Australian Ports News vol3 no9

Opens its new marine supply base at Exmouth Special Feature Pages 14-16

Please see our Advertisement and Editorial on Page 5

DP World Brisbane celebrates terminal grand opening

Please see Pages 6-9

Feature Pages 18-19

Base Marine’s response for offshore sector Special Feature - Pages 14-16

AMSA’s upcoming Maritime 2014: Ship to Shore conference

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EGISTRATIONS are now open for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s (AMSA) upcoming Maritime 2014: Ship to Shore conference.

Maritime 2014 will be held at the Crown Melbourne from 10-12 November and is targeted at representatives within the domestic vessel, shipping, environment and emergency response industries.

This is the first time AMSA has hosted a combined shipping and domestic vessel conference that will bring together local, regional, national and international stakeholders.

It is also the first conference hosted by AMSA since the commencement of the Navigation Act 2012 and the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessels) National Law Act 2012 on July 1, 2013. This legislation replaced eight

federal, State and Territory laws with a single law for the safety of all commercial vessels and their crew in Australian waters.

The conference will provide a forum to discuss the latest maritime developments in regulations, safety, environment, navigation, search and rescue and seafarer qualifications, training and welfare. Maritime 2014 will see a number of high calibre national and international speakers address the conference on their particular areas of expertise.

The conference will also feature exhibits from dozens of companies and organisations showcasing their products and services in the maritime industry.

For more information, visit www. maritime2014.com.au. Registrations close on 31 October, 2014.

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Budget reaction: Ports a key part of infrastructure led recovery

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ORTS AUSTRALIA, the peak national industry organisation representing port authorities and corporations, has welcomed the Federal Government’s recognition that port access infrastructure is a key part of its plan to boost the national economy.

Ports Australia Chief Executive Officer, David Anderson, said the Budget made reference to a number of key port access projects, including the Ports of Brisbane, Botany, Fremantle and Gladstone.

“Ports Australia has been stressing to the Federal Government the importance of port connectivity in its infrastructure spend, and we are very pleased to see that these key parts of our freight network receive strong recognition in the Budget,” he said.

Mr Anderson also noted that the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Warren Truss, and his Assistant Minister, Jamie Briggs, were seeking to develop effective ways to apply infrastructure spending to leverage private sector participation.

“Port access infrastructure is where Ports Australia sees considerable potential to establish workable funding models with private sector participation. We will continue to work with Government to secure these sorts of means to improve our freight networks,” Mr Anderson said.

Key port access projects in the Budget: Newcastle Port – Kooragang Island Connectivity - $40m Port Botany Rail Access - $75m Bell Bay Intermodal Terminal Improvements $4.9m Gladstone Port Access Road - $48.2m

We also publishe

Page 2 - Australian Ports News

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Editorial Contributions

Above: Ports Australia Chief Executive Officer, David Anderson Kewdale Intermodal Rail Supply Chain capacity improvements - $17.2m Perth freight Link - TBA Melbourne Metropolitan Intermodal System $38m North South Road Corridor and other works (SA) - $944m Other important port connectivity infrastructure in the Budget includes the design of the Maldon Dombarton Railway in NSW ($10.8m), North Sydney freight corridor capacity improvements ($691.6m), freight rail improvements in Tasmania (119.6m), and Portlink Inland Freight Corridor Concept Plan WA ($0.9m)

Stephen Cleary joins Ports Australia Board CEO of NSW Ports, Stephen Cleary, has been appointed to the Board of Ports Australia.

The announcement was made recently

by Ports Australia Chairman, Vincent Tremaine.

Mr Tremaine said that his Board’s decision to invite Mr Cleary to become a Director was recognition of his strong standing in the ports and logistics

If you wish to receive all future bi monthly issues of Australian Ports News FREE OF CHARGE, please register your name and address details to apen@worldpacific.com.au

industry and of Ports Australia’s policy to be governed by an inclusive Board.

He added that the profile of the membership was changing with new governance structures being generated by port privatisations and other developments.

“My Board is resolved that our organisation act with agility to meet the new challenges produced by these changes”, Mr Tremaine said.

Port Authorities including all industries represented within Port Authorities, associated Associations and Organisations are invited to submit editorial, photo input highlighting Port expansions, new technology being introduced to Port precincts, purchases of major equipment to assist in port handling, new senior appointments, including all associated news matters related to the smooth and efficient operation of all Port precincts to appear in all future issues of the Australian Ports News, free of charge to allow and inform our Australasian readership.

In the first instance, please contact the publisher, Tom Cook for further details on: (07) 5478 9432 or email: apen@worldpacific.com.au

In this issue: • Local Business Pacific Marine

Group to lead $14 million Port contract Page 3 • Ports News Qube employees set new productivity record in Port of Darwin Port Hedland Port Authority partners with world class ship simulation facility Page 4 • DP World Brisbane celebrates terminal grand opening Pages 6-9 • Dregding Feature Hall Contracting wraps up port projects Pages 10-12 • MLA - Reach the Sky Page 13 • Base Marine’s response a win for offshore sector Pages 14-16 • Ports News International Recognition for Flinders Ports on Safety Page 17 • New debarker opens at Northport Universal Engineering Delivers Hi-Tech Design Solutions Pages 18-19 • Ports News Princess Cruises to double its Western Australia presence Page 20

Local business Pacific Marine Group to lead $14 million Port contract P

ORT of Townsville Limited (POTL) Chairman Patrick Brady recently announced that Townsville-based business Pacific Marine Group Pty Ltd (PMG) has been awarded a multimillion tender for demolition and site remediation works at berth 6/7.

Originally constructed in 1911, the Berth 6/7 wharf structure is the oldest piece of infrastructure at the Port of Townsville and has reached the end of its operational life.

POTL, in a joint venture with Glencore, recently invested more the $80 million to upgrade the neighbouring Berth 8, making it a state-of-the-art price of infrastructure that allows for the relocation of dry cargoes from Berth 7.

Mr Brady said he was particularly happy that a North Queensland business had been awarded such a substantial contract.

“The project, costing a total of $14 million, will give a much needed boost to local industry and create employment opportunities in the marine sector job market,” he said.

“The demolition of Berth 6/7 will improve navigation access for larger ships to Berths 4 and 8, further contributing to the Port’s efficiency and growth program.

“Project like these - the demolition of Berth 6/7 and upgrades of Berth 8 - provide huge injections to the local economy and have significant value for industries utilising the Port of Townsville.

“It is fitting that in the year that the Port commemorates 150 years since the beginning of trade, such a pivotal project will get underway to modernise the harbour and allow for growth.”

Now based in Townsville, Pacific Marine Group Pty Ltd (PMG) was first established in 1986 in Bowen.

Above: Kevin Chard (CEO, PMG), Ranee Crosby (CEO, Port of Townsville), Patrick Brady (Chairman, Port of Townsville), Terry Dodd (Managing Director), John Hathaway MP PMG Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Chard said PMG was excited to be working with the Port on such a significant project.

“Our business, based in Townsville, has the experience and know-how to undertake a project of this size and scope,” he said.

“We have just completed a six month project for the Port Hedland Port Authority in Western Australia, which is typical of the remote work we often do. It will be good for us to be able to use our expertise for a major project at our home base in Townsville.

“During the project PMG will be predominantly engaging local employees and suppliers, and two North Queensland businesses will be sub-contracted to undertake components of the demolition.”

PACIFIC MARINE GROUP 11-15 Sandspit Drive, South Townsville Q 4810 PO Box 1155 Townsville Q 4810 P 07 47 242 200 F 07 47 242 208 E info@pacificmarinegroup.com.au

PACIFIC MARINE GROUP IS A TOWNSVILLE (QLD) BASED MARINE CONTRACTING COMPANY • FABRICATION/BLASTING AND PAINTING SPECIALISING IN:

www.pacificmarinegroup.com.au Fully ISO 9001 certified

• TUG AND BARGE OPERATIONS: DRY HIRE OR FULLY • MARINE SUPPORT: DREDGING, GEOTECHNICAL, HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY, CONSTRUCTION CREWED CHARTER • SALVAGE • COMMERCIAL DIVING: CONSTRUCTION, INSPECTION, • BRAND NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART MARINE FACILITY – MONITORING 20,000m2 hardstand, 200T capacity wharf, 3,000m2 • MARINE CONSTRUCTION: NAV AIDS, WHARVES, MAINTENANCE office & workshop complex, 400m water frontage Australian Ports News - Page 3

Qube Employees set new Productivity Record in Port of Darwin Q

UBE Ports stevedores in the Port of Darwin have set new productivity records utilizing a new mobile harbor crane.

The stevedores, who were working on a Swire vessel at East Arm on 21 May were completing up to 32 container lifts per hour compared with 10 lifts an hour using standard ships’ cranes.

Qube’s manager, Northern Territory, Amanda Holtham, said these levels of productivity not only assisted the ‘ramping up’ of Qube’s business in the port but would improve the port’s overall berth efficiency.

“Our employees have really hit the ground running and are excited about not only achieving these rates but potentially outperforming container terminal performances in the eastern states.

