Hopper, nine conveyors and a ship loader designed to load a 40,000 tonne shipment per month:
One port certainly carrying its weight is the busy port of Mourilyan, 100 kilometres to the south of Cairns. It is continuing its transformation from sugar port to a multi-product bulk commodity port. The latest trade expansion comes in the form of a 400,000 tonnes per annum iron ore export operation, which began in December 2014.
Ports North has just completed construction of a 50,000 tonne stockpile site to service the monthly shipments of up to 40,000 tonnes of ore through the port. This state-of-the-art facility was designed with particular emphasis on operational efficiency and environmental management.
The project has been welcomed by the region, which will enjoy a significant boost in employment opportunities flowing from the project.
Mourilyan also exports raw sugar and molasses from the region’s sugar growing districts, as well as live cattle, woodchip and log product. Port infrastructure includes onshore sugar and molasses handling and storage facilities, a livestock export facility and commercial wharf, within a sheltered natural harbour. There is ample capacity to expand into new bulk cargo exports.
