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Posted by Allen Newton
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9 January, 2026
PILBARA Ports is to take over the scheduling of pilotage services at the Port of Dampier with Auriga Marine continuing to provide marine pilotage services.
PPA is taking the same approach it has adopted at Port Hedland by assuming operational control and governance of marine pilotage for common user berths, King Bay Supply Base and the Toll Dampier Supply Base at the Port of Dampier.
Auriga Marine (formerly MMA Pilotage) has long provided pilotage at Dampier’s common‑user facilities, historically delivering pilotage services for King Bay Supply Base, Toll Dampier Supply Base and other common‑user berths not controlled by Rio Tinto or Woodside.
Harbour master, Captain Mike Minogue said the changes will come into effect mid-late 2026.
“This change is being implemented to provide further resilience for marine pilotage operations at the Port of Dampier and to standardise the training and licencing of Pilots and Pilotage Exemption Certificate’s for these berths,” Captain Minogue said.
The implementation of this change will be overseen by the Harbour Master Pilbara Ports West and Pilbara Ports Pilotage Operations Manager.
The change does not affect the pilotage services provided to Rio Tinto or Woodside.
Rio Tinto uses its own in‑house pilotage service with a fully integrated marine division for its Dampier and Cape Lambert terminals with pilots directly employed by Rio Tinto.
Training, licensing, and PEC systems are run internally and are separate from Pilbara Ports as part of a long‑standing arrangement tied to Rio’s private‑port status under WA legislation.
Woodside also uses an in‑house pilotage service for its LNG terminals, employing its own pilots for North Rankin, Goodwyn, Pluto and Karratha Gas Plant berths which are independent of the PPA.
Woodside’s pilots specialise in LNG carrier operations, escort tug integration, and terminal‑specific manoeuvres.