“Given this was our first vessel utilising the new crane, I would expect our employees to exceed these lift rates in the coming weeks.

“It is also a win for our customers in that improved productivity reduces vessel waiting times and ultimately demurrage costs,” Ms Holtham said.

Port Hedland Port Authority partners with world class ship simulation facility T HE Port Hedland Port Authority (PHPA) is pleased to announce a partnership with international maritime research and engineering consultancy HR Wallingford, who operates an advanced ship navigation and maritime simulation facility in Fremantle, to provide ongoing support and training for the PHPA’s marine operations team.

The world-class simulation facility will enable the PHPA to optimise its marine operating procedures, and provide for the professional development and training of individual pilots, tug masters and port staff.

The facility has a vessel traffic services (VTS) simulator plus six real time ship simulation bridges (including four dedicated tug bridges), that deliver advanced site familiarisation and scenario based emergency and failure training for Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) personnel,

pilots and tug masters.

The PHPA Harbour Master and General Manager of Operations, Captain John Finch, welcomed the commissioning of the upgraded facilities. “This facility will enable our Marine Operations team to train within a world leading simulation facility and to safely enhance our operational performance. The facility will also allow the PHPA to undertake more thorough assessments of towage requirements and the designs of future marine facilities at the port.”

Above: Photos courtesy of HR Wallingford

New Vessel to help protect Australia’s Borders

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INISTER for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon Scott Morrison recently attended the official naming ceremony of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Vessel (ACV) Thaiyak which will help secure Australia’s borders.

“The Coalition government is committed security and this investment builds on to Australia’s long-term maritime the government’s successful Operation

Page 4 - Australian Ports News

Sovereign Borders,” Minister Morrison said.

“ACV Thaiyak will significantly bolster Australia’s ability to detect and respond to illegal maritime threats in Australian waters and complements the new Cape Class Patrol Boat fleet.”

The vessel will be used to: •respond to illegal maritime arrivals; • apprehend foreign fishing vessels; • monitor environmental pollution; • assist in the management of offshore nature reserves and marine parks; • identify, track, intercept a range of threats in the maritime domain; and • gather intelligence and store evidence for matters that may proceed to the courts.

“The Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve and Cartier Island Marine Reserve are vulnerable to over-fishing so the presence of this vessel will serve as a powerful deterrent to potential illegal fishers,” Minister Morrison said.

“The purpose built ACV Thaiyak will have a planned service life of 20 years and can accommodate up to 16 Customs and

Border Protection Marine Unit officers.

“The name Thaiyak meaning spear, represents protection, endurance, enforcement and guardianship and was selected by a number of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crew members, with the help of their family elders.

“I would also like to acknowledge Industry partners – Strategic Marine and Gardline – for the impressive work they have undertaken to deliver the ship on time and within budget,” Minister Morrison said.

ACV Thaiyak will take over surveillance responsibilities previously carried out by the leased vessel ACV Ashmore Guardian and is due to be fully operational by early October 2014.

The ship naming ceremony, a time honoured tradition, symbolises bringing good fortune and safety to a new ship, its crew, and passengers. The ritual of a vessel naming and christening ceremony ensures that a new name is accepted by gods of the sea.

Sealite Introduces 500,000cd LED Port Entry Light I

N May, Sealite introduced a new 5 degree LED Sectored Port Entry Light, which provides an overall 5 degree beam width and over 500,000cd at 30watts.

The PEL has a night-time visible range of over 23NM and day-time visible range of over 5NM, and is designed specifically to suit high-precision sector applications with a typical measured changeover between colour sectors of one minute of arc.

The LEDs can be configured for automatic night time dimming to eliminate the requirement for moving filters, and can also be individually flashed to reduce the need to employ moving oscillating boundaries.

proud of the product which has been developed.

“This is a 5° PEL with one arc minute between sectors. When we designed this PEL we included a Vernier adjustment feature to enable precision adjustment by installation personnel on site. We chose carbon composite tube for the main body for it’s strength, durability and thermal stability to maintain beam integrity and overall accuracy” commented Sealite Senior Design Engineer, Mr. Geoff Rankin.

“We were able to maintain the low 30 watt power consumption through a series of complex internal optics to suit both 5 and 10 degree designs. Customers using battery

Above: Power, RS232, GPS antenna output and USB configuration

backup also benefit from the considerable autonomy in the event of mains power failure” commented Sealite Systems Engineer, Ms. Dana Tomaszewicz.

the need to open the unit. Up to 32 sector intensity settings and over 256 standard and custom flash codes may be selected, in addition to advanced features such as multiple day/night intensity settings and switching between internal and external photo-cells.

Sealite’s port entry lights are also ready for immediate interfacing with AIS Type 1 or Type 3 systems, as well as GSM facilities for remote monitoring and control, and have alarm relay contacts for remote monitoring to alert to fault conditions. An external light sensor may also be connected for installation flexibility.

Sealite’s engineering team are extremely

Above: Sealite 5 degree Port Entry Light

Above: Anti-reflection coated achromatic lens to give maximum resistance to weather

Above: Precision alignment on-site achieved with Sealite’s Vernier adjustment feature

Programming is achieved via Sealite’s convenient PC configuration tool. The user simply connects their PC to the lantern via a built in weather-proof port eliminating

Sealite’s new PEL was launched at the IALA Conference in Spain in late May as part of a broader release of latest Sealite products which included 6-19NM long range lanterns, AIS technology, and an AtoN asset management mobile application.

For more information visit www.sealite.com.

Australian Ports News - Page 5

DP World Brisbane celebrates terminal grand opening

DP World Brisbane celebrate the launch of its $250 million semi-automated terminal with the grand opening of its facility at the Port of Brisbane.

A

SSISTANT Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, the Hon Jamie Briggs MP, was joined by DP World Chairman, His Excellency Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, DP World Australia Chairman, Holly Koeppel, and DP World Australia Managing Director and CEO, Paul Scurrah, in officially opening the terminal.

The Hon Jamie Briggs MP said: “The Australian Government is committed to building productivity enhancing infrastructure for a stronger Australia and we welcome this significant investment by DP World Australia.”

HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said: “Automation improves productivity, offering more efficient and faster service to customers.

“We are proud to be at the forefront of this sea change in port operations and delighted that DP World Brisbane is leading the way in Australia, benefitting Australia’s importers and exporters and contributing to the growth of the Australian economy.”

Mr Scurrah said the launch was a time to commemorate the achievements of all those involved in the project.

“I take this opportunity to thank our partners for their expertise and tireless efforts in delivering on this project, our customers for their support and patience as we brought the terminal online, and the unstinting and continuing efforts of all employees at DP World Brisbane over the past five years,” Mr Scurrah said.

“It’s also a time to look to the future, as DP World Australia enters a new phase of growth.

“Our vision is to establish ourselves as market leader in the Australia and New Zealand region. The completion of the Brisbane terminal redevelopment takes us one step closer to that vision.”

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DP World Australia Chief Operating Officer, Mark Hulme, said the Brisbane mode change project brought together a major terminal operating system upgrade, a variety of sophisticated terminal handling equipment and an advanced computerised control system.

“The new development will provide excellent customer service as a result of higher waterside productivity, added stacking capacity, more consistent operational performance and additional pickup and delivery flexibility,” Mr Hulme said.

“The official opening is a time for us to all reflect and to congratulate all involved in the project on the hard work they have done to bring this project to fruition.”

On 6 February 2014, the Kota Lestari, owned by Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd (PIL), was the first ship to be serviced as part of a transition to semi-automation in Brisbane.

Under the new system, containers are transferred by manned Shuttle Carriers from the quay crane to a waterside exchange area at the front of a module serviced by Automated Stacking Cranes (ASCs). Brisbane will have seven operating modules each serviced by two ASCs. The overall annual capacity of the seven operating modules is around 900,000 TEUs, providing DP World Brisbane with significant future development capability.

The breadth of change is testimony to the DP World Australia philosophy to provide customers with a superior service, the delivery of innovation, creating value and return to shareholders ahead of demand.

The equipment and systems also provide the competitive advantage that will ensure DP World is at the forefront of operational excellence not only locally, but globally.

Above: His Excellency Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, the Hon Jamie Briggs MP, DP World Australia Managing Director and CEO, Paul Scurrah and DP World Australia Chairman, Holly Koeppel Below: The Brisbane terminal

THE PROJECT

Systems

The Brisbane expansion has been more than a simple combination of civil, electrical and equipment contracts.

Over 30 separate contracts were awarded to provide a comprehensive upgrade to systems and services as well as the physical infrastructure.

