A community newsletter from the Kimberley Ports AuthorityMAY 2016

NAVIGAT R

Welcome to the latest edition of Navigator

With the cruise season now in full swing, Broome will host a total of 13 cruise ships this year.

The 260-metre Dawn Princess kicked off the Kimberley ports season, making the first of three visits on 23 March where 2,000 passengers disembarked and spent the day taking in the Broome sights.

Another highlight was P&O’s Pacific Eden’s maiden voyage to the Port on 18 April. Carrying 1,500 passengers, the ship called in to Broome during the first of four ‘Coral Coast Discovery’ cruises.

The passengers were very impressed with Broome, with Toby Biddick, Manager Land Programs and Shore Excursions for Abercrombie & Kent, remarking that passengers had enjoyed discovering some of Broome’s attractions during their shore excursions.

Based in Fremantle for three months, the ship will embark on 16 cruises along the Western Australian coast and into Asian ports, generating more than $20 million for WA in passenger and crew spending, supplies and port charges.

Speaking at the launch of Pacific Eden’s inaugural WA season on 14 April, Premier Colin Barnett MLA said the 2015-16 cruise season was shaping up to be the biggest on record and the State was leading the nation for growth in the cruise sector.

According to Cruise Down Under, Broome is the second most-visited port in WA. Cruising

is ever-increasing in popularity and Broome is visited by passengers on liners, boutique small ships and super luxury vessels.

Last year, 13 cruise ships called in to Broome. It is estimated that the 24,000 passengers and crew contributed $4 million to the local economy. Around two-thirds of the passengers travelled into the town from the Port and enjoyed a range of attractions and tours – from camel safaris and hovercraft adventures to retail therapy at pearl farms and learning about indigenous culture.*

Full steam aheadThe start to 2016 has been busier than forecast for the Port of Broome, with 277 vessel visits to the end of April compared to 290 for the same period in 2015. It’s expected there will be a slow-down in shipping activity over the remainder of the year.

The cattle export season has started with a bang with nine ships loading during April, and Kimberley pastoralists are looking to have a profitable season, if cattle prices remain high.

Thirteen large cruise ship visits are scheduled for 2016 and four ships have already brought thousands of passengers to Broome to enjoy the sights and visit local attractions.

The Wharf Extension of Life works are going well with repairs commencing on the wharf neck, requiring the closure of one lane to traffic. However, through close liaison and cooperation between Port of Broome staff and customers, all shipping has gained berth access and logistical obstacles have been minimised.

The Kimberley Ports amalgamation due diligence analysis is continuing on the Yampi Sound ports and the Ports Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 may proceed through the Parliamentary legislative process during the 2016 spring session.

Resealing of the car park at Entrance Point has been finalised and a study to enhance the boat ramp area is nearing completion, with funding sources still to be identified, to breathe life into this planning project.

And finally, we’re very sorry to say goodbye to our Community Consultation Committee Chair, Karen Dickinson, who is leaving Broome. Jodie Lynch, our capable Deputy Chair, has agreed to step up to fill the position for the remainder of 2016.

Laurie ShervingtonChair, Kimberley Ports Authority

*Source: Broome Visitor’s Centre and Broome Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 2015 Broome Cruise Ship Report.

P&O’s Pacific Eden called in to Broome on 18 April. Throughout 2016 the ship, which is cruising around WA for the first time, will visit the Port four times.

L-R: KPA’s CEO Kevin Schellack and Board Director Martin Peirson-Jones with A&K’s Toby Biddick and KPA’s Acting Harbourmaster Tim Hungerford-Morgan alongside the Pacific Eden on her maiden call into the Port.

DID YOU KNOW?Broome has been earmarked by Tourism WA to become a Tier 1 cruise destination by 2020. Tier 1 destinations are turn-around ports (have an international air gateway) with lots of landside destination experiences and amenities, and the infrastructure to support large cruise ships.* This would make Broome the second largest port, after Fremantle, for cruise ships visiting WA, with around 30 ships calling in each year.*Source: Tourism WA’s Western Australian Cruise Shipping Strategic Plan 2012-2020.

With thousands of cattle already passing through the Port of Broome since the season opened in April, it’s set to be another bumper year for exports.

Meet our people: Christian Lee, Commercial OfficerLooking right at home as a “blue shirt”, you might be surprised to learn that Christian Lee started his career at KPA as a Plant Mechanic and Stevedore.

Thanks to the support of Vic, and KPA’s education policy, Christian graduated with an MBA in 2013.

“As a part of the education policy I was able to take one half day a week off for study leave and received financial assistance. When I completed my MBA studies I was sent to Perth for the graduation.”

After graduating, Christian became the Commercial Officer but wouldn’t trade his days on the wharf for the world.

