Arrival in Dampier of big iron ore carrier

A new era in Western Australia's mining industry history was heralded today with the arrival in Dampier of the biggest ore carrier to enter our waters.

Deputy Premier Ian Taylor, who was at the port for the arrival of the 339 metre-long MS Bergeland, said WA iron ore could now compete at a more favourable freight rate into Europe than our biggest competitor, Brazil.

"The massive capacity of the ship means Hamersley Iron now has a very competitive rate into the European market," Mr Taylor said.

"Hamersley has done exactly what the Government has been advocating and that is companies being innovative in finding ways to become world competitive.

"The berthing of the ship is also a tribute to international co-operation - Bergesen, the vessel owners, and Hamersley have worked together to produce a ship which meets the requirements of Western Australian ports and can also take the massive single load on one trip which will reduce the freight rate."

The Deputy Premier paid tribute to Bergesen's ingenuity who had committed $100 million to building a vessel which could now complete two loaded legs on a global loop - one from the Americas and the other from Australia.

"No-one present at the first shipment of 52,000 tonnes from Hamersley Iron in 1966 could have imagined what is happening here today - the facilities which had been created for that first shipment were considered to be the biggest that would ever be required," he said.

"Today, we have a 322,000 tonne vessel berthing.

"What we have seen is the creation of a world-class iron ore industry and a world-class port - complemented by 'state-of-the-art' carriers with the most sophisticated technology available."