The key elements of the project were:

• • • •

Civil • • • • • • • •

Site surcharge to limit terminal settlement Foundations and rail track system for eight ASC modules 600 metres of quay apron pavement and drainage New truck entry and exits New roadway and roundabout Miscellaneous buildings including IT, optical container recognition (OCR) sheds, reefer towers and main security office New lighting

Equipment •

• • •

•

Other • •

Training Simulator Workshop redesign to cater for shuttle carriers

Key ASC Facts

14 x 50 tonne capacity Kalmar Shuttle Carriers. Shuttle Carriers are twin lift and have installed a NOW Solutions Position Detection System (PDS) to ensure containers are placed in the right locations both in the waterside interchange zones and under the ship to shore cranes 14 ASCs Container landing (twist lock) platforms Shuttle access platforms or alternatively improved means of access

Electrical • •

• • •

Navis SN4 terminal operating system Improved 1-Stop vehicle booking system to provide greater flexibility and transparency to the trucking industry CAMCO gate operating system including OCR and electronic signage Accuweigh weigh in motion system to measure the axle loads of vehicles leaving the terminal NOW Solutions access control and Position Detection System software Wi-Fi upgrade to extend and improve coverage Security and operational upgrades with 115 additional cameras TBA terminal optimisation controls

New HV and LV system with amended connection to supplier 23 reefer tower distribution boards combined with 115 reefer tower switchboards Energy monitoring system

• • • • • • • • •

7 Modules with a capacity of 900,000 TEUs per annum 14 Kalmar ASCs (2 ASCs per module) Rail span: 9 containers wide Stacking height: 1 over 5 containers Hoisting speed: 40 metres / min loaded, 70 metres / min (empty) Trolley speed: 60 metres / min at rated load Gantry speed: 270 metres / min Safe working load: 40 tonnes Crane weight: approximately 220 tonnes

A time lapse presentation of the project’s construction is available at: https://vimeo.com/93480146

Brimar – Electrical contractor for Terminal Redevelopment Case Study: Kalmar

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RIMAR IS A privately owned, Queensland-based electrical contracting company that services industrial operations across the manufacturing, resources, infrastructure and marine sectors.

With the highest regard for electrical safety and quality, Brimar delivers value to its customers by working to find solutions that are practical, innovative and costeffective to improve productivity as well as reduce costs.

The Challenge: As part of the new DP World Brisbane Terminal Redevelopment worth $250m, Kalmar bid to design, construct, install and commission 14 Automated Stacking Cranes and supply 14 Shuttle Carriers. The bid was successful. Charged with the task of delivering the highly technical project, Kalmar needed to secure the expertise of a quality electrical contractor that could handle the diverse skillset required for such a project.

Two electrical contracting companies were shortlisted, but it was the attributes of one company such as value for money, capabilities, professionalism and the ability to trust the contractors’ commitment to deliver on contractual obligations, that would play a major role in deciding who would help Kalmar deliver their project successfully.

The Solution: In September 2013, Brimar were announced as Kalmar’s electrical contractor, and with that said, the job began. Brimar quickly identified the critical path for the installation for both the access control equipment and the automatic stacking cranes.

Working closely with Kalmar and their international engineers, Brimar provided a team consisting of Project Managers, Supervisors, Automation Technicians, Electricians and

Apprentices. An engineering audit in China

by Brimar amid-production of the automatic stacking cranes identified that whilst the cranes met European Standards, they did not meet Australian Standards. Site & Project Delivery Manager for Kalmar, Mr Steven Wilson said: “Brimar were instrumental in bringing the e-houses of the cranes up to Australian Standards. Working with Kalmar and certified engineers, Brimar were able to retrofit the requirements and keep the project on track.”

The Result: In February 2014 DP World put out a media release advising that the redevelopment had ‘Gone Live’ and the $250m investment positioned the Port of Brisbane at the forefront of global practice.

In the media release Paul Scurrah, DP World Australia MD & CEO said: “The new development will provide excellent customer service as a result of higher waterside productivity, more consistent operational performance and additional pickup and delivery flexibility.”

In partnership with Kalmar, Brimar had delivered to expectation and completed the installation and commissioning of the Automatic Stacking Crane system – all within budget.

Australian Ports News - Page 7

G4S is leading the way in port security with innovative solutions to an ever changing sector The global economy is changing and with it, the demands on ports are changing too. Port security is increasingly a global economic imperative because in today’s interdependent global economy, international trade and travel is more reliant than ever on the security of our vast network of ports and airports.

The challenges of securing this critical infrastructure are numerous, and need to be properly managed.

.... a siing .. ngle le le p ov pr ovid iid derr tha h t un u nde nders de ers sta tand ds th he b g piic bi ctture ure .. ur ..

By David Fairnie, G4S Regional Business Development Director CNI AME

G

4S WORKS CLOSELY with our customers to successfully address and overcome these challenges. We see ourselves as integrated partners, not merely service providers, because the success or failure of a port increasingly comes down to the strength and quality of its security system. In this regard, our clients value our unique capabilities in logistics and technology, our experience in managing the world’s biggest security personnel workforce, and our ability to address security challenges in a way that creates opportunities to manage assets more efficiently, cut costs and deliver a better end-user experience.

Our clients are increasingly aware that the cost of any security systems failure goes beyond the short term vulnerability of personnel, goods and hardware, because in the long term a breach can have more far reaching consequences for a company’s brand and reputation.

Cognisant of this, we adopt a proactive, responsive and flexible approach, taking the time to understand the specific security and business risks that our clients face. We advocate a holistic approach that doesn’t focus on just one aspect of security in isolation.

Rather, we work with them to manage risk from the conceptualisation through to the implementation and management of a project, looking at every aspect of their business’ risk exposure. Our clients continue to innovate to keep up with changing demands, and they expect us to do the same. Increasingly, they want more than just a traditional manned security solution. They want a single provider that understands the big picture, can manage a broad spectrum of business risks and can address the complexities of their specific situation.

We have also found that our clients appreciate our “global to local” approach, combined with extensive maritime and ports expertise and access to worldwide best practice technology.The unrivalled reach and breadth of our offering means that we are able to transfer the benefit of our global talent pool, experience and expertise to any local area in rapid

Page 8 - Australian Ports News

response to our clients’ specific needs. This ‘rapid response’ capability is made possible by our network of local companies which offer clients a point of contact on the ground.

Maintaining this service requires continuous investment in our people, and we have rolled out extensive specialist training and e-learning programmes tailored to the maritime industry.

The specialised Maritime training programme includes: Maritime Awareness and Security, First Responder, Traffic Management and Driving Force (Safe Driving) training.

The recent move from manual terminals to semi-automated modes at the Port of Brisbane is a prime example of why this approach works. The Port of Brisbane is now the first port in Australia where all stevedores in operation have automated container handling equipment. This world-class infrastructure supports logistics supply chain efficiencies and safety initiatives, which are critical to enhancing trade opportunities through the port.

The automation technology delivers significant benefits to customers in the transport industry including the replacement of the current oneway driveway system, greater flexibility for the collection and drop off of containers, improved IT systems to enable transport companies to locate the position of containers online and improved access to vehicle booking systems.

During this transformation process, we had to align to the client’s changing environment, re-defining the security scope and procedures to safeguard the integrity of the maritime protection zone. The large scale construction

undertaken at the Port Facility required our security team to ensure the continuity of DP World’s normal business activity whilst maintaining the rigorous security requirements across all areas under construction.

We also had to be aware of the stringent national regulations, providing a consistent and high quality port security offering that met these demands. We are intimately familiar with international regulation needs and successfully managed and met the robust Australian regulations at every stage. This required implementation on the ground with pre-planning and alternative security measures, all of which remained in line with regulatory demands. The G4S team worked closely with the Maritime Security Plan (MSP) holder at the Port Facility to ensure that our security measures were being maintained in line with amendments that were being made to the normal operational environment during the construction and implementation phase of the project.

Marine and intermodal terminals around the world are seeking to replicate the Port of Brisbane’s successful move to automated modes. Working as an integrated partner, G4S can deliver solutions to meet the challenges that these changes will bring as cost-effectively as possible. In Brisbane, we have already delivered value-adding security that has transformed performance and delivered real cost benefit through the breadth, depth and quality of global security experience, intelligent systems and world-class project management.

Above: Highly trained and visible staff

We have also demonstrated our change management capabilities at the King Abdullah Economic City Port of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia, as well as the Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone in Abu Dhabi. At both of these facilities we worked with our partners to develop and implement integrated security solutions from construction through to operation, meeting our clients’ evolving security requirements throughout the project lifecycle.

We’ve made exceptional progress in adapting to meet the changing demands of the industry, but we’re not complacent. We know that we have to work hard to maintain our best-inclass service, and we’re continuously looking for new ways to help our clients run their businesses more securely and efficiently. We are excited by the prospects that the changes in the industry will bring.

With our unparalleled global footprint and strong track record built up over many decades, G4S is well placed to develop further strategic partnerships to help the sector stay ahead of the curve.

Below, left to right: Ensuring the security of customer assets Protecting your critical infrastructure Real time incident reporting and tracking

Australian Ports News - Page 9

Hall Contracting wraps up port projects

Fast-flowing currents and non-stop shipping movements weren’t enough to stop dredging and civil construction company Hall Contracting from deepening the Charles Point Patches shipping channel in recent weeks, with the company having just completed dredging over 100,000m3 of material on behalf of the Darwin Port Corporation.

H

ALL CONTRACTING Managing Director Cameron Hall said the works would allow ships to leave Darwin full loaded at low tide, saving the Northern Territory economy millions of dollars each year.

“The problem Darwin Port Corporation was facing was that sand ridges had encroached on the channel and reduced the draft. This greatly restricted vessel departures and proved very costly,” Mr Hall said.