“The boys on the wharf call office staff ‘blue shirts’. I love what I do and I wouldn’t be in the position I am now if I hadn’t done my time on the wharf,” Christian explained.

“Some days I wish I was back on the wharf or in the workshop with the boys but they probably wouldn’t have me anymore!”

Although “no day is ever the same at the Port – I don’t think you can get a more diverse workplace” – Christian can usually be found reviewing and preparing commercial documents and engaging with stakeholders, which keeps him in the loop on all Port operations.

When he isn’t at the office, Christian is on the touch rugby field or with his wife and young family enjoying the “weather, fishing, camping and the general outdoors life” that are part and parcel of the Kimberley.

Christian heeded his dad’s sage words: “you should either have a trade or a degree”. And now he has both after becoming a mechanic and later taking up KPA’s education opportunities to obtain a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Curtin University.

Joining the tight-knit wharf crew in 2003 as Stevedore and Plant Mechanic, Christian was quickly promoted to Operations Superintendent. He was later approached by the then-CEO Captain Vic Justice about the role of Services Superintendent – and encouraged to take on further studies to advance his career.

Christian Lee may have traded his hi-vis for a “blue shirt” but he heads down to the wharf whenever he can.

KPA Storeman, Tim Sadler with one of the safety boards.

Cattle season off to bumper start

Barkly Pearl was the first ship through the Port this season, loading almost 2,800 head of cattle.

In just the first month of the eight-month live export season, nine ships have already been loaded with more than 27,800 head of cattle bound for Indonesia and South East Asia.

“We’re expecting 95,000 to 100,000 head of cattle to be exported from the Port this season,” explained Christian Lee, Commercial Officer.

Landside, the wharf refurbishments have seen some restrictions on cattle trucks entering and leaving the Port – but despite this, the load times have remained steady.

“We normally do approximately 400 head per hour as an average for the season, although the load rates vary from vessel to vessel and visit to visit. The average load time for the first nine vessels was over 420 head per hour, so we’re right on track,” said Christian.

KPA expects a steady flow of cattle ships – both small and large – through the Port between April and November.

New status boards spotlight safetyHave you spotted one of the safety status boards now located around the Port?

The six boards went up in April to keep a tally of the number of days the Port has operated injury-free.

“The status boards track how many consecutive days we have operated without a recordable injury to any of our employees,” explained Steven Cucé, A/HSE Manager.

A recordable injury is one where:• time was lost away from the workplace

after an injury• medical treatment was needed or• the employee was restricted from

normal duties after an injury.

“The initiative is a way to create greater awareness of our workplace safety performance,” said Steve.

On 18 April 2016, KPA reached 100 consecutive days injury-free.

It’s been all systems go for the wharf refurbishment, with berths re-opened and neck works starting ahead of schedule.

Since the refurb commenced in November last year, the $24.15 million Wharf Extension of Life (WEOL) Project has already seen top deck works completed on berths 1-3 and 6-8 and the berths re-opened to Port users. Under deck works are progressing on these berths and nearing completion.

Top and under deck works are also underway on berth 4 and due to be completed by the end of May. Berth 5 will be refurbed when the northern lane of the wharf neck is completed.

York Civil is managing the refurbishments, which have included removal of the old concrete wear surface, cutting of the steel deck and reinforcing the headstocks. It also comprises of the installation of a new structural concrete deck, while under deck the headstocks have been strengthened.

Due to this significant upgrade, KPA is pleased to now offer Port users another 250 tonne crane bay on the northern end of the wharf and an increased 16 tonne forklift capacity for the entire wharf.

Site Superintendent, Manuel Grosshans said disruptions to wharf operations during the works have been minimal.

“Works have progressed smoothly thanks to the close coordination between York Civil and our Operations team. The works have been planned around critical shipments, such as fuel tankers and cruise chips, and no vessels were refused service due to the construction activity.”

Demolition of the wharf neck has started ahead of schedule and all signs point to the project being completed before December.

With works taking place on the wharf neck, traffic is currently down to one lane and the speed limit has been reduced to 5km/h. KPA reminds Port users to take care in the area and obey all signage and instructions from the traffic controllers.

The WEOL Project is increasing KPA’s capacity and preparing the Port of Broome to meet our customers’ future demands.

Did you know?KPA is part of the local community’s emergency response service.

There are three defibrillators on-site at the Port of Broome at:

1. The wharf2. The gatehouse and 3. Head Office on Port Drive.

KPA participates in the St John Ambulance Community First Responder program. This means if there’s a cardiac arrest emergency in the Port of Broome area and St John’s is called to provide an ambulance, KPA will be notified so a defibrillator can be taken to the site to provide life-saving treatment while waiting for the paramedics to arrive.

A master plan for Entrance Point is being developed to improve the visitor experience.

