OVERVIEW
Located on the north-west coast of Cape York Peninsula, the Port of Weipa is principally involved in the export of cattle, and bauxite (aluminium ore) from the nearby Rio Tinto Aluminium mine. The port also handles fuel and general cargo. Rio Tinto Aluminium operates the port facilities and has on-shore bauxite handling, processing and stockpiling facilities and conveyors running to Lorim Point Wharf for shiploading.
Other port facilities include general purpose and fuel wharves, and tugs operated by Weipa Tug Services Pty Ltd. Maritime Safety Queensland provides pilotage services. PCQ provides a key service in the port by maintaining a shipping channel through a regular maintenance dredging program.
PORT SECURITY
The Port of Weipa is currently at Security Level 1. For more information on security requirements at Weipa, click on the following link SECURITY INFORMATION.
TRADE
The Port of Weipa handled 443 ships in 2006–07, carrying 19,580,335 tonnes of bauxite, which was another record figure. In addition, 101,158 tonnes of fuel and 31,380 tonnes of general cargo were handled.
The record bauxite figure was up by 9% on the previous year. Fuel was up by 58% and general cargo was up by 75% on 2006–07.
MONTHLY ACTUAL THROUGHPUT
| |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
| JUL |
1,446,332 |
1,543,120 |
1,493,811 |
| AUG |
1,464,949 |
1,627,523 |
2,070,429 |
| SEP |
117,951 |
1,520,279 |
1,814,218 |
| OCT |
1,517,924 |
1,708,045 |
1,968,912 |
| NOV |
1,532,908 |
1,701,568 |
1,658,914 |
| DEC |
1,592,049 |
1,719,765 |
2,182,858 |
| JAN |
1,501,062 |
1,675,652 |
1,832,040 |
| FEB |
480,009 |
1,518,226 |
1,924,447 |
| MAR |
2,432,325 |
1,761,839 |
1,759,136 |
| APR |
1,602,408 |
1,863,056 |
1,759,293 |
| MAY |
970,848 |
1,744,292 |
2,067,759 |
| JUN |
1,857,568 |
1,329,507 |
1,579,682 |
| TOTAL
| 16,516,333 |
19,712,872 |
22,111,499 |
|
