IN A move that makes the northwest of Western Australia accessible for year-round trade, KMSB is set to open its Broome floating wharf on September 12.
The region has long struggled with infrastructure bottlenecks, vessels waiting on tides, delayed project cargo and escalating costs due to demurrage and congestion.
For industries ranging from energy and resources to renewables, these operational constraints have carried significant economic weight.
Broome, in particular, has been a critical hub supporting offshore oil and gas, community resupply, tourism and emerging mineral exports. Yet despite this strategic importance, limitations in port infrastructure have repeatedly challenged shipping schedules and project timelines.
Kimberley Marine Support Base (KMSB) is addressing these challenges through the construction of a game-changing port terminal in Broome, designed to address the age-old constraint of tidal access in the Kimberley region.
The new port terminal is a strategic enabler, unlocking 24/7 marine access and reshaping how northern Australia connects to trade, industry and critical supply chains.
Purpose-built to enable fast vessel turnarounds across numerous industries, the new port terminal and landside logistics infrastructure delivers transformational change to the Port of Broome which has served as the region’s main maritime logistics location for more than 80 years.
The key to KMSB’s ability to support 24/7 operations across a 10m tidal spectrum is its floating wharf which works with the tide to provide a fixed height relative to visiting vessels for the duration of cargo operations.
Our floating wharf is designed to remove the bottlenecks that have held this region back
Andrew Natta, KMSB
Andrew Natta, managing director of KMSB, said the floating wharf was conceived to clear longstanding operational barriers while contributing to the region’s economic growth.
“KMSB is an economic enabler. We are building infrastructure that gives trade a reliable, cost-effective alternative in the Kimberley. Our floating wharf is designed to remove the bottlenecks that have held this region back. For project proponents, shipping lines and government alike, this is about certainty, efficiency and regional development," Mr Natta said.
The floating wharf is designed to support vessels of up to 348 metres and also includes heavy-lift capacity and a 260-metre long, bi-directional causeway to support key industry using: Breakbulk and project cargo; roll-on roll-off (RoRo) equipment for industrial operations; and containerised freight, critical minerals, renewable energy infrastructure and decommissioning equipment.
The development is supported by a dedicated heavy-lift zone, modern shore-handling equipment and integrated logistics capacity designed for scale. Vessels no longer need to queue for limited windows, with KMSB offering reliable turnaround and continuous operations at any time of day.
KMSB claims the project represents more than an infrastructure upgrade. “It introduces a new trade gateway that increases throughput capacity across the northwest, relieves pressure on constrained ports and provides shippers with greater certainty in scheduling,” it said in a public statement.
“By enabling year-round operations, KMSB is positioned to help reduce demurrage costs, which have been a recurring burden on project budgets. Its multi-user model provides flexible access for energy producers, mining operators, contractors and logistics providers."
It has a deck load rating of 10 tonnes per square metre along the berth line, with heavy-lift capacity of 2 x 6-axle SPMTs rated at 42 tonnes per axle.
It is also purpose-designed to handle wheeled cargo and oversized equipment and has an operating window of 24 hours, on all tides.
For more visit www.kmsb.com.au or to book berths or for project cargo requirements, contact: bookings@kmsb.com.au
This article appeared in the August | September 2025 edition of DCN Magazine