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Welcome to the Spring edition of the Pilbara Portal and the first for this financial year.
We started the financial year by announcing record-breaking results in FY20/21 for Pilbara Ports Authority, with our total annual throughput across all ports reaching 724.7 million tonnes – an increase on the previous year when we exceeded 700 million tonnes for the first time. Our total iron ore throughput was up one per cent to 676.3Mt, which equates to 39 per cent of global iron ore trade, and total LNG throughput was down one per cent to 30.8Mt, but this still equates to nine per cent of global LNG trade.
Safety continued to be front of mind for PPA, with approximately 16,113 safe vessel movements across our ports – an average of 44 vessels per day. We achieved a lost time injury frequency rate of 0.94, which was a 50 per cent decrease when compared to the previous financial year.
Direct shipping has gained traction, the Spoilbank Marina project is taking shape and planning for the development of a Maritime Precinct in Port Hedland is progressing.
The start of this new financial year also saw the transfer of the Port of Varanus Island to PPA. The transfer was made under the Western Australian Government’s ports governance reform program, which will see ports progressively transfer from the Department of Transport to regional port authorities.
PPA has a strong tradition of giving back, so I am pleased that this edition highlights some of the ways we support the communities in which we operate. Our support is both financial and in-kind, such as the training recently delivered by our Heritage Specialist Robert Brock to Indigenous Rangers from the Murujuga Land and Sea Unit and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) to help them identify, record and manage graffiti at the National Heritage listed Murujuga National Park.
This training is in line with our Cultural Heritage Management Plan, which seeks to minimise our impacts on heritage through engagement with local Traditional Owners. The training also embodies the 2021 NAIDOC week theme ‘Heal Country’, which calls for greater protections of country, the land, the waters, heritage values and scared sites.
I hope you enjoy reading about our other firsts - and milestones - in this edition of the Pilbara Portal.
This strong year-on-year performance follows PPA exceeding 700 million tonnes for the first-time last financial year and represents an increase of 14 per cent over the past five years.
CEO Roger Johnston said the organisation’s strong performance was a result of improved port efficiencies, which has helped to meet the strong demand for iron ore exports.
“The investment to increase the Port of Port Hedland’s capacity is paying off, with the enhancements resulting in an expanded shipping window to enable more vessels to sail on high tide per year, as well as increasing the amount of product that can be safely loaded onto vessels,” Mr Johnston said.
“Pilbara Ports Authority has contributed to Western Australia’s enviable economic position, with the value of commodities passing through our ports in 2020-21 estimated to be in excess of $160.6 billion – this is a 33 per cent increase compared to the previous year,” he said.
“This is a testament to the ports continuing to operate at full capacity throughout COVID-19, with Pilbara Ports Authority navigating border closures and strict maritime regulations to deliver safe and reliable operations for the benefit of the resources sector and the State of Western Australia.”
PPA is helping to combat graffiti at the National Heritage Listed Murujuga National Park with the delivery of Graffiti Management Training.
Heritage Specialist Robert Brock said the training focused on how to identify, record and manage graffiti.
”I share techniques on how to remove different types of graffiti, as well as how to mask scratchings, ensuring it blends in with the natural rock surface using oxide pigments,” said Rob.
“We record graffiti in a way that can be used to support a prosecution. Patterns of distribution and methods of execution can all help identify someone who is perpetrating graffiti. We also determine if an area needs monitoring and what time of year graffiti is happening. For example, if it is happening at the height of the tourist season, we need to look at ways to educate tourists.”
PPA is also working with the Murujuga Land and Sea Unit Rangers to develop their capability to undertake environmental management services on behalf of PPA, including weed management and vertebrate pest control.
Murujuga National Park, which is adjacent to the Port of Dampier, contains the world's largest collection of rock art, with an estimated one million engravings. The majority of Murujuga National Park and the islands of the Dampier Archipelago are National Heritage Listed and are currently in the process of being considered for World Heritage Listing.
The graffiti training was delivered to Indigenous Rangers from the Murujuga Land and Sea Unit and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).
Pilbara Ports Authority Heritage Specialist Robert Brock (centre) with Murujuga Land and Sea Unit Rangers.
