EXTRA SHIPPING CAPACITY AT PORT HEDLAND

DUKC^®

All deep draft vessels departing Port Hedland do so under Dynamic Underkeel Clearance System (DUKC^®).

The core functionality of DUKC^® is to provide the PPA with dynamic passage planning advice on:

• Maximum sailing draft for a given sailing time;
• Sailing window times for a given sailing draft;
• UKC for a specific transit with a known departure time and draft.

DUKC^® increases the available sailing drafts and windows over the static UKC requirements, enabling more cargo per vessel, more time for vessels to sail, and ultimately more throughput for the port.

Dynamic

Channel Optimisation

As part of PPA’s $120m Channel Risk and Optimisation Project (CROP), OMC’s dynamic channel optimisation expertise was utilised to optimise the design. The optimum channel depth profile identified through the DUKC^® channel optimisation resulted in a reduced dredged area of more than 90,000m² without compromising any of the forecasted efficiency or safety benefits.

DPCM^®

The Dynamic Port Capacity Model (DPCM^®) is the world’s first port capacity model that fully integrates dynamic underkeel clearance calculations. Through a discrete event simulation model of Port Hedland’s operations incorporating the DUKC^®, the DPCM^® provides a tool to assess port capacity, and the impact of changes to variables such as ship loader rates, vessel fleet profiles, cyclones, and the availability of services and assets such as tugs, pilots, etc.

Utilising the DPCM^®, PPA redeclared the port capacity at 577Mtpa, achieving an increase of 82Mtpa or 16%. 

DPCM^® was further utilised to optimise the channel dredging project, resulting in up to 40Mtpa additional throughput, for a total potential port capacity of 617Mtpa.

Chart Overlay

PPA uses the Chart Overlay functionality to mitigate navigational risks whilst in transit. Combining real time environmental data and AIS feeds with the DUKC^®’s advanced vessel motion modelling, pilots have visibility of their transit that has previously been unattainable. Pilots can now interrogate all the dynamic aspects of a transit in real time, identify precise location of the UKC breaches, and adjust planned speeds and routes where necessary to ensure a safe transit. 

This technology enables the port and its pilots to make data driven decisions, respond to unforeseen events such as main engine slowdowns, or deteriorating environmental conditions, minimise risk and maximise port throughput.

Image courtesy of Pilbara Ports Authority

+61 3 9412 6500 

"The additional capacity was the result of ongoing investment in world-leading port innovations and technology..."

Hon Alannah MacTiernan MLC,

Minister for Ports, 2019

The world's largest bulk export port just got bigger, with a potential annual capacity of 617 million tonnes.

The Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA) recently announced an increase in the potential shipping capacity at Port Hedland of 40 million tonnes per annum, up by 6.9 per cent.

Supported by OMC International's Dynamic Port Capacity Model, the additional capacity is the cumulative result of optimised capital dredging, innovative marine technology and other port efficiencies.