KIMBERLEY Marine Support Base says a run of broken records at Terminal 2 is reinforcing the facility’s position as a viable option for larger vessels calling at the Port of Broome, as commercial activity through the terminal continues to expand.
A LinkedIn post on Tuesday said the 183‑metre bulk carrier MV Belle Rose became the 100th vessel to call at Terminal 2 last week. The vessel completed a record‑time loadout that included Kimberley Mineral Sands’ two‑millionth tonne of bulk product exported through Broome.
KMSB said the operation was completed in about 98.5 hours, achieving an average load rate of 458 tonnes an hour, inclusive of delays. At peak, the team sustained 608 tonnes an hour over 72 consecutive minutes, completing 24 lifts at three‑minute intervals, the highest sustained loadout rate recorded at the berth to date.
The company said the result demonstrated what could be achieved when vessel operations, truck sequencing, equipment utilisation and quayside logistics were fully aligned.
Terminal 2’s infrastructure is designed to support high‑throughput operations, with a 265‑metre berth, floating wharf, 125‑tonne mobile harbour crane, high‑flow bunkering and potable‑water supply, as well as 9250 m² of wharf deck and just‑in‑time laydown areas. The terminal is engineered to accommodate vessels up to 348 metres LOA, significantly expanding Broome’s capability beyond its legacy berths.
The milestone also comes as Broome continues to manage vessel‑movement constraints associated with its large tidal range. All cargo vessels require pilotage, and movements for ships under 200 metres LOA are restricted to defined tidal windows. KMSB said achieving record load rates within these parameters underscores the operational maturity of Terminal 2.
“Reaching 100 vessel calls reflects the growing range and frequency of commercial activity now moving through Terminal 2, from bulk and general cargo to offshore, livestock and cruise operations,” the company said.
KMSB congratulated its team and partners for delivering a “safe, efficient and record‑setting operation”.