A CRITICAL step in Pilbara Ports final major marine construction phase for the Mardie Project is underway with dredging operations at the Port of Cape Preston West.
The dredging for what will be the third biggest solar salt operation in the world will create the transhipment channel for BCI Minerals’ Mardie Salt & Potash Project. The project is set to become Australia’s largest solar‑evaporation salt operation.
A marine notice from Pilbara Ports said the works began on 21 April 2026 and will continue until completion, at which point the notice will be cancelled.
The dredging is a critical step in constructing the Mardie jetty and offshore transhipment system, which will allow BCI to load salt and sulphate of potash product into barges for export.
The dredging is to excavate the transhipment channel leading to the new Mardie jetty with dredged material transported to an offshore disposal ground 15 nautical miles north of the jetty.
Vessels involved in the dredging include backhoe dredge Woomera, tugs/support vessels Monto and Fortitude, MV Groote Eylandt, crew transfer vessel Jetwave Vision and split hopper barges: AOM 1801, AOM 1802 and AOM 23.
The vessels will be moving continuously between the dredge site and the offshore disposal area.
The Pilbara Ports notice said mariners must exercise caution when passing dredges, tugs, or hopper barges, all vessels involved are monitoring VHF Channels 11 and 16 and standard day shapes and lights are being displayed to indicate dredge status and safe passing sides.
The transhipment channel is essential for enabling barge‑based export operations, as the Mardie coastline is shallow and requires offshore loading.