“After completing the dredging works, the channel now has a declared draft of 14 metres, providing ships with full flexibility in terms of loads and departure schedules.”

Mr Hall said despite the increased traffic loads experienced in the port as a result of construction on the nearby INPEX liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility, construction had remained on schedule.

“Approximately 25 employees worked on the project at any given time, and the crew was able to complete works within a twomonth period,” Mr Hall said.

The shipping channel works mark the second project Hall Contracting has worked on in Darwin this year, with the company having dredged approximately 685,000m3 of material as part of the Darwin Marine Supply Base (DMSB) project.

Mr Hall said the DMSB works certainly had their challenges, with the material to be dredged proving extremely hard and difficult to penetrate.

“To combat the rock being encountered, we engaged the 300t Gungner R backhoe dredge to pre-rip these areas before sending Page 10 - Australian Ports News

the Eastern Aurora cutter suction dredge into action,” Mr Hall said.

“We also had to work within close proximity of the newly built wharf and other contractors in the area, so we developed a method of removing excess material from the wharf face without damaging the new infrastructure.”

“This involved positioning a long reach excavator on the shore and Orion barge and using a high pressure water jet-blasting attachment to remove the remaining material.”

Mr Hall said Hall Contracting had a long history of carrying out complex land reclamation and port construction projects, having completed works in areas as widespread as Brisbane, Port Hedland and Port Douglas.

“We have recently wrapped up a project in Port Douglas where we dredged fine sand

Above and Below: The Darwin dredging project.

Aerial view of the Darwin project.

from the area’s main boating inlet to allow local tourism operators to continue using the channel to transport tourists to the Great Barrier Reef,” Mr Hall said.

“The works were undertaken in an ecologically sensitive area and as such, care was taken to minimise the impact on the surrounding environment.”

Mr Hall said the company placed a strong focus on operating in an environmentally responsible manner, and had received international accreditation for its environmental management system.

“Our quality and safety management systems have also received this soughtafter accreditation, which requires stringent standards are met and continuously upheld,” Mr Hall said.

“We pride ourselves on having completed numerous projects without a single safety or environmental incident.”

Some of the other port dredging projects Hall Contracting has successfully carried out include land reclamation works and the dredging of berths and channels at Port of Brisbane, as well as the removal of acid

Hall Contracting Directors (l-r) Peter, Cameron and Brian Hall

sulphate soils from Port Hedland as part of a major BHP port expansion project.

“Our extensive portfolio stretches back decades and even extends to overseas markets,” Mr Hall said.

Hall Contracting operates across Australia, South-East Asia and the Pacific Islands and has been servicing the Australian market since its inception in 1946.

For more information regarding Hall Contracting, please visit www.hallcontracting.com.au or call (07) 5445 5977.

Local knowledge.

World class performance.

From Darwin to Dampier, Brisbane to Port Hedland, Hall Contracting has completed a broad range of successful dredging projects in ports across Australia. Our advanced fleet, first-class management systems and skilled personnel enable us to undertake complex port construction and reclamation works and ensure your project is in good hands.

AUSTRALIA PO Box 519 Buderim Qld 4556 Australia Phone +61 (0) 7 5445 5977 Fax +61 (0) 7 5445 1312 ASIA Level 36 Menara Citibank 165 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malayasia mail@hallcontracting.com.au www.hallcontracting.com.au

Hall Contracting. Servicing Australia since 1946.

Australian Ports News - Page 11

Tropical dredging meets strict environmental standards A

N independent review of recent port dredging projects in tropical and sub-tropical Australia has found that the environmental impacts were generally consistent with or less than those approved.

The report, “Dredging and Australian Ports”, examined the outcomes of recent dredging projects against the environmental performance criteria established for those projects by the relevant regulators and found that those projects had performed very favourably.

The report found that only two dredging projects had led to water turbidity impacts greater than approved. One of these did not result in any recorded impacts to seagrass being monitored nearby whilst the other may have prevented the normal seasonal recruitment of a deep water seagrass species for one year (normal recruitment occurred the following year with higher levels of cover) “Assumptions by some stakeholders of widespread and unintended impacts to areas of high conservation value, such as the Great Barrier Reef, are not supported by the results from extensive monitoring of many recent dredging projects in northern Australia undertaken in similar environmental settings,” the report says.

Monitoring during dredging projects has shown that regular natural events such as cyclones or floods may result in much greater and more prolonged environmental changes to coral and seagrass communities than those related to dredging.

Ports Australia, the peak national industry organisation representing port authorities and corporations, commissioned the report by environmental assessors Dr Rick Morton of RMC Pty Ltd and peer reviewed by Dr Ian Irvine of Pollution Research Pty Ltd (who is routinely engaged by the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority as an independent expert on dredging and ocean disposal issues) to ensure its scientific rigour.

Key Findings

Ports Australia Chief Executive Officer, David Anderson, said that the report aimed to bring factual information about the impacts of dredging which had been deliberately misrepresented by some groups, particularly in relation to impacts on the Great Barrier Reef.

The report says: “Community concern often focuses on the effects of toxicants such as heavy metals, however, the vast majority of dredging in northern Australian ports involves clean sediments and, where any toxic materials are identified, it is disposed of on land not sea.”

Mr Anderson said the report demonstrated the substantial effort and resources that ports put into responsibly assessing and managing dredging projects to protect areas of high conservation value. “They have a proven and positive record in relation to dredging and continually strive to ensure they adopt the latest dredging modelling and management techniques.”

The report’s findings also confirm that

dredging and dredged material placement are subject to detailed and complex approval processes under international, commonwealth and state legislation.

These processes are supported by Australia’s National Assessment Guidelines for Dredging (NAGD) which are internationally recognised as leading practice.

“The report steps through these processes and confirms the rigour of those tests that must be applied to secure permission to dredge and place dredge material at sea,” Mr Anderson said.

The report further demonstrates that Australia’s shipping channels are key pieces of national economic infrastructure and like our road and rail networks need to be maintained and developed to support the competitiveness of our economy. A substantial portion of Australia’s GDP is generated by our seaborne trade with direct implications for Australian industries and jobs.

• Dredging and dredged material placement are subject to detailed and complex approval processes under international, commonwealth and state legislation; • Australia’s National Assessment Guidelines for Dredging (NAGD) which form the basis of impact assessment for all dredging projects, are recognised internationally as industry-leading guidelines; • Any application to place material at sea must comprehensively evaluate alternatives such as beneficial re-use or land based placement; • Any dredged material approved for atsea placement must use a designated Dredged Material Placement Area (DMPA), many of which have been used for decades. These are typically located in unvegetated areas distant from coral reefs or similar; • Toxic material cannot be placed at sea; • Rigorous site selection and master planning endeavours to ensure relevant environmental values and potentially impacting processes are properly understood as part of port infrastructure planning and may assist in avoiding the need for capital or maintenance dredging; • Dredging and at-sea placement of dredge material in northern Australian ports over recent years has been subject to environmental monitoring designed to ensure a designated level of environmental protection, especially to any nearby areas of high conservation value.

A full copy of the report can be found at http:// portsaustralia.com.au/

Australia’s northern gateway now always open for business

I

MPROVED shipping access and ongoing developments at the Port of Darwin are delivering increased efficiencies, shorter turnaround times and cost savings for the growing number of larger vessels using the port to service major projects in the region.

Following the recent completion of dredging works to enhance the main shipping approach into Darwin harbour, at Middle Pass adjacent to Charles Point Patches, the channel depth has been increased from 10.1 to 14.0 metres at lowest tide.

This now allows almost 100% all tides access 24/7, a 30% improvement for loaded Panamax vessels including cruise ships and 12m draft carriers of LNG, dry bulk, petroleum and liquid bulk, which previously remained alongside awaiting a suitable tidal window.

The project required the removal of approximately 105,000 m3 of sand and sediments from a 450m wide and approximately 2km long section of the channel. Dredge spoils were deposited approximately 200m away from the channel, which remained open to larger vessels during dredging, ensuring minimal disruption to shipping.

The dredging project proceeded without any environmental incidents and turbidity levels were generally very low and well within limits set by environment regulators. Community consultation was undertaken and all environment and development consents were obtained prior to commencing.

Darwin Port Corporation CEO, Terry O’Connor, says the Corporation’s dredging program has produced significant productivity gains for commercial shipping.

“Wider transit tidal windows improve overall flexibility for port operations and reduce berth demands. In turn, this delivers increased cargo loading capacity and improved revenue per shipment for the exporter.”

“The Port has achieved an ongoing annual growth of 31% in cargo and 24% in trade vessels and is setting new records Page 12 - Australian Ports News

for container handling efficiencies and cattle exports,” Terry O’Connor said.The Northern Territory’s economic activity is leading the nation, with the Port’s second LNG plant under construction at Bladin Point, a world class Marine Supply Base at East Arm Wharf dedicated to servicing the region’s

expanding oil & gas industry, and planning already underway for another dry bulk facility.”

With capacity to grow, and ongoing investments in infrastructure to support northern Australia’s development, the Port of Darwin is ready to meet Australia’s future trade needs.

