New recruits have added extra zest to an already dedicated staff. Chief Executive Peter Dummett says the 2023-24 financial year was “exciting and productive” for the port. “It’s been particularly pleasing to see the various work groups rise to the challenges that came their way,” he says.

We have an outstanding team at the port, with a great mix of experienced members and new faces. Our continued success in recruiting has infused new ideas into an already positive culture.” The port plays a crucial role in driving the Northern Territory economy – and it contributes enormously to community programs.

Operations

The Darwin Port Operations Team had a “very busy and productive year” with increased throughput in almost every sector that the port supports, facilitating multiple project cargoes for significant resource investments and military exercises.

The work included facilitating the support vessels involved in supplying the Audacia, the pipe-laying vessel used for the multibillion-dollar Barossa gas project. More than 40,000 tonnes of armour and filter rock is also stockpiled at East Arm Wharf for the Barossa project. This will move out over the wharf in the coming months as the project progresses.

The port team handled the importing of much of Glencore’s McArthur River Mine’s new fleet of operational machinery, including the 6040 and 6060 large production excavators, made up of more than 80 individual components, which were discharged and transported to site for assembly.

It has also been heavily involved with the planning and facilitation of the latest US Marines rotation, with nearly 200 pieces of military equipment being imported, as well as facilitating vessel and equipment movements for exercises Pitch Black and Predators Run.

“The work played a big part in the increased harbour activity and saw support vessels of various sizes from a number of allied nations’ military forces visit Darwin Port,” says General Manager Strategy and Growth Rhys Jones.

Pilotage
The port’s marine pilots quite rightly see themselves as a team operating quietly in support of trade and the growing economy of the Territory.
This highly experienced team are the unofficial “guardians” of the harbour – they navigate all commercial shipping through the port’s waterways safely into and from the various wharves and berths.

It was a year of records for the pilots as they exceeded previous movements records set during the peak of the construction of the Ichthys LNG project.

June and July this year were particularly busy with the Barossa project pipe-lay trenching campaign, cruise vessels, project-related cargoes and defence exercises.

A typical statistic for non-project related years is about 185-205 individual pilot moves per month, but for June that hit 328 and for July reached a staggering 347. The pilotage service was able to achieve these numbers through their teamwork and with the support of harbour control officers, the vessel scheduler and pilot vessel teams.

Since Darwin Port pilotage commenced operations in 2015, they have completed 16,507 individual pilotage acts without a significant accident or incident involving commercial shipping.

“It is a remarkable performance that

is industry leading,” says General Manager Operations David Power.

Maintenance and engineering
It has been a successful year for the port’s maintenance and engineering team, which is responsible not just for the repair and maintenance of existing assets, but also the design and construction of the new infrastructure needed to support efficient
port operations.

More than $10 million was invested during the financial year, with the majority of the spend being with Territory businesses.

Key growth projects during the year included the development of a large new industrial shed on site, which will house critical spares and oil-spill response equipment, as well as providing a new and high-quality facility for biosecurity inspections.

The team is also responding to an increase in demand for port land and has started the redevelopment of about 8000m2 of hard stand close to the wharf.

“The land will provide additional space for the unload, storage and transit of cargo through the port,” says Mr Jones.

Trade and property
There has been a significant increase in activity among port customers, with increasing throughput across most sectors, most notably in cruise shipping, oil and gas, and agriculture.
The increase in demand is expected to continue, so to better understand the future infrastructure needs of customers the port invested in two major studies:

• A detailed assessment of demand and port capacity, which involved interviews with more than 40 port users and industry groups to better understand their anticipated needs and the port’s existing and future capacity to meet this demand.
• This information is now being used to prepare a 20-year port master plan.

“The master plan provides a road map for how we anticipate the future growth and development of our business to occur,” says Mr Jones.

Environment

“Responsible environmental stewardship is a key value of Darwin Port and we take our role as key custodians of Darwin Harbour extremely seriously,” says Mr Jones.
The port has invested a significant amount of time and effort into the development of a sustainability strategy, which is based around the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

“It considers not only our environmental objectives, but also those relating to social and governance best practice,” says Mr Jones.
The sustainability strategy is available for review on the port’s website: DarwinPort.com.au

“We are committed to regular reporting on our delivery against our set targets and goals.”

Community support

Darwin Port and parent company Landbridge continue to support
a range of community and industry-based groups and events.
The port increased support for this year’s Darwin Festival through sponsorship of the Darwin Port Bandstand, which was chosen because it gives local performers the opportunity to show off their talents to the crowds in Festival Park.

Support for the Clontarf Foundation is nearing its eighth year.

“It was great to be able to sign off on another three-year commitment,” says Mr Dummett.

“The engagement with Clontarf gives the team at the port an opportunity to showcase career pathways in the maritime sector and includes staff members taking part in employment forums, sporting events with the various academies and visits from the academies to the port’s facilities.”