This year’s maintenance dredging program is almost complete. Dredging was completed at the Port of Ashburton in July and the dredge Juan Sebastian de Elcano and hydrographic survey vessel PHS Zephyr then moved to the Port of Dampier.
According to PPA Dredging and Survey Manager, Frans Schlack, Dampier had maintained its depths quite well since last year’s sweeping campaign and only a small section required dredging.
He said the Port of Port Hedland represents the biggest dredging challenge.
“Conducting the maintenance dredging operations at Port Hedland - in between the port’s many shipping movements - is like a game of chess with moves and countermoves, especially with sudden changes in the shipping programs brought about by variables like weather, loading breakdowns and pilot availability,” said Frans.
Moving mega-sized cargo is all in a day’s work for the team at the Port of Dampier, but a 168 tonne heat exchanger for installation as part of the Woodside Pluto Interconnector Project highlighted the efficiency of PPA’s processes.
Taking the trailer and ancillary components into account, the total weight was 358.4 tonnes, measuring 16.1 metres wide, 32.5 metres long, and 8.8 metres high.
The module was transported from Fremantle to Dampier, via the Spleithoff ship MV Houtmangracht.
After berthing at Dampier Cargo Wharf and stored overnight, all roads into and out of the port were closed as the module was transported to the nearby Woodside Pluto Interconnector Project.
The successful movement of the heat exchanger was a cooperative effort between PPA, Woodside, Worley, Monadelphous, C.H. Robinson and Qube.
On 1 July, PPA added another port to its remit, with the transfer of responsibility for the Port of Varanus Island. The port, operated by Santos for the export of condensate, is located approximately 75km from the Pilbara mainland and hosts around five vessel visits each year. PPA will oversee operations remotely from the Port of Dampier. Along with the ports of Ashburton, Dampier and Port Hedland, this transfer brings the total number of ports within the PPA group to four.
The consolidation of commercial ports will ensure better safety, planning and coordination of port development in the Pilbara region. This change is part of the second phase of the WA Government’s ports governance reform, transferring oversight of port facilities from the Department of Transport to regional port authorities. The reform aims to bring all trading ports in Western Australia under the same regulatory regime, bringing a more regional focus to port planning and management.
Image courtesy of Santos
The Port of Dampier Bulk Liquids Berth (BLB) played a role in a milestone reached in July.
Yara Pilbara celebrated the successful export of 10 million tonnes of anhydrous ammonia from the BLB when the Quebec sailed in July.
It was the 444th vessel to sail from the port since exports began in June 2006, which equates to two vessels per month, all of which have been incident free.
Anhydrous ammonia is a toxic gas that is not only a widely used foundation for the production of nitrogen fertilizer but it has many other industrial purposes. The gas is loaded at -32 degrees Celsius and it takes approximately 24 hours to load under the direction of a loading master.
Direct shipping to Western Australia’s Pilbara region is gaining traction, with the arrival of the fourth shipping service into Port Hedland in early August.
The Swire Shipping managed vessel MV Souni discharged 30 containers of materials and equipment for mining and construction projects.
PPA’s Landside Operations Manager Jon Giles said direct shipping services connect the Pilbara with ports across Asia and eliminate the need for cargo to pass through other port facilities and be transported to the Pilbara by road.
“Pilbara businesses have traditionally relied on goods being trucked from the Port of Fremantle or overland from the eastern states, which attracted a significant cost in terms of logistics and time,” Mr Giles said.
“Direct shipping translates into lower costs for Pilbara businesses and consumers, and also benefits the State and the nation by generating more inbound and outbound freight opportunities. It also contributes to a reduction in road traffic, road maintenance costs, emissions and noise pollution.”
In order to attract and facilitate direct shipping, PPA has invested in biosecurity infrastructure, including inspection, treatment and wash bay facilities. The availability of improved biosecurity facilities is expected to encourage further growth in direct shipping to Pilbara ports.
The new Swire Shipping service will operate two separate schedules: the first will serve Singapore, Darwin and Port Hedland on a dedicated vessel, whilst the second will deliver containers into Dampier ex-Singapore on a separate slot charter arrangement. Both will operate on a 20-day frequency.
Hedland Maritime Initiative (HMI), PPA’s wholly-owned subsidiary responsible for delivering the Port Hedland Voluntary Buy-Back Scheme (PHVBS) and facilitating the development of a Maritime Precinct, continues to make good progress on both fronts.
