PHPA – big plans in the pipeline

In terms of throughput, figures for the 2011/12 financial year showed a total of 246.69m tonnes. This was an increase in trade of over 23% (47m tonnes) on the previous year’s record throughput of 199m tonnes.

But it wasn’t all about the throughput last year. Other noteworthy achievements from PHPA included winning the ‘Port of the Year’ at the 17th Annual Lloyd’s List Australian Shipping & Maritime Industry Awards in November. Last year also saw the ports’ marine pilots (Port Hedland Pilots) achieve certification concurrently for the International Standard for Pilotage Organisations Code 2011 (ISPO), and by Det Norske Veritas (DNV).

But PHPA has bigger plans for 2013. Roger Johnston, chief executive officer, PHPA, told Port Strategy that the port anticipates a prolonged period of growth driven by continuing strong demand for commodities, and as a result, will continue to expand its resource capacity to meet this significant demand.

A review, conducted in 2012, into productivity and capacity utilisation at the port identified under-utilised capacity and a number of development opportunities to access that capacity.

“Therefore, 2013 is expected to see a number of key developments underway or near completion, to meet future growth at the rapidly growing port”, he said.

The development of Stockyard 2 at the PHPA’s Utah Point facility is already well underway and is expected to further increase the potential throughput of the facility once operational. Added to this, Fortescue Metals Group’s fourth Berth at Anderson Point (AP 4) is soon to be completed.

Dredging work has been completed at South West Creek in preparation for the construction of berthing facilities for Roy Hill Infrastructure, which will have an allocation capacity of 55m tonnes. In addition, a business case is expected to get underway for two new general cargo berths at Lumsden Point.