Port Hedland breaks 24-hour throughput record

PILBARA Ports Authority has reported the largest 24-hour throughput on record at Port of Port Hedland. Following a temporary closure last week due to Cyclone Ilsa[1], the port handled 2.817 million tonnes between Sunday and Monday this week with 15 vessel movements. “This amount of throughput has never been achieved before and is down to the hard work of our people, who quickly got the port up and running after the passing of Tropical Cyclone Ilsa last week,” PPA CEO Roger Johnston said.

“I’ve never heard of a port bouncing back as well as we did after a closure, and I thank the team for their outstanding efforts.” PPA began closing the Port of Port Hedland on Wednesday morning last week (12 April), with all berths and anchorages cleared by 1300 Thursday 13 April. The port reopened[2] at 1100 on Friday (14 April) after inspections indicated operations could safely resume.

The previous 24-hour throughput record for the Port of Port Hedland of 2.573 million tonnes was achieved in December 2021.

In 2021-22 the port had a total annual throughput of 561 million tonnes with 6689 vessel movements.

References

1. ^ temporary closure last week due to Cyclone Ilsa (minister.agriculture.gov.au)
2. ^ The port reopened (www.thedcn.com.au)