contract for the Stage 1 of the project, which includes roadworks and the relocation of underground powerlines and light poles, has been awarded to Aboriginal-owned business Garli Pty Ltd. The roadworks are being carried out by Main Roads WA on behalf of the Department of Transport.
Stage 1 will involve almost $4 million worth of upgrades to key roads in the area, which will ensure materials can be safely transported to and from the site during construction and create a gateway to the new marina once complete.
The tender for Stage 2 – Package 2a (bulk earthworks) was released to the market in September and closed on 12 October. Tenders received are currently being reviewed and evaluated, and a formal announcement about the successful tenderer will be made by the end of the year.
The successful tenderer will be tasked with excavating the marina basin, selected breakwaters and revetments for this significant stage of the project. Those works – which mark the start of Stage 2 of the project – are expected to get underway in early 2021.
First direct shipment On 10 November, PPA realised a significant milestone in direct shipping into the Pilbara, with the arrival of the ANL Darwin Trader at the Port of Port Hedland. The vessel arrived from Singapore with a cargo of containers, pipe and loose cargo and departed Port Hedland for Dili on 11 November. It will operate a 20-day circuit between the three ports.
Direct freight shipments into Port Hedland became possible following investment in Port Hedland's cargo inspection and treatment processes to meet requirements under Federal biosecurity legislation, with Port Hedland and Dampier granted first point of entry status in November 2019.
The new freight service coincides with Commonwealth approval for a permanent wash bay at the Port of Port Hedland which will allow for full fumigation and biosecurity cleaning of all product and equipment exiting the port. This certification gives importers more certainty that a wider range of products can now enter Australia through the Port of Port Hedland. Similar biosecurity upgrades will also take place at the Port of Dampier.
Government-supported studies found that Pilbara revenues would increase by 1.14 per cent, or $120 million per year, if a direct maritime freight service was established. This service could also replace up to 20 per cent of the current overland freight task and create local jobs.
Oil Spill App PPA recently completed a project to help improve communication and visibility between field operators and the Incident Management Centre during an oil spill.
The project aimed to equip the first strike responders (including non-PPA representatives) with appropriate hardware and software which would allow them to access and log information in real time, and for that real time log of information to be available to the Incident Management Centre.
The core deliverables of the project included a mobile mapping and information access application and hardware to access it in the field (iPads), a web-based dashboard to provide situational awareness in the Incident Management Centre and appropriate training of staff to use the system.
This technology was developed for the Port of Dampier but has been successfully trialled at the Port of Port Hedland during an oil spill exercise. The technology will be deployed across all operational areas in the event of an emergency.
First commercial vessel On 8 September, the Port of Ashburton welcomed Bhagwan Dryden, a 57 metre dive support vessel servicing the Greater Enfield area. This occasion marked the first time a commercial vessel has been welcomed at the Port of Ashburton Cargo Wharf.
Once AMG pilots had brought the vessel in and secured it at the South Quay of the Ashburton Cargo Wharf, the vessel had an exchange of crew, loaded stores and received bunkers during its five hour stay at the port.
PPA’s Landside and Marine Operations teams played a key role in engaging with Base Marine, the logistics provider of the offshore project, which saw the culmination of a swift turn around. The master and pilots acknowledged the relative comfort of navigating the vessel through the broad channel and the wide swing basin the Port of Ashburton offers.
Since the first vessel call, PPA has received enquiries from other commercial vessel operators who are interested in trading through the Port of Ashburton.
Geoff Monks Pilbara Ports Authority was saddened to hear of the passing of Geoff Monks, the first Harbour Master of the Port of Port Hedland who led a great period of change during his 22 years at the port.
Captain Monks began his career with the Port Hedland Port Authority in 1965 and oversaw vast growth and development at the Port during his leadership. The Port has developed from a two-berth jetty to its current standing as one of the world’s largest bulk export ports with 19 operational berths.
