Port Hedland hits single-tide record tonnage

The Pilbara Ports Authority has achieved a record tonnage on a single tide at Port Hedland.

Ten vessels departed the port in convoy on January 15 carrying a total of 1,754,741 tonnes of bulk product.

This exceeded the previous record set in December 2017 by 165,680t.

The port is constrained by tidal movements, meaning there are periods when ships cannot enter the harbour.

Port Hedland harbour master Myron Fernandes congratulated all involved, noting that a combination of factors contributed to the new record.

“Pilbara Ports Authority has invested in industry-leading practices in recent years to maximise the efficiencies of vessels entering and exiting the harbour,” Mr Fernandes said.

“The port also works closely with its port users and service providers to ensure the port is able to safely export more product, more efficiently.”

Port Hedland is the world’s largest bulk export port, with an annual throughput of 519.3 million tonnes, according to its most recent annual report.

Together with the Pilbara Ports Authority’s Dampier Port, it is responsible for approximately 75 per cent of the state’s, and approximately 50 per cent of the world’s seaborne iron ore exports.