This comparative assessment was produced by CSIRO and only includes selected ports.
| Port | Proximity to assets | Yard facilities | Sea accessibility | Supply chain proximity | Permitting | Likely vessels & projects serviced | Main freight tasks and comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darwin, NT |
Bonaparte Timor Sea |
10 ha sealed hardstand 4 ha cargo transit shed for dry bulk cargo handling Container wash down area Quarantine and customs onsite (with waste disposal) |
865 m quay line Length overall (LOA): 150–265 m (cargo berths) Draught: 11 m |
Road transport required for material management and disposal |
Third party waste disposal Chemical washing not permitted Dangerous Goods Approved Arrangements (Biosecurity) |
Marine support vessels, some HLV Pipelines, subsea equipment, and piece small projects Potential for piece large projects to be determined |
Multi-cargo including livestock, bulk export Underutilised |
| Onslow, WA |
Bonaparte Browse Canning North Carnarvon |
3.1 ha hardstand (not sealed) Heavy lift jetty 180 t crawler crane Logistics support |
LOA: 120 m Draught: 7.6 m |
Road transport required for material management and disposal |
Third party waste disposal Prescribed Premises Dangerous Goods Radiation Licence |
Marine support vessels, pipe lay vessels Pipelines, subsea equipment, and piece small projects |
Common-use (predominantly resources and recreational) |
| Henderson, WA1 | Perth Basin (small proportion) |
50 ha sealed and serviced multi-use area 300 t load out crane 99 x 53 m floating dock with 12,000 t lifting capacity 512 wheeled transporter (4,500 t transfer capacity) Co-located subsea oil and gas centre of excellence |
LOA: 200 m Draught: 10.97 m |
Co-located dismantling and manufacturing Road transport required for material management and disposal |
Third party waste disposal Chemical washing not permitted Prescribed Premises Dangerous Goods Approved Arrangements (Biosecurity)
|
Marine support vessels, pipe lay vessels, some HLV. Pipelines, subsea equipment, and piece small projects. Potential for piece large projects |
Shipbuilding and manufacturing, fabrication, assembly & maintenance requirements of the marine, defence, energy and resource industries
|
| Whyalla, SA |
Bass Gippsland Otway |
100–150 t lift cranes 3,000 m2 hardstand 10,000 m2 open workshops |
LOA: 90–>170 m Draught: 7.02 m |
6 ha adjacent manufacturing complex Co-located steel reprocessing Regional material management supply chains Rail and road access |
Third party waste disposal Dangerous Goods Approved Arrangements (Biosecurity) |
Marine support vessels, pipe lay vessels, some HLV Pipelines, subsea equipment, and piece small projects Potential for piece large projects |
Minerals and ore export, manufacturing, and fabrication Undergoing development |
| Bonython, SA |
Bass Gippsland Otway |
Under development | Draught: 9.9 m |
Co-located steel reprocessing Regional manufacturing Regional material management supply chains Rail and road access |
Third party waste disposal Dangerous Goods Approved Arrangements (Biosecurity) |
Pipelines, subsea equipment, and piece small projects Potential for piece large projects |
Minerals and ore export, manufacturing, and fabrication Fuel distribution and fractionation Planned for green hydrogen export |
| Barry Beach, VIC |
Bass Gippsland Otway |
1.82 ha hardstand transport yard 1 ha hardstand laydown 2 ha fully enclosed warehouse 13 x 8m wash down bay 22” 100K ft/lb computerised torque turn services Workshop jib crane capacity (3 off swing jib @ 1.5t) Workshop overhead crane (capacity 20t) Fabrication workshop |
LOA: 200 m Draught: 3.4 m |
Regional material management supply chains |
Third party waste disposal Dangerous Goods |
Marine support vessels, pipe lay vessels, some HLV Pipelines, subsea equipment, and piece small projects |
Servicing marine and energy industries |
| Geelong, VIC |
Bass Gippsland Otway |
12 ha 15 berths, 2 precincts Co-located storage sheds Washdown area Dry bulker loader Heavy lift cranes |
LOA: 213–275 m Draught: 10.8 m |
Regional material management supply chains |
Third party waste disposal Dangerous Goods Approved Arrangements (Biosecurity) |
Pipelines, subsea equipment, and piece small projects Potential for piece large projects |
Dry and liquid bulk export, passenger vessels |
| Hastings, VIC |
Bass Gippsland Otway |
6 ha |
LOA: 400 m Draught: 15 m |
Regional material management supply chains |
Third party waste disposal Dangerous Goods |
Pipelines, subsea equipment, and piece small projects Potential for piece large projects |
Proposal for offshore wind hub development - not approved Servicing marine and energy industries Planned upgrade for servicing incoming offshore oil and gas decommissioning projects (industry-led) |
| Bell Bay, TAS |
Bass Gippsland Otway |
9.63 ha Co-located fabrication (Bell Bay Industrial Precinct) |
Deep water port LOA: 95–180 m Draught: 11 m |
Marine and road transport required for material management and disposal |
Third party waste disposal Approved Arrangements (Biosecurity) Environmental management policies in place |
Marine support vessels, pipe lay vessels, some HLV Pipelines, subsea equipment, and piece small projects. |
Servicing marine and energy industries |
- The Commonwealth and WA Government have signed a Cooperation Agreement which provides a foundation for collaboration to establish a Commonwealth-owned Defence Precinct at Western Australia’s Henderson shipyard.