Reach The Sky! C

HANGES in world trade and the shipping environment have created ever increasing competition between ports in Australia and around the world. Improved logistics systems and infrastructure have forced previously non-competing ports into head-to-head competition as their frontiers increasingly overlap. Ports, therefore, are continuously challenged, both physically and operationally. Quality equipment is of paramount importance, it can give a company that sought after advantage that will separate it from the competition.

When it comes to loading and unloading empty and full containers, the MLA Vulcan MKII Reach Stacker is the ultimate workhorse.

These machines are engineered with unique stability features, ample power, rugged construction, extraordinary operator visibility and manoeuvrability.

MLA has partnered with the SANY Group to produce the ultimate range of heavy equipment to suit the unique qualities of the Australian market. This range includes reach stackers, empty laden container handlers and forklifts between 16 - 46 tonne capacity for exclusive distribution in Australia and New Zealand.

The Vulcan MKII from SANY Germany separates itself from other Reach Stackers by its outstanding stability and performance.

For the operator a new steering and inching system along with an ergonomic multi-function control joystick ensure outstanding control, easy operation, and an efficient working environment.

Servicing is made easier through a comprehensive database that collects all fault information. This allows technicians to be guided in the maintenance and troubleshooting of the machine.

Internationally these Reach Stackers are widely used in large and medium sized

ports, and is regarded as extremely effective equipment because it achieves maximum space utilisation on container terminals. They are able to do this by having superior handling speeds, unrestricted stacking capabilities, and outstanding manoeuvrability. It has the ability to reach to the second row with a full container and the third row with light weight containers.

Furthermore, it can be used for second rail line applications when equipped with the stabilizer option.

The new Volvo Tier 4 engine is now available, and fully complies with the very latest European legislation. The fully Electric EFI Control System allows for increased engine performance, better fuel efficiency, and cleaner emission controls. What’s most impressive is the high torque and power it delivers whilst producing a minimal noise and having low maintenance and running costs.

A Dana Clark 15.5 HR Transmission enables smooth electronic gear change that is software controlled. With four speeds forward and four speeds reverse the modulated transmission can operate in both automatic and manual shifting mode. Heavy duty drive and steering axles, exceptional lighting, and electric control and hydraulic systems significantly contribute to an impressive set of specifications.

A Reach Stacker needs a quality spreader.

The exceptional Elme 817 spreader is suitable for lifting both 20ft and 40ft containers with an impressive side shift of plus/minus 800mm.

Operator ride and comfort are exceptional with the cabin ergonomically designed using a streamline shape and open view for the most comfortable operator space. There is a centralized joystick, convenient display screen and an adjustable steering gear as standard.

Additionally, the cab is air conditioned and fitted with an MP3 player and suspension seat in order to minimize operator fatigue.

Of paramount importance of course is safety and reliability. An engine protection, overrun protection, and travel protection systems are all elements of the high specification alarm system that brings maximum safety. Some of the roles and features the system provides include; anti over-tipping protection, engine and transmission protection, protection against change of direction with the machine in motion,

safety valves with speed limiters on cylinders and twist locks that unlock only after correct container positioning.

The patented moveable counterweight technology enhances the hoisting capability and stability of the machine, while high quality steel and design criteria provide greater rigidity.

Superior structural design and processing make the Vulcan MKII Reach Stacker more reliable.

Based on its overall performance and aftersales service provided by MLA Holdings, the Vulcan MKII has become the hottest port machinery product in the Australian market.

Given the dynamic nature of the ports industry, the Vulcan MKII is a powerful, reliable, and efficient machine that will provide its owners a competitive advantage.

For more information on this product contact MLA Holdings on 131 652 or www.mlaholdings.com.au

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Australian Ports News - Page 13

Base Marine’s response a win for offshore sector

The extensive offshore oil and gas sector plays a vital role in the welfare of the national economy and Western Australia is a key ingredient. The state is regarded asone of the few remaining places in the developed world where potential for new oil and gas discoveries holds so much promise.

the needs of the offshore oil and gas sector.

Further, that the current undedicated and costly solution available in Dampier would become too expensive for oil companies to sustain in the longer term.

So where to locate a marine supply base was the next question that required resolution. The owners needed a site that was a similar distance to the offshore oil and gas fields as the current port of call at Dampier. Proximity to Perth was also an important consideration so that Base Marine could maintain manageable freight costs for its clients.

So following extensive reconnaissance along Western Australia’s North West coast it soon became clear that Exmouth presented the best option for a number of reasons.

Strategically, the choice of Exmouth is ideal. The Shire of Exmouth is around 1300 kilometres north of Perth and approximately 280 kilometres closer to Perth than Karratha.

It sits on the tip of the North West Cape in Western Australia which places it within easy reach of the busy North West Shelf. However, as far as Exmouth was concerned it wasn’t simply about geography.

According to Nick Tutty one of the first things that impressed them about Exmouth was the community’s supportive attitude and an eagerness to participate in the lucrative offshore oil and gas sector.

“Exmouth fulfilled our needs in terms of its location relevant to the North West Shelf and to Perth but the facilities on offer within the Shire enhanced its appeal.

Exmouth already had established freight networks with an existing marina and a large Continued page 16 Above: Aerial view of Base Marine.

Below left: Fork loading.

Below: Crew and crane from north.

O

NE OF THE MOST concentrated operational areas off the Western Australian coast line is the North West Shelf but up until recently, oil companies operating rigs in that area have been extremely limited in their ability to efficiently access onshore support for supply and maintenance.

However, earlier this year Base Marine, following an extremely fast paced construction process, opened its new marine supply base at Exmouth which will dramatically reduce the logistical problems that have plagued those operating in that offshore region for many years. Nick Tutty, Base Marine’s Chief Executive Officer explains.

“One of the main reasons for establishing our supply base is that marine operators in the northwest have been severely restricted by the lack of load out and supply options.

To date they’ve been confined to the Port of Dampier and of course, with only one available location, competitive pricing was non-existent.

This situation was not advantageous for the offshore industry either in cost terms or logistics.

We’re really proud to be able to present a cheaper alternative that will also improve operational efficiency for our clients by saving

Page 14 - Australian Ports News

a day’s round trip on line haulage and by providing a highly flexible marine base that has the ability to turn vessels around with record timing.

In setting up our base, the most important issue for us was to ensure that we operated with the highest standards of health and safety throughout the construction phase and when the base became operational. From the outset we wanted to have the correct systems in place to manage safety, training and the environmental aspects of our business. Our view was that if we do this right from the start, the culture of safety at Base Marine will be ingrained in our young company and will grow with us.”

Although Base Marine is a relatively new company the research conducted in determining the appropriate location for the marine base and how such a base would operate was extensive.

Initially, the purchase of a vessel was considered to service the oil and gas industry offshore but it was soon realised that this would not provide the comprehensive solution that the oil and gas sector desperately needed.

The owners of Base Marine were all in agreement that a more cost-friendly and efficient response at the wharf stage of the supply chain was paramount in addressing

EWS offers customised Marine solutions ENGINEERED WATER SYSTEMS (EWS) is a wholly owned Western Australian company, which is dedicated to providing specific expertise in the marine, Civil and mining industry.

E

NGINEERED WATER Systems workshop has facilities to fabricate fixed and floating jetties, pontoons, steel structures, gangways and mining spec pump works.

EWS can offer specialist advice in design, supply, installation and repairs (including diagnostics and associated consultancy services) of new or existing marinas, jetties, boat ramps, piling works, marine infrastructure and all waterway constructions and provide services for maintenance and repairs.

EWS has its own marine/civil engineering and drafting group which collaborates with Poralu Marine – a worldwide recognized floating jetty system, to ensure that customers are provided with optimised pile and structural designs for their installations.

With a solid asset based of manufacturing/ installation equipment and comprehensive workshop facilities, EWS is capable of implementing and controlling turnkey projects.

Base Marine: EWS’s turnkey project from design till installation Manufacturing a customised commercial marina is what EWS has been awarded for

by Base Marine in Exmouth : design and construction of the floating pontoons, piling and moorings for commercial support vessels located in a cyclonic environment.

In the design stage EWS had to consider not only the various characteristics of the commercial vessels (displacement, gunnels height) and their specific mooring arrangement requirements but also the extremely harsh conditions that the marina is exposed to. The facility has been designed to allow for strong water level variation, tidal range, including flood surge, and extreme cyclonic condition. Exmouth has been classed as a category 5 cyclonic area, the worst in Australia.

The UV resistant and virtually selfcleaning Poralu Ecostyle© decking and the polypropylene expanded polystyrene filled block floats allow for virtually unsinkable pontoons and will grant longevity and low maintenance to the facility operator to the benefit of the users.

... marinas, jetties, boat ramps, piling works, marine infrastructure and all waterway constructions ...

Design Particular attention has been placed, right from the design stage allowing for the needs and requirements of the facility: - Electrical services to allow up to 32A and 50A trip phase per vessel - Portable water connection available for all vessels - Fire fighting equipment Hydrants, hose reels extinguishers - Specially designed Mooring brackets that allow for cyclonic mooring and at the same time HDPE corrosion protection for the piles - Floating mooring brackets to allow for 30m+ commercial vessels

Challenging Construction and Piling phases The construction was particularly challenging due to the ground conditions.

