Port Hedland Seafarers Centre

Pilbara Ports is delivering the new Port Hedland Seafarers Centre, a landmark $21 million investment that will provide a welcoming, high-quality space for visiting seafarers while strengthening connections between the port and community.

Seafarers play a critical role in keeping Western Australia’s supply chains moving, with the Port of Port Hedland handling 43 per cent of the world’s iron ore exports in 2024–25. Around 150,000 seafarers visit the Pilbara each year, many spending long periods away from home and family, making access to quality shore leave facilities vital to their wellbeing.

The centre will feature lounges, quiet spaces, games and meditation rooms, modern amenities, Wi-Fi, and chaplaincy and support services to ensure seafarers feel connected and supported during their time ashore.

With wellbeing at its core, the centre will offer a comfortable lounge, a library and games area, as well as quiet zones and dedicated meditation rooms. The Centre will deliver support to seafarers, providing an opportunity for increased awareness and support of the Port Hedland Seafarers Centre within the wider community, as well as allowing for strengthening their business opportunities.

The centre will also support activation of the West End precinct, with retail space, a commercial kitchen and meeting rooms creating opportunities for community engagement, tourism and local economic growth.

Project funding

The $21 million cost of the new centre will be funded by Pilbara Ports, with the costs recouped over time from iron ore customers: BHP, Fortescue, Hancock Iron Ore, and Mineral Resources. All port users in Port Hedland are strongly committed to ensuring that the port provides world-leading support for seafarers. This reflects a shared view that the welfare and safety of seafarers is a priority, and that onshore seafarer welfare facilities are a vital part of a port’s operation and infrastructure.