Bulk cargo hoppers are now in place to provide continuity of trade at the Port of Newcastle while the new ship unloader and conveyor system is constructed.
The old ship unloaders, located at the Kooragang 2 berth, have been dismantled and have been a feature of the Walsh Point precinct since 1968. The two rail mounted ship unloaders were established at what was then known as “Rotten Row” to handle bulk dry products including fertiliser, rock phosphatic, ores and meals.
Kooragang 2 and 3 berths remain the busiest and most diverse common user berth in the port, handling a diverse range of dry bulk and liquid bulk commodities.
In June 2018, Port of Newcastle announced it was investing $33 million into a new ship unloader, which included a state-of-the-art crane, conveyor infrastructure and an electrical substation.
Port of Newcastle’s Executive Manager Marine and Operations Keith Wilks said the replacement of the old ship unloaders was driven by the Port’s commitment to working with its customers and anticipating their future needs.
“Our customers have requested more capacity to grow their cargo volumes and the new unloader will have a capacity of 1,000 tonne per hour, a significant increase from the current average rates of 230 tonnes per hour,” Wilks said.
“We have also implemented a new service model to improve environmental performance and ensure regulatory compliance. Our approach is to embed a more consistent, streamlined approach to environmental performance at the Terminal, whilst at the same time driving efficiency and maximising trade growth.”
The Port of Newcastle’s principle contractor Kerman Contracting will deliver the overall project with design and construction of the new crane unloader by its partner Tenova Takraf. The new crane unloader will be constructed in Vietnam and is due to arrive in the Port in early 2020.