EWS used there custom made piling barge to allow to drill into the hard sea bed conditions and was done with a drilling equipment that drills the piles directly into the sea bed and then grouted in. All pile tests confirmed the loads that needed to be achieved and HDPE sleeves used to protect the piles.

One of the unique features for the base operator is to offer to the users a cyclonic,

self-adjusting mooring arrangement and have at the same time a HDPE sleeve pile corrosion protection that will minimize the maintenance costs and extent the design life of the piles. The mooring brackets use a special steel rod that has high tensile properties that bolt straight onto the HDPE sleeve allowing for ease of use and interchangeable if required The piling operation required high level of expertise: indeed the pile had to be drilled in hard rock. EWS choose to use sacrificial teeth welded to the bottom of the pile to optimise the piling process.

This method allowed us to save precious piling time and allowed to match the very tight schedule that was draft to complete the construction as well as the tight tolerances required for the piling operations.

Floating pontoons give flexibility and safety Whereas the access to the vessel can be pretty challenging on fixed jetties, considering the rise and fall of the water level in the area, the floating pontoons offer the crews an easy and safe access to their vessels.

The modular Poralu aluminium Pontoon system allows also an easy and customized installation for the services to adapt to the evolving requirements of the end users.

EWS is working Australia and International wide with its head office in Perth and a sales office located in the east coast.

Should you have projects or enquiries regarding Port developments, Marinas and pile design, marine facility development, floating pontoons, wave attenuation, universal access please call: 08 9408 2300.

Australian Ports News - Page 15

Base Marine’s response a win for offshore sector Continued from page 14

established industrial estate supported by local services. It has an airport with Qantas flights operating twice a day which is an obvious benefit for the flight needs related to the industry.

Further, Exmouth is in close proximity to a large number of Floating Production Storage and Off-loading vessels (FPSO’s) and to the islands of Barrow and Thevenard with dozens of oil producing fields on its doorstep.

Overall, we felt secure in the knowledge that Exmouth had enough existing infrastructure to ensure that large scale projects could be serviced.”

BASE MARINE ADVANCE ON EXMOUTH TO ESTABLISH SUPPLY Having made the decision to locate the Marine Supply Base in Exmouth the company wasted no time in moving forward and in September 2013 Base Marine acquired the only suitable, waterfront industrial land available.

On the day of settlement, the owners themselves complete with a team of excavators were already on the Exmouth site to begin the construction phase and to steer the facility towards its launch. The enthusiastic support of local contractors ensured that no time would be wasted as they worked day and night to establish the marine supply base which officially commenced operations earlier this year.

The constructed supply base sits on 10,600 square metres within the Exmouth Boat Harbour and Base Marine also secured a 3,000 square metre seabed directly in front of the site.

The supply base is now completely secure and features wharves, office facilities, workshop and a designated secured area for laydown/ storage of cargo and materials.

Since construction, Base Marine has already secured the opportunity to expand their waterfront landholdings which would allow a total waterfront landholding of 56,600 square metres and a seabed lease covering 7,500 square metres.

In simple terms, Base Marine currently offers the following services at the existing Exmouth site: • 10,600m² fully operational marine supply base • LCT load-out facility (RORO Ramp) for vessels up to 50m LOA • Heavy Load-Out Facility with dedicated 150t Crawler Crane • Fully secure and quarantined waterfront laydown • Cyclone Rated Boat Pens for vessels up to 30m LOA • Brand new plant and machinery • 10t, 25t and 32t forklifts • Food Stores available locally in offshore refrigerated containers • Base Marine are also agents for Swires Oilfield Services with a fleet of offshore containers

Page 16 - Australian Ports News

HEAVY LIFTING, LANDING BARGES AND CYCLONE PROTECTION Base Marine’s 150 tonne Crawler Crane is stationed on the waterfront and provides the capacity to lift up to 40 tonne onto the back deck of a vessel docked at the marine base’s berth. In conjunction with the 32 tonne forklift it is the biggest lifting configuration available in Exmouth. The base’s Heavy Load Out Facility is capable of lifting small to medium vessels and shipyard works can be undertaken within the compound.

A purposely engineered and designed RollOn Roll-Off (RORO) ramp has been constructed at Base Marine, specifically to accommodate Landing Craft/Barge. These vessels are ideal for transporting cargo to the islands off the coast such as Barrow Island, Thevenard Island and Varanus Island. The RORO can be used in all tides for landing craft up to 50 metres in length and the ramp simplifies the whole loading procedure reducing the time and effort required to unload and load cargo.

Cyclones can be a common weather feature along the west coast. Exmouth is fortunate because it is one of the towns least affected by cyclones in the region and vessels at sea, in an effort to avoid them, can incur extra fuel and manning costs. Base Marine has 8 cyclone rated boat pens to hold vessels up to 30 metres in length and up to almost 13 metres wide. This means that operators of vessels with advance bookings have peace of mind knowing that they can berth their vessel and leave the area with their vessel safely secured throughout the cyclone. Long term and Casual/Daily berthing options are also available.

Base Marine offers a range of storage and laydown facilities from daily storage to long term options. The laydown facility is fully secure and quarantine options are available on request.

Base Marine can also provide total logistics management coupled with comprehensive marine engineering services in a supply base supported by a dedicated, professional workforce.

Above: Crew with Swires Containers.

Below: Loading work.

A further advantage for clients is that Base Marine has the capacity to develop its land holding to suit the specific needs of its clients.

This enables offshore oil and gas producers to consider their own future onshore support requirements in conjunction with Base Marine.

The company is prepared to work with producers in order to best service their needs.

EXMOUTH MARINE SUPPLY BASE UP AND RUNNING It hasn’t taken long for the Exmouth supply base to be noticed and appreciated. Base Marine is already supplying large vessels and rigs by utilising local supply vessels to transfer cargo and materials from Base Marine to the rigs ships or islands.

The company’s most recent supply project was conducted over a 4 month period for Sapura Kencana. It was a highly successful operation and clearly demonstrated both the efficiency and the cost effectiveness of the Exmouth marine base in comparison to the previous Dampier supply option.

Highlighting the benefits of the Exmouth connection, in December 2013 Base Marine worked with local marine operator Go Inshore to refit the semi-submersible, Atwood Falcon Rig. The scope of work included a full refit and maintenance program including a subsea survey using dive company Oceanic Offshore.

Some of Base Marine’s clients that have already taken advantage of the new facility include Chevron, Woodside, All Seas, Atwood Oceanics, Oceanic Offshore, BHP, Sapura Kencana and Apache.

In a sign of things to come, several of these large scale companies are in discussions with Base Marine about developing the facilities to supply specific future projects.

HANDLING EFFICIENCY REQUIRES A SAFETY FIRST APPROACH Base Marine has clearly done its homework in its efforts to streamline efficiencies in the design of the supply base and the equipment and plant incorporated but as Nick Tutty explains, for a system to be efficient it must also be safe.

“Health and safety are critical elements both in terms of financial viability and the ongoing welfare of our workforce. So rather than ‘buy’ a generic safety system we wanted to ensure that any system we applied would be specific to the oil and gas sector and its working environment.

We also wanted to create a culture where, through disciplined leadership, each individual who works for Base Marine can participate in a proactive manner to contribute to both the overall system and safe workplace practices.

With that in mind we have created a safety, training and environmental management system that we refer to as STEMS which we anticipate will be certified in the coming months.”

In simple terms STEMS is based on risk management principles where the entire workforce systematically assesses the risks in the workplace. This is conducted through various processes including workshops, analysis of potential job hazards and regular worker safety assessments. According to Nick the company is now in its third quarter of operation and are proud of the fact that to date, the base remains Loss Time Injury free.

He also believes that notwithstanding that excellent result that a safety first culture is well in truly in place at Base Marine and from management down the focus is clearly on maintaining a safe and efficient workplace.

The offshore oil and gas sector now has a dedicated facility at Exmouth which can only enhance operation in the region and it appears that due to the proactive nature of Base Marine, efficiency of supply for all involved will continue to evolve in a positive direction.

For more information about Base Marine visit www.basemarine.com.au

Darwin Port Corporation achieves ‘Best Overall’ D

ARWIN Port Corporation’s Annual Report has been named the Overall Best Report for 2012/13 and also received the ‘Best Presentation and Readability’ award.

The awards, which recognise excellence in reporting, accountability and corporate governance, were presented by the Institute of Public Administration Australia in Darwin on Monday 7 April. The judging panel comprised representatives from Deloitte, CPA Australia, Charles Darwin University and the Office of the Auditor General.

Corporation General Manager Corporate Services, Melissa Reiter, says the awards are a credit to the Corporate Services team and our expert writers from Darwin-based Associated Advertising & Promotions.

‘The Annual Report is a key communication and reporting tool for the Corporation and we constantly strive to make improvements to meet national and international benchmarks,” Melissa Reiter said.

‘The Annual Report project team worked tirelessly to ensure our activities, challenges and performance were clearly reported to create better understanding and engagement with our diverse stakeholders,” she added.

