OVERVIEW
Located at the mouth of the Norman River in the south-east corner of the Gulf of Carpentaria, the Port of Karumba has serviced remote Gulf communities since the late 1800s. The Zinifex Century Mine started exporting zinc concentrate through the port in December 1999 (known then as Pasminco).
Zinc slurry is piped 304km to the port from the mine, dewatered, and loaded onto a 5,000 tonne transfer vessel for the 40 km journey to export ships that anchor in deep water in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Other facilities in the port provide for general cargo, fuel, fisheries products, and the export of live cattle. PCQ provides dredging services to maintain the necessary channel depth, usually about every two years. Maritime Safety Queensland provides pilotage services, but no tugs are required at the port.
PORT SECURITY
The Port of Karumba is currently at Security Level 1. For more information on security requirements at Karumba, click on the following link SECURITY INFORMATION.
TRADE
In 2006–07, the Port of Karumba exported 853,563 tonnes of zinc, 62,682 tonnes of lead, 10,971 tonnes of general cargo and 6,230 head of livestock. Zinc and lead were down while live cattle trade was up considerably on the previous year.
A total of 31 ships visited the port in 2006–07.
MONTHLY ACTUAL THROUGHPUT
| |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
| JUL |
149,352 |
95,688 |
105,641 |
| AUG |
60,722 |
71,703 |
219,650 |
| SEP |
97,649 |
31,416 |
84,625 |
| OCT |
96,330 |
93,492 |
7,421 |
| NOV |
137,946 |
91,785 |
146,802 |
| DEC |
114,145 |
83,201 |
91,947 |
| JAN |
95,165 |
67,631 |
54,839 |
| FEB |
80,472 |
20,469 |
78,832 |
| MAR |
85,303 |
86,291 |
116,403 |
| APR |
93,754 |
114,505 |
94,540 |
| MAY |
101,760 |
90,553 |
91,447 |
| JUN |
155,885 |
79,852 |
54,043 |
| TOTAL
| 1,268,483 |
926,586 |
1,146,190 |
|
