Major operating vessels arrive at Cape Preston

It has been a busy and exciting time at the Sino Iron project’s port over recent months with the arrival of four barges, two tugs and the first of two transshippers.

During September and October, these major port assets arrived at Cape Preston after travelling more than 3,000 nautical miles from China. The product handling barges were towed by a large sea salvage tug and the transshipper and tugs arrived on board a semi-submersible ship.

Executive Director Port Operations Andrew Thomson said the transshipper was the most significant of all the vessels. “Not only is the transshipper the heart of the project’s shipping operation, it is the first vessel of its kind to arrive in Western Australia,” Mr Thomson said.

This leaves the second transshipper as the only vessel outstanding from the first-stage operating fleet. Construction of this transshipper is expected to be completed around July next year. “As tonnage increases there will be further barges and tugs purchased to ensure that transshipping capacity will match demand,” Mr Thomson said.