Under his guidance and direction, the Port of Port Hedland approach channel and turning basin were dredged to accommodate for larger ships in the 1960s, the first step in facilitating the exponential growth of the port to the size it is today. Captain Monks oversaw the first iron ore shipment to Japan from the Port and the continued widening and expansion of the shipping channel to allow for larger ships and greater exports.
Captain Monks received an Order of the British Empire in 1976 for his role in the development and dredging of the Port to facilitate the export of iron ore. He was personally nominated by Sir Charles Court, former Premier of Western Australia (1974-1982).
PPA brought Captain Monks back to the Port in 2014 to celebrate his achievements with staff after he was nominated to be inducted into the Australian Maritime Hall of Fame. Captain Monks has been remembered as a strong, ground-breaking leader.
Marine Cadetship Program As an 18-year-old, Port Hedland local Kyal Randazzo used to watch ships coming into the Port and dream about a career at sea.
Kyal was awarded the inaugural Pilbara Ports Authority Marine Cadetship in July 2018 following encouragement from his parents to apply to the program and said he could not have imagined what a life changing experience it would be for him.
He has just set sail on his third voyage out of Port Hedland, this time for four months, as he looks to complete the 18-month cadet program. To date, his time as a cadet has included shore-based training and stints at sea taking him as far afield as Vladivostok, Russia.
With his goal of becoming a Master 1, Kyal considers the Pilbara Ports Authority Marine Cadetship Program to be a ‘golden ticket’ opportunity which will allow him to further both his personal and professional development.
He is excited about his career in the marine industry, noting the camaraderie that comes with the time spent at sea. When he returns to Port Hedland in four months, Kyal will head to the Australian Maritime College at the University of Tasmania to begin a Bachelor of Nautical Science.
More information about the Marine Cadetship Program can be found here.
Premier Visit Pilbara Ports Authority hosted WA Premier Mark McGowan at the Port of Port Hedland in late August.
The Premier inspected the Nelson Point Tug Haven and inner harbour, which will be the focus of considerable maintenance projects. These important port infrastructure works will ensure PPA can continue to deliver safe operations and achieve outstanding volumes and records. These works form part of the State’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan.
Premier McGowan commended the port for facilitating a record 717 million tonnes of trade across its ports for the financial year, demonstrating the resilience of WA’s resource sector and supply chain. The massive record output is the equivalent of 13,583 Sydney Harbour Bridges. He also noted that Western Australian ports are “critical to the State’s economic recovery from the pandemic”.
There was open discussion about the work of our ports, as well as the cadetships and training opportunities we offer.
Premier McGowan visited the Port of Port Hedland a second time in early October amid the outbreak of COVID-19 cases on a bulk carrier. The Premier spent time personally thanking PPA employees for their support with the response.
Kim Gebers Kim Gebers joined Pilbara Ports Authority in July 2020 as General Manager Terminal Operations. He aims to support his Terminal Operations team in allowing them to improve, develop and continue to provide great support to their customers, and to play his part contributing to PPA’s executive team.
Prior to joining PPA, Kim held executive roles at the Port of Townsville and the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal. Kim also has 10 years of experience as an Engineering Officer in the RAAF, managing engine and airframe maintenance of a range of aircraft.
Kim has extensive experience in port management and bulk terminal operations and has held roles in the resource and technical industries. His experience includes operational management and maintenance management of capital-intensive ventures in ports, bulk terminals, power generation and metal smelting / refining. He has broad experience in management of operational facilities in multi-user environments, including safety and environmental improvements.
Kim holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Aeronautical) from RMIT University, an MBA from Deakin University and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Kim is married to Melissa with two adult children and two grandkids. His interests include cycling, all forms of boating, from sailing to jetskis, as well as all things aviation (“semi-retired, but can’t quite give it up”). In his spare time, Kim allows his grandkids to do whatever they like and volunteers with the local Marine Rescue.