The Darwin Port Corporation’s Annual

A

record breaking 2.273 million tonnes was exported through Eastland Group’s port in the financial year to 31 March 2014, an increase of 251,542 tonnes on the previous year.

Above: (left) Acting CEO Darwin Port Corporation, Melissa Reiter receiving the Award from IPAA

Report was also awarded, for the second year in a row, a silver medal in the Public Sector category of the prestigious

Australasian Reporting Awards on June 19 at a gala event held in Sydney, attended by around 500 private, public and government organisations.

International Recognition for Flinders Ports on Safety F

LINDERS Ports has received an International Safety Award 2014 from the British Safety Council, achieving extra recognition by securing the win with ‘merit’ status. The prestigious award, which was presented at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on 25 April, acknowledges Flinders Ports’ proven commitment to workplace health and safety.

Lynda Armstrong OBE, Chair of the Trustees of the British Safety Council, congratulated Flinders Ports on their success in winning the International Safety Award with merit: “The British Safety Council commends Flinders Ports on their achievement. This award is in

Eastland Port breaks another record – 2.273 million tonnes in 2014

recognition of their commitment and effort to keep their employees and workplaces free of injury and ill health. Our warmest congratulations.”

Commenting on the award, Mr Stewart Lammin, General Manager of Flinders Ports said, “It’s a special honour for

Flinders Ports to be recognised at an international level across, health, safety and welfare. This achievement endorses the high standards and commitment of all Flinders Ports staff.

“Our staff work in potentially high risk environments, so we’ve made safety the keystone of the business. We view legal requirements for work health and safety as minimum standards, rather than the ultimate goal. The mindset is one of continuous improvement and all staff are part of a team approach to safety.”

The International Safety Awards scheme, now in its 56th year, is open to UK and international organisations of all sizes across all industries and seeks to promote high standards of health and safety management practice in order to prevent workplace injury and ill health.

“At Flinders Ports we aim for a safe and healthy work environment, where our workforce has confidence that they will return home each day accident and injury free. Investing in safety has not only boosted staff morale – it’s been great for productivity too. We’re proud to have delivered a real win-win for staff and customers,” said Mr Lammin.

Eastland Port general manager Andrew Gaddum says the year on year increase is the result of a combination of factors.

“China’s ongoing demand for raw logs has continued, and the developing maturity of our regional forests means trees are now at the right age for harvest. We continue to look at our operation to understand what we can more safely and efficiently. Eastland Port is now recognised nationally as the most efficient log handling port in the country.”

In the 2014 financial year, 97.89 percent of the volume processed through the port was logs, up a little on 2013’s 97.02 percent. The remaining 2.11 percent – or 47,235 tonnes – was made up of plywood, sawn timber, kiwifruit and squash.

Both squash and kiwifruit exports were down against the 2013 financial year, according to Mr Gaddum, due to a condensed growing season for squash and the impact of PSA on kiwifruit. However the volume of ply leaving Eastland Port in 2014 increased to 33,000 tonnes, from 6,000 tonnes in 2013.

In ten years, says Mr Gaddum, the port has taken its annual export volume from 480,000 tonnes to more than 2 million tonnes.

“In practical terms that means that in 2003 around 38 forestry trucks were coming into the port every day to unload, but now it’s more like 200 a day.

“Another way to look at the growth of the port business is to consider the number of ships coming into the harbour to be loaded.

Five years ago 97 ships left the port with an average load of 12,400 tonnes. Last year we said goodbye to 120 with an average load of 18,900 tonnes.”

Eastland Group chief executive Matt Todd says since the company acquired the port in 2003, it has spent more than $50 million on capital enhancements. Eastland Group plans to invest just as significantly over the next five years to accommodate customer projections for forestry harvest.

“Eastland Port is a vital piece of infrastructure for the region and for a forestry industry that has been the single biggest contributor to Gisborne’s GDP since 2012, and now directly employs over 1600 people.”

Background Eastland Port Shipping trends – total export volumes 2003/04 481,836 2004/05 457,681 2005/06 382,009 2006/07 526,956 2007/08 714,780 2008/09 734,703 2009/10 1,203,143 2010/11 1,517,040 2011/12 1,707,695 2012/13 2,022,216 2013/14 2,273,740 Australian Ports News - Page 17

New debarker opens at Northport A

new multi million debarking plant is now operating near Northport, south of Whangarei, following a formal blessing and opening ceremony on 8 May.

The 1.1 hectare operation will provide debarking and anti-sap staining services to Northland forestry customers, largely replicating Eastland Port’s Gisborne operation.

Eastland Group chief executive Matt Todd said the establishment of Northland Debarking Ltd was a good fit for the company, which owns Eastland Port as well as a number of other companies in the energy and logistics sectors.

“Eastland Group’s strategy is to find investment opportunities that add tangible value to our customers’ business. The process of debarking and anti-sap staining lets our clients do exactly that – generate additional value for their logs.”

The debarking operation completely removes the bark from logs, rendering them insect free and able to be loaded as deck cargo without the issues associated with traditional methyl bromide treatment. The removal of the bark also allows for a few more to be loaded into a ship’s cargo hold. The option of an anti-sap stain treatment is is also available. This process sees freshly cut pruned logs treated to prevent the growth of sap stain, mould, and decay fungi which degrade the appearance of the wood and reduce its marketability.

“If freshly cut logs are left for any length of time in warmer climates like Whangarei and Gisborne, fungi can invade them, leaving bluish streaks,” explains Matt.

“While the blue stain doesn’t alter the structural integrity or strength of the wood, it does change its appearance and this dramatically reduces the value of appearance-grade pruned wood.”

Eastland Port general manager Andrew Gaddum says the Northport debarking operation is wholly owned by Eastland Port, and is similar in size to the one in Gisborne. He says it was the success of the Gisborne debarking operation that led to Eastland Port being invited to establish a similar one at Northport, the deep water commercial port facility at Marsden Point at the entrance to Whangarei Harbour.

“We’d talked about expanding the business, so this was the logical next step. We set up Eastland Port’s debarking operation in late 2008 as a joint venture between Eastland Group and Hikurangi Forest Farms. It has gone from strength to strength and now processes most of the high-grade pruned log harvested on the East Coast.”

Andrew says the company leaned heavily on the local knowledge and experience gained from establishing the debarking operation at Eastland Port, and used a mainly Gisbornebased team to develop and make refinement for the new plant at Northport.

The major debarking head was shipped in from Idaho, with the bulk of the mechanical plant fabricated in Gisborne by Universal Engineering. Up to ten men worked on the manufacturing project, with six of those fulltime for six months.

Installation of the Northport debarking plant began late last year when 60 tonnes of equipment was transported from Gisborne to Whangarei in six truck and trailer units.

Andrew believes the Northport project is likely to be just as successful as the Gisborne debarking operation.

Above and below left: Eastland Port’s new debarking plant at Northport, near Whangarei

Above: Early morning at Eastland Port: debarked and anti-sap stained logs being loaded onto a ship “We’ve been successful with this at Eastland Port because the debarking and anti-sap staining process adds real value to our customer’s raw log product. I believe Northland forestry customers will also realise the same benefits.”

Two people have been employed to work the debarking operation, with more to be brought on as volumes increase.

Above: “Wall of wood” Page 18 - Australian Ports News

Universal Engineering Delivers Hi-Tech Design Solutions W

HEN New Zealand’s Universal Engineering were called on by Eastland Port Ltd to build its new De-Barker Anti Sap Stain Processing Plant at North Port in Whangarei the Universal team were highly motivated and eager to begin the process. It was an opportunity they had been looking for; a chance to show how things could be done now that their own engineering design expertise had been enhanced by a recent one million dollar technological upgrade to their own facility.

Universal’s plant upgrade had been comprehensive and featured the acquisition of an extensive range of computer numerical controlled (CNC) hardware. Fortunately the company has its own 4,000 square metre facility with enough space to house the new machinery and a wealth of expertise to capitalise on the advantages of such creative technology.

Over the last 18 months Universal Engineering has installed a new CNC High Definition Plasma Profile Cutter, a 340 tonne CNC Press Break, a CNC Milling Machine and a CNC Lathe, as well as a Weld prep/bevelling machine and a Welding Tractor plus numerous associated software and machinery.

The new equipment provided a huge inhouse advantage for the Universal team and their clients, not only during the construction of the new De-Barker facility but for all future projects. With the addition of the latest CNC plasma cutting technology to accurately cut and shape hard and soft metals, the team were able to produce most of the larger build elements and other components for Eastland Port’s new facility.

The Universal factory also features 10 overhead crane gantries which took care of all the heavy lifting that was required to accommodate the larger steel fabrications.

It meant that most of the project requirements could be built within the Universal factory prior to transport to the North Port site and once there could be easily installed. Design efficiency, fabrication, the speed of construction and onsite logistics were all enhanced with the use of CNC technology.

One of the major benefits of the in-house upgrade was that the team could test all the components prior to leaving the factory and this minimised the time required on site for installation.

Such was the company’s enthusiasm for the benefits delivered by the new CNC technology that the designated installation team remained on site in Whangarei until the project was completed.

