Southern Ports is diversifying trade across its ports, backing growth and resilience with new customers, record investment and technology upgrades. Meanwhile, KMSB’s new Broome floating wharf is boosting northern logistics with versatile, multi-industry capacity and 24-hour operations.
WHILE the ports of WA’s north are focused on mining, the state’s southern ports support a much broader mix of commodities.
Southern Ports’ CEO, Keith Wilks is proud of the three ports which he says continue to punch above their weight.
Recognised as one of Australia’s leading ports at the Australian Maritime and Shipping Awards in three of the past four years, Mr Wilks said the national recognition reflects a clear focus on diversification and investment across its Albany, Bunbury and Esperance operations, positioning the ports to capitalise on opportunities as trade continues to evolve.
“While the north of the state plays a globally significant role in iron ore exports, ports across our south support a much broader mix of commodities and supply chains, providing alternative export pathways and supporting a wider range of industries to diversify the state’s economy,” Mr Wilks said.
New commodities including quicklime and iron concentrate, along with new customers like Yilgarn Iron, Heidelberg Materials and Sugar Australia, have strengthened our trade base while we continue to develop breakbulk and bulk product trade
Keith Wilks, CEO, Southern Ports
That diversification had enabled growth over the past 18 months. “Our teams have shifted gears to bring in new customers and handle a wider mix of trade. That’s steadied things through changing conditions, keeping people in jobs and businesses moving across our regions.”
The port authority has welcomed several new commodities and customers to its portfolio, which last year sat at 40 different commodities for 58 customers.
“New commodities including quicklime and iron concentrate, along with new customers like Yilgarn Iron, Heidelberg Materials and Sugar Australia, have strengthened our trade base while we continue to develop breakbulk and bulk product trade,” Mr Wilks said.
“While these new trade products are sometimes small in volume, their diverse nature adds tremendous value, mitigating the impact of industry fluctuations and ensuring our success is not contingent on a single commodity type.”
Sugar Australia vessel, Pioneer, unloading at Bunbury. Image: Southern Ports
Western Australia’s oldest port, the Port of Albany, this year marks its bicentenary, celebrating its origin role in the state’s now vital shipping industry.
While appropriately marking 200 years of the Port’s contribution, Southern Ports also has an eye firmly on the future, with planning underway on a new general purpose berth to replace ageing infrastructure and support agriculture, cruise and the next wave of trade.
In the fast growing South West region, the Port of Bunbury is celebrating a smaller but still significant milestone, with 2026 marking 50 years since the first shipment from its Inner Harbour that today facilitates more than 95% of the Port’s trade.
Mr Wilks said investment in regional ports strengthens the resilience of WA’s trade network.
“Southern Ports had record capital investment of $59 million across more than 150 projects last year, including a new road and pedestrian bridge in Bunbury to prepare for future expansion of the port.
“Port investment unlocks private investment in manufacturing, processing, storage, transport networks and industrial development, ultimately generating long-term economic opportunities for the state. “As the South West emerges as an important centre for the industries that will shape the next phase of WA’s economic growth, there is demand for additional bulk trade, critical minerals and opportunities in renewable energy transition and downstream mineral processing.
“Supporting these industries will require ports that can handle specialised cargo, larger vessels and new types of trade, which is why we’ve commenced planning for future infrastructure needs at our Port of Bunbury.
“The value of our ports extends well beyond our port gates. Our three ports support thousands of jobs across logistics, agriculture, mining, transport and manufacturing supply chains across a catchment area larger than the state of Victoria.”
Southern Ports’ growth has been significant — and its digital environment has evolved alongside it through a substantial program of work.
Following a raft of new systems — from its Port Management Information System and Enterprise Resource Planning system to a Terminal Operating System and award-winning Asset Management System, it continues to eye innovation and improvement.
To increase the performance and resilience of its operations, Southern Ports is now undertaking a $17 million Operational Technology upgrade of the infrastructure that links smart systems with 22 of its major cargo handling assets.
Mr Wilks said the transformation has opened the door to better data and improved decision-making.
“Across all of our systems, but particularly our asset management system, we have a host of new data available at our fingertips which helps us to plan and undertake more preventative maintenance depending on the asset’s life cycle.
In operation since last September Kimberly Marine Support Base (KMSB) is already proving successful, supporting activities across offshore oil and gas vessel logistics, cruise operations, containerised cargo, defence and government vessel requirements, biosecurity scanning activities, commercial fishing fleets and pearling vessels.
A spokesperson for KMSB which operates the wharf said these early operations demonstrate the multi-industry capability of the facility, which has been designed to support up to 16 industry sectors as regional activity continues to grow.
“A key advantage of the Broome location is its proximity to offshore energy developments across the Browse Basin and the North West Shelf,” the spokesperson said.
