SOUTH Australia’s Whyalla is to get a second mobile harbour crane (MHC) with Qube investing in a new state-of-the-art Liebherr LHM 550 unit.
Qube says the new crane, a sister model to one delivered in 2019, is expected to be operational within 12 weeks and will “position the Whyalla Port to be the premier import and export location for South Australia’s export commodities, imported mining consumables and renewable windfarm projects”.
Qube Bulk director Todd Emmert said that with two MHCs, Whyalla would rival service levels currently available in Adelaide. “Economic port operations, combined with the very significant cost savings that can be achieved by reducing the distance required to rail or haul products from Adelaide and Broken Hill’s mining precincts to and from Adelaide, makes Whyalla a local choice for miners who want to build and deliver robust and economic supply chains,” he said.
The new MHC has a reach of 54m and a lifting capacity up to 144 tonnes, and will be coupled with Qube’s proprietary Rotabox™ system. Qube says the MHCs provide a unique opportunity for containerised, bulk and project cargo imports and Whyalla Port can also offer services to small and large scale mineral exporters.
SIMEC Mining executive managing director, Matt Reed, said the new crane was testament to Whyalla as a strong industrial gateway for South Australia. “Since opening the port to third party operators, we have seen it become an integral part of supply chains across South Australia,” he said.
Earlier this week Qube secured a new trucking and port services contract with Tasmanian miner Venture Minerals, that will see Qube provide pit-to-port operations from Venture’s new Riley iron ore mine near Tullah on the West Coast to the port of Burnie.
