Dampier's new importance as supply port for Pilbara industry

22/7/94

Transport Minister Eric Charlton says Dampier has assumed new importance as a supply port for industry in the Pilbara.

Mr Charlton made the comment today while officially opening new public wharf facilities at the Dampier port.

"A big increase in shipping movements into Dampier shows that the port is not only the home of the giant North West Shelf Gas project, but also a major supply point for the ever-growing offshore exploration and development activity on the North West Shelf and Exmouth Plateau," he said.

"Currently there are 10 offshore fields in production, ranging in size from the Rankin A platform with 24 wells, down to the single well operations such as Saladin and Talisman.

"Last year, 806 offshore support vessels used the Dampier public wharf, and this year promises to be even busier as construction equipment moves through the port.

"In addition, the port is becoming a hub for general cargo.

"A growing trade has been established with an ammonium nitrate exporter, and it is possible this will increase to some 60,000 tonnes per annum in shipments averaging between eight and 10,000 tonnes each.

"Significant quantities of railway iron are regularly imported across the wharf, Stateships call regularly on both the South East Asian and North West runs, large shipments of casing and drills stem are imported regularly, the Pilbara Express Line is a frequent caller and Perkins Shipping intends establishing a regular service.

"This increase in traffic has meant that onshore support infrastructure has needed to keep pace with demand."

The Minister described the latest extensions to the wharf as a $7 million dollar investment in the future of Dampier that came about in direct response to increased shipping activity in and out of Dampier.

The work, carried out by Transfield, was completed in May - three months ahead of schedule.

It included extension of the main deck by 97 metres, giving the main wharf face a total length of 209 metres and an inside face length of 159 metres.

The deck is capable of sustaining a 100-tonne point load, allowing large mobile cranes to work in safety.

Mr Charlton said the upgrading meant seven rig vessels were now able to safely lie alongside at any time, or if a general cargo vessel was moored, three-quarter rig vessels could moor.

"This is a 100 per cent improvement on the original three-rig ship capacity and should eliminate the problem of congestion," Mr Charlton said.

Originally constructed by Woodside Offshore Petroleum in 1982, the wharf was used for offloading heavy materials up to 400 tonnes in weight during construction of the onshore LNG plant.

As part of its agreement with the State, the wharf was handed over to the Dampier Port Authority in February, 1990, and since that time has been a public facility, available to any port user.

Media contact: Dean Roberts 321 7333