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Posted by Allen Newton
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19 May, 2026
MINERAL Resources is preparing to deploy its sixth purpose‑built transhipper, MinRes Lily, as the company accelerates the marine logistics build‑out for its Onslow Iron project.
The vessel is expected to be commissioned by the end of Q4 FY26, supporting MinRes’ push toward higher export volumes following a strong March quarter.
The vessel was launched at the COSCO shipyard in Guangzhou, where it underwent a complex float‑off operation before final outfitting. MinRes says Lily incorporates minor design improvements to enhance discharge efficiency and support the company’s shallow‑draft transhipping model, which ferries 20,000‑tonne loads to deep‑water anchorages 40 kilometres offshore.
The arrival of Lily expands MinRes’ fleet to six, with a seventh vessel, MinRes Karri, scheduled for delivery by June.
Quarterly results underline the need for the expanded fleet.
MinRes’ latest quarterly results show the company shipped 7.2 million tonnes from Onslow Iron in Q3 FY26, despite disruptions from Cyclones Mitchell and Narelle. The company reaffirmed FY26 guidance of 17.7–19.4 million tonnes, with the expanded transhipper fleet central to meeting that target.
MinRes also reported: that there was no cyclone‑related damage to the private haul road or port infrastructure and it was making progress on the Ashburton load‑out facility.
A MinRes statement said the additional vessels will provide greater scheduling flexibility, reduce weather‑related downtime and support the transition to higher‑volume, steady‑state operations.
MinRes continues to describe its transhipping system as “game‑changing” for reducing dredging requirements and minimising the environmental footprint of the Onslow Iron export chain. The shallow‑draft vessels allow the company to operate from the existing Port of Ashburton without major seabed disturbance.
The fleet is also tied to a growing network of WA marine contractors, including long‑term agreements for crew transfer vessels, maintenance services and regional supply support across the Pilbara and Gascoyne.
With MinRes Lily entering service and MinRes Karri close behind, the company is on track to operate one of the largest dedicated transhipping fleets in the country. The expanded capacity is expected to underpin MinRes’ next phase of growth as Onslow Iron moves toward full production.
