Rio Tinto has begun trialing teleoperated shiploading in Dampier which will allow an operator to control a shiploader from the safety of the shore.
Rio Tinto's iron ore group chief executive Sam Walsh said the trial was an exciting development which had the potential to greatly enhance port operations.
"Application of this type of technology continues Rio Tinto's drive for operational efficiency. It leads us towards greater efficiency, lower production costs, improved health, safety and environmental performance, and more attractive working conditions," said Mr Walsh.
In a statement the company said that the new systems provide information beyond what can be obtained by a manual operator.
It includes video and thermal cameras, lasers and sensors which have been installed on one of three shiploaders at the Dampier port.
The operator is relocated from the machine to a console with a dome-shaped screen which simulates the view from the boom of the shiploader.
Preparations for the trial started three years ago with Rio Tinto's innovation group in collaboration with CSIRO's Minerals Down Under Flagship.
The Flagship director Peter Lilly said: "This new technology will not only improve efficiency, but will also remove the operator from a potentially hazardous position in a cabin on the shiploader boom."