According to Graham Mackey, Universal’s Managing &Technical Director there was some scepticism prior to the purchase of CNC technology.

“We had previously looked at such an upgrade but were not convinced about the cost benefits for heavy fabrication in a jobbing workshop but having now utilised CNC technology we wonder how we ever got by without it.

“We are currently utilising the same equipment to build 16 Shipside Trailers for the movement of logs at various Ports around NZ.” There is nothing one dimensional about Universal Engineering. In essence it’s a highly experienced team that features a dynamic mix of engineering talent. A wealth of front line in-house experience and the confidence to provide the right, cost effective solutions from concept through to design and project delivery.

Universal’s operational reach covers a broad range of industries including timber processing, wineries, roads, agricultural, logging and transport.

Established in 2001, the company has grown rapidly to encompass three main departments and each has the ability to manufacture a diverse range of products in Sheet Metal, Heavy

Fabrication and Precision Machining.

Located in the city of Gisborne on New Zealand’s north east coast, it would appear that there are no limits to the capacity of Universal Engineering to continue to grow and excel no matter what challenge they face. Visit their website for a closer look at the qualified range of services that Universal Engineering can provide; www.unieng.co.nz

Award Winning

Universal Engineering • Engineering design expertise and the power of CNC technology.

• Whatever your requirements from concept, design, manufacturing and project delivery.

Big or small we do it all.

• No job is too big or small whether in structural steel; sheet metal, stainless steel; precision machining; mechanical design and build; pipe work; and heavy vehicle repair.

• Universal Engineering can ensure the highest standards of quality control and customer satisfaction.

Ph: (06) 869 0153 Fax: (06) 868 8127 226 Stanley Road (PO Box 1357) Gisborne, New Zealand

www.unieng.co.nz Australian Ports News - Page 19

Princess Cruises to double its Western Australian presence

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RINCESS Cruises has announced its first-ever year-round program of sailing from Fremantle in a move which reflects the growing popularity of cruises from Western Australia.

Releasing its new 2015-16 cruise schedules, Princess Cruises revealed that Sun Princess will be based in Fremantle from November 2015 to March 2016, offering 11 different cruises to and from the port in the cruise line’s first Fremantle summer season.

The new cruises will combine with a record winter Fremantle season for Princess Cruises, with Sun Princess’ sister ships Dawn Princess and Sea Princess sailing on 12 itineraries from the port from April to October 2015, to give the cruise line its first year-round program of Fremantle departures.

Princess Cruises Vice President Australia and New Zealand Stuart Allison said the decision to extend its Fremantle sailings followed continued strong demand for cruises among Western Australians since the cruise line offered its first winter season in 2008.

Mr Allison said the new cruises meant that Princess Cruises would carry more than 45,000 passengers to and from Fremantle from April 2015 to March 2016, with the cruises expected

to generate an estimated $20 million for the local economy.

“Cruising is booming around Australia, with an annual average passenger growth rate of 20 per cent for the past decade, and Western Australia is no exception,” Mr Allison said.

Winning bidder announced for Australia’s premier container port operator • Victorian International Container Terminal Limited announced as successful bidder to operate Webb Dock container terminal • Port of Melbourne expansion to generate 1,100 jobs and secure Victoria as the freight and logistics capital of Australia • Coalition Government investing in major infrastructure and building a better Victoria Minister for Ports David Hodgett announced recently that Victorian International Container Terminal Limited is the successful contract bidder to operate Melbourne’s third international container terminal at Webb Dock.

The consortium comprised of Philippines based International Container Terminal Services Inc. and Australia’s Anglo Ports Pty Ltd will operate the terminal, meaning there will now be three operators in Melbourne and four in Australia, promoting increased competition in shipping.

“Victoria is the freight and logistics capital of Australia and to keep Victoria internationally competitive it is vital that we develop high quality infrastructure,” Mr Hodgett said.

“This announcement demonstrates the private sector’s confidence in the Coalition Government’s ports plan, which includes a large scale $1.6 billion expansion of container and automotive capacity at the Port of Melbourne, as well as the development of the Port of Hastings as Victoria’s second international container port.

“The delivery of additional international container capacity through this new terminal will greatly assist in meeting the demands of trade growth, including the continued increase in Victoria’s exports to Asia and other emerging world markets including China, Korea and India.

“Importantly, there will now be three stevedoring options for port users in Victoria which will increase competition in the market.

“With East West Link gathering momentum and planning for the expansion of the Port of Hastings well underway, the Victorian Coalition Government is continuing to create jobs, build infrastructure and boost Victoria’s profile in the international market.

“Victoria is well and truly open for business, and this announcement shows the confidence that the private sector has in the direction Victoria is headed,” Mr Hodgett said.

Mr Hodgett said the winning bidder had lodged an innovative bid which demonstrated the group’s global experience in terminal operations, development and shipping.

“Victorian International Container Terminal Page 20 - Australian Ports News

Limited offered an exceptional package that addressed the commercial, environmental, community and amenity benchmarks established by the Port of Melbourne Corporation and its expert advisors,” Mr Hodgett said.

“The new terminal will handle over one million standard containers each year and Victoria International Container Terminal Ltd will concentrate on promoting off peak truck movements to improve the efficiency of Victoria’s transport logistics and feed expanding supply chains.

“The Port of Melbourne services one of Australia’s fastest growing cities and the new terminal will feature container handling equipment that can operate with reduced levels of noise and lighting,” Mr Hodgett said.

Mr Hodgett said the terminal at Webb Dock would be constructed alongside the vital infrastructure works being delivered by the Port of Melbourne Corporation.

“Together these works, along with the construction of the pre-delivery inspection hub and the soon-to-be-announced expanded auto terminal, directly generates 1,100 jobs,” Mr Hodgett said.

“The development of a new terminal at Webb Dock will create 200 new jobs in high tech container handling as well as additional jobs in local logistic operations.

“Importantly the new terminal helps to further protect more than 15,900 jobs that rely on the Port of Melbourne,” Mr Hodgett said.

Mr Hodgett congratulated all bidders on participating in the process.

“The 18 month bid process saw a shortlist of four bidders compete for the rights to build a new international terminal at Australia’s largest container and automotive port at the Port of Melbourne.

“All bidders showed high levels of commercial professionalism and quality and I would like to thank the unsuccessful bidders for their outstanding contributions and for their participation in the bidding process,” Mr Hodgett said.

Work on the new terminal is expected to start later this year and be completed in late 2016.

Mr Allison said a highlight of the Western Australian summer program would be the return of Princess Cruises’ 46-night cruise to India and South Africa - a popular itinerary last offered by the cruise line in 2011. Other itineraries would include 12 and 14-night

cruises through southeast Asia as well as 15night roundtrip cruises to Indonesia including a Christmas and New Year departure, sailing from Fremantle on 20 December 2015.

The 77,000-tonne Sun Princess carries 2000 passengers.

Extension of Site Option to Lease Fisherman’s Landing LNG Project Highlights • Gladstone Ports Corporation Limited has granted a three month extension to the site option agreement to lease at the Fisherman’s Landing LNG Project on the mainland at Gladstone, Queensland.

• Liquefied Natural Gas Limited is continuing to work on securing adequate gas supply for the first LNG Train to produce 1.5 million tonnes per annum of LNG. Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (ASX: LNG; OTC ADR: LNGLY) (LNGL or the Company) advises that the Gladstone Ports Corporation Limited (GPC) has granted a three month extension to the site agreement to lease at LNGL’s Fisherman’s Landing LNG project on the mainland at Gladstone Queensland, Australia, from 30 June 2014 to 30 September 2014. The extension follows a Company submission on the status of gas supply for the first LNG Train that will produce a guaranteed 1.5 million tonnes per annum of LNG (mtpa) and a nameplate capacity of 1.9 mtpa.

Company Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mr Maurice Brand said

that he anticipated being able to provide further information on gas supply during the third quarter of 2014. Whilst the project has been on hold since March 2010, all approvals are in place to recommence construction once gas has been secured and banking agreements re-established.

“We are appreciative that the Board of GPC has granted a further extension. The Company accepts that if we are unable to provide substantial further progress on gas supply during the next quarter, then the Board of GPC will reconsider again in late September 2014 any further extensions based on the progress made,“ said Mr Brand.

Launch of Pilbara Ports Authority

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S of 1 July 2014, Port Hedland Port Authority has amalgamated with Dampier to form Pilbara Ports Authority.

Pilbara Ports Authority stretches from the Port of Ashburton near Onslow in the south, to the Port of Port Hedland in the north, and includes the proposed Ports of Anketell and Cape Preston East.

The merging of these ports to form Pilbara Ports Authority will incorporate the largest bulk export tonnage port in the world as well as world-class oil and gas export operations from both the Ports at Port Hedland and Dampier.

This amalgamation creates a Port Authority of increased national and global significance.

Trade through the Pilbara Ports Authority will represent approximately 22% of the world’s iron ore market, 10% of the LNG export market and 4% of the Australian Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Above: Mr Roger Johnston, Chief Executive Officer, Pilbara Ports Roger Johnston has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer.