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Posted by Allen Newton
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26 Oct, 2026
NORWEGIAN technology group Kongsberg has signed a 10‑year agreement with Pilbara Ports to supply and support a new vessel traffic management system at Port Hedland, expanding its footprint across one of the world’s busiest bulk export regions.
The contract, awarded to subsidiary Kongsberg Norcontrol, covers delivery of a complete vessel traffic service (VTS) system incorporating radar, electro‑optical sensors, AIS technology, VHF communications and integrated CCTV, weather and oceanographic data feeds.
Pilbara Ports said the upgrade would give operators a real‑time picture of vessel movements across the port’s waters.
Financial terms have not been disclosed.
Under the system‑as‑a‑service model, Kongsberg will provide ongoing maintenance and technical support for the new Port Hedland installation as well as the existing VTS system at the Port of Dampier.
The award builds on Kongsberg’s earlier work for Pilbara Ports. In 2024, the company completed its first Australian VTS installation, covering Dampier and Ashburton, including radar, CCTV, AIS base stations, communications infrastructure and its Foresight vessel traffic management software.
The latest contract extends the company’s managed‑services footprint to Port Hedland, Australia’s principal iron‑ore export gateway.
Pilbara Ports handled 580.4 million tonnes of cargo through Port Hedland in the 2025–26 financial year, contributing to a record 804.1 million tonnes moved across the authority’s operations. Vessel visits rose 9% to 9499 during the year.
Pilbara Ports chief executive Samuel McSkimming said the high level of shipping activity at Port Hedland required technology capable of accurately monitoring vessel movements while supporting efficient turnaround times.
The authority manages vessel scheduling, berthing allocations and maritime‑traffic services across several of Western Australia’s major export ports.
Kongsberg has not disclosed an installation timetable for the Port Hedland system.