Interest in the PHVBS has grown, and as of mid-August, HMI has acquired 38 properties* and a further 45 properties* progressing to contract stage or under contract.
HMI has developed the Maritime Precinct Masterplan, which includes five sub-precincts identified for education and training, commercial and cultural opportunities.
The new fit-for-purpose Seafarers’ Centre is progressing. PPA has issued a tender for the demolition of the property purchased in late 2020 that was identified as an ideal site for a new Centre. Discussions are underway with the Port Hedland Seafarers’ Centre and potential project partners on next steps.
Discussions are also underway with industry about the Pilbara Training College which will provide ‘pit to port’ training options for those in the resources, logistics and maritime industries. HMI is working with PPA to identify suitable locations within the Maritime Precinct to enable the phased development of the College.
HMI provides regular updates on its website and social media pages:
*PHVBS participation at 25 August 2021 / number of eligible residential properties.
Construction of the Spoilbank Marina in Port Hedland is well underway.
In addition to being awarded the Stage 2a bulk earthworks package, MGN Civil was also awarded the Stage 2c package, which includes the construction of breakwaters to protect the marina from rough ocean conditions, and the internal revetment walls of the marina basin.
The site has been levelled and rocks have been stockpiled in preparation for the construction of breakwaters. Quality granite rock from the site will also be re-used for the breakwaters.
The marina will have an initial provision for 21 boat pens. An expression of interest (EOI) form for boat pens at the marina is available on the PPA website. The boat pen EOI period closes on 17 September 2021.
A second expression of interest (EOI) process is underway for Kariyarra creatives and artists to collaborate with curators and facilitators on public art design concepts for the marina. A second opportunity to work on art designs will be made available to the broader Port Hedland community in the months ahead.
PPA is a proud member of the Pilbara community and is committed to supporting its local communities.
We administer a three-pronged program of community investment: the Community Support Initiative (CSI) program which provides financial and in-kind support to community initiatives and events, local community groups, sporting and not-for-profit organisations; the Staff Community Grants program which gives staff the opportunity to nominate and vote for charities or not-for-profit organisations to receive a grant; and, by partnering with local governments to sponsor major community events.
This year’s local community recipients of CSI funds included the Dampier Community Association, Hedland Well Women’s Centre, Karratha Hockey Association, North Pilbara Football League, Onslow Men’s Shed and West Pilbara Port Welfare Association.
We also worked with local government authorities to sponsor major community events such as the City of Karratha Red Earth Arts Festival and the Town of Port Hedland Australia Day celebration.
A big thanks to these groups and the people behind them – who are often volunteers – for their efforts in making the Pilbara a great place to live.
Nicole Bale’s career with PPA started in our Mangrove Nursery and has since seen her work across two divisions: Environment and Heritage and, more recently, Dredging and Surveying.
Nicole completed a Bachelor of Science (Environmental Biology) with Honours at Curtin University, and her first job as an Environmental Consultant involved vegetation mapping and field surveying, often in remote locations. She started part-time work at PPA in 2011 in the Mangrove Nursery. The following year she moved into the Sustainability Coordinator role, and at the end of 2019 she was promoted to Environment Advisor. Nicole joined the Dredging and Survey team earlier this year.
As for her career highlights so far, Nicole says it has been the diversity of her work.
“A day during my environmental work might have included being out on a vessel retrieving a turtle, conducting surveys in the mangroves, or undertaking compliance monitoring onsite,” said Nicole.
“In 2012, I developed Mangrove Mates and subsequently delivered the school-based education session to 2,310 primary school aged students across the Pilbara,” she said.
“Highlights in my dredging role include two weeks of extensive training on board the trailing suction hopper dredger Juan Sebastian de Elcano. I feel very fortunate to be learning from my manager, Frans Schlack.”
Nicole said the most challenging part of her career was her decision to take on a role in a different team in order to broaden her experience and gain a different perspective, which was made easier by her knowledge of PPA’s policies, procedures and key internal stakeholders. She said her 10 years at PPA have given her intensive knowledge of a dynamic port facility.
Outside of work, Nicole enjoys fishing, camping, travelling and reading.