Pilbara Ports is the world’s largest bulk export port authority, encompassing the operating ports of Ashburton, Dampier, Port Hedland, Varanus Island and four future port sites.
The ports of Dampier and Port Hedland are responsible for about 81 per cent of WA, and about 43 per cent of the world’s iron ore exports. Other major export commodities include liquefied natural gas (LNG) and salt. LNG throughput at the ports of Ashburton and Dampier was 27 million tonnes, which was about 34 per cent of Australia’s exports and six per cent of global LNG trade.
Pilbara Ports is responsible for managing the ports, including vessel traffic services, ship scheduling, berthing allocations for multi-user facilities and port communications. This includes pilot services, vessel movements, maintaining shipping channels, navigation aids and other port infrastructure. Third party contracts or licences are issued for stevedoring, towage, pilotage, pilot transfer helicopters and pilot boat coordination, security services and waste management services.
We share responsibilities with numerous Federal and State Government agencies in relation to certain activities at our ports. We oversee marine safety and port security, cooperating with Commonwealth Government agencies responsible for customs, quarantine and marine safety.
In Port Hedland we have several Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Approved Arrangement facilities that enable Pilbara Ports to undertake certain biosecurity activities, including rural tailgate inspections on containers. Port Hedland also has an export facility that currently accommodates chilled meat products in refrigerated containers, plant exports to include forest products, and Class 10.6 biosecurity waste transport.
For more information visit www.pilbaraports.com.au