“For operators servicing offshore fields, the port provides shorter steaming distances compared with other northern ports, enabling more efficient vessel rotations, improved crew transfer logistics and reduced operational downtime.”
In addition to marine access, the facility integrates with a growing landside logistics footprint within the Port of Broome. The current operational area includes approximately 1.5 hectares of short-term laydown space at Port Drive East, with a further 17 hectares of logistics and staging area under development at Port Drive West.
These areas support cargo marshalling, equipment staging and project mobilisation activities, allowing operators to manage both marine and landside logistics within the same operational zone. The surrounding road network is approved for RAV10 heavy transport, enabling the movement of oversized cargo across the Kimberley and Pilbara regions directly into the KMSB land and wharf facility.
Integrated bunkering and marine services are designed to support offshore and logistics vessels operating in the region.
Supply systems have been designed to provide fuel delivery rates of up to 200,000 litres per hour, potable water supply of approximately 100,000 litres per hour and brine transfer capability of approximately 75,000 litres per hour.
Operationally, the wharf and laydown facilities are designed for continuous 24-hour operations with full-time staffing and turtle friendly floodlit work areas, supporting efficient cargo handling and vessel servicing regardless of time of day.
The spokesperson said the operations of KMSB’s floating wharf marked a significant step forward in maritime infrastructure capability across Western Australia’s north.
The floating wharf provides reliable marine access in one of Australia’s most challenging tidal environments. The design enables continuous vessel interface regardless of tidal movement, allowing operations to be driven by vessel schedules rather than water depth limitations
KMSB
Completed in 10.5 months from fabrication to operational readiness, the facility introduces a new model of port infrastructure designed to support the growing logistical needs of offshore energy, project cargo, critical minerals and expanding regional supply chains.
“Positioned at the Port of Broome, the infrastructure also strengthens northern Australia’s connection to Asian markets and creates additional capability for industries including cruise, defence, minerals, fishing, pearling and agriculture.
“The floating wharf provides reliable marine access in one of Australia’s most challenging tidal environments. The design enables continuous vessel interface regardless of tidal movement, allowing operations to be driven by vessel schedules rather than water depth limitations.”
At the centre of the facility is a 265 metre by 50 metre floating wharf engineered to provide a stable marine logistics interface. The structure is capable of accommodating vessels up to 348 metres length overall and is connected to shore via a bi-directional causeway and linkspan bridge designed to manage heavy vehicle movements and operational traffic.
The floating structure provides approximately 9000 square metres of operational deck space, allowing simultaneous cargo handling, equipment and cargo JIT (just in time) staging and marine operations. The quayside deck has been designed to support heavy industrial activity, with load ratings of up to 10 tonnes per square metre in cargo handling zones and approximately 7 tonnes per square metre across operational areas.
Cargo operations are supported by heavy lift and port logistics equipment including a permanent 125 tonne mobile harbour crane, crawler cranes, SPMTs, forklifts and reach stackers. This equipment mix allows the facility to manage a wide range of cargo profiles, from offshore project equipment and large modules through to containers, breakbulk and heavy industrial components.
“The project has been developed in collaboration with the Kimberley Ports Authority, which continues to support with harbour operations and the KMSB wharf vessel scheduling at the Port of Broome. The addition of the KMSB infrastructure expands the overall capability of the port while providing specialised marine logistics capacity for project-based industries,” the spokesperson said.
“Environmental performance was an important consideration in the development of the floating structure. Unlike traditional piled wharf construction, the floating system requires only a minimal seabed footprint for its mooring systems. The total seabed interaction for the project is just over 100 square metres, significantly reducing environmental disturbance compared with conventional port infrastructure.
“The facility has also incorporated modern hybrid crane technology and updated cargo handling systems, supporting more energy-efficient operations and reducing emissions associated with traditional diesel-driven port equipment.
“Workforce development has also been a key focus, with the operating model prioritising engagement with local contractors, regional service providers and workforce participation within the Kimberley. This approach supports the long-term development of maritime capability in northern Western Australia while strengthening the region’s role in national supply chains.
“Since opening, the wharf has supported multiple vessel campaigns and cargo operations, demonstrating the adaptability of the infrastructure across different vessel types and industrial requirements.
“As activity continues to grow across offshore energy, defence logistics, cruise tourism, emergency response and project cargo movements, KMSB in the Port of Broome is expected to play an increasingly important role in servicing northern Australia for projects and support of cargo from Australia and abroad.
“The introduction of the Kimberley Marine Support Base floating wharf adds significant new capability to the port, providing modern marine logistics infrastructure designed to support both current industry needs and future regional growth.
“With the infrastructure now operational, the focus is on supporting upcoming vessel campaigns, project logistics and cargo movements across the north-west, reinforcing Broome’s role as an emerging logistics gateway for offshore and regional industry.”
This article appeared in the April | May 2026 edition of DCN Magazine