Visitors to benefit from Entrance Point plansAs part of the master plan, a range of improvements are being canvassed including:

• options to enhance the usability of the site by providing grassed and shaded areas

• options to increase boat trailer parking and provide overflow car parking

• installation of toilets and fish cleaning facilities

• options for a pedestrian connection between the Fishing Club and Entrance Point and

• in the long-term, realignment of Kabarrli Road to separate boat ramp traffic from wharf traffic.

The Entrance Point Boat Ramp Study is due for completion by the end of the financial year,

after which the findings will be presented to the Board and the next steps, including identifying funding sources, will be determined.

Visitors will be the big beneficiaries of KPA’s long-term vision for Entrance Point car park and its surrounds.

It’s not only commercial vessels that call in to the Port – recreational fishing and boating is also popular and Entrance Point is a hub of activity for visitors.

“We are currently developing a master plan for Entrance Point with the aim of improving visitors’ experience,” explained Peter Collins, Project Engineer.

“By investigating a number of options for improvements to the car park, boat ramps and surrounding areas we hope to create a safe, functional and enjoyable environment for the large number of recreational boaters and visitors that use the site.”

Car park faceliftThe Entrance Point car park has been revamped with repairs made to the pavement. Pot holes were filled in and the surface resealed, making the car park both safer and better for visitors to use.

Demolition work in the transition area at the start of the wharf (berths 7-8).

The concrete pour for berth 7 was undertaken at night using a concrete boom pump.

Wharf works on track for early finish

Community voices heard

If there’s anything you’d like to know about the Port of Broome or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 280 Port Drive, Broome, phone (08) 9194 3100 or email info@kimberleyports.wa.gov.au.

GET IN T UCH

The Port of Broome Community Consultation Committee is providing invaluable feedback to KPA and ensuring community engagement on Port activities.

It was established in June 2015 to promote and facilitate communication, information sharing and consultation.

L-R: The Community Consultation Committee Kandy Curran, Michelle Teoh, Karen Dickinson, Chris Mitchell and Michael Dale. Absent: Jodie Lynch, Glen Chidlow, Gareth Jenkins and Dean Matthews.

“The Committee is playing an important role in ensuring two-way communication between KPA and the Broome community on matters of interest,” said CEO Kevin Schellack.

Committee members represent key interest groups and the community:

• Karen Dickinson – past Chair (appointed by KPA)

• Jodie Lynch – Deputy Chair; community representative

• Glen Chidlow – tourism representative

• Chris Mitchell – community representative

• Michelle Teoh – community representative

• Gareth Jenkins, Broome Chamber of Commerce – business representative

• Michael Dale, Shire of Broome – local government representative

• Kandy Curran, Roebuck Bay Working Group – environmental representative

• Dean Matthews, Yawuru – indigenous community representative.

The volunteer Committee meet every four months and minutes of the meetings are available on our website.

Protecting our watersKPA is monitoring Port waters to ensure invasive marine pests are detected before they become a problem.

In partnership with the Department of Fisheries Western Australia, KPA is involved in the Early Warning System (EWS) monitoring program to detect the presence of invasive marine pests in WA waters.

“Exotic marine pests have the potential to seriously impact marine ecological communities and important industries. It’s crucial that the presence of any invasive species is detected quickly so they can be dealt with,” explained Steven Cucé, A/HSE Manager.

Targeting a wide range of marine organisms, the EWS has been operating in Broome since July 2014 and involves four sampling methods:

1. settlement arrays (simple structures that provide extra surfaces for organisms to settle on)

2. opera house traps

3. crab traps/condos and

4. shoreline searches (examining rocks, artificial structures and wrack).

“Between October 2014 and April 2016, the only marine pest detected was the colonial ascidian Didemnum perlucidum. This species was detected on the settlement arrays deployed at berths 2-3 and 11 in February 2015,” advised Steve.

D.perlucidum (commonly known as the sea squirt) was first recorded in the Swan River Estuary in 2010 and has since been found at locations across the State. Fisheries WA is investigating control and eradication options.

The EWS is part of the National System for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions, which aims to prevent marine pests arriving, directs responses to new pests and implements strategies to minimise the spread of pests already established in Australia.

Settlement arrays, like the ones pictured, have been set up on the wharf to monitor for invasive pest organism growth.

Pathways into the oil and gas industry KPA was front and centre at this year’s ‘Speed Careering’ event hosted by Shell Australia.

Designed to inspire Broome high school students to become interested in a career in oil and gas, representatives from organisations supporting the energy industry discussed the different careers and training pathways available.

KPA was one of eight Shell Australia service providers who represented the various industries affiliated with oil and gas – marine, aviation, supply and logistics, facilities management, warehousing and distribution, and maintenance.

Year 9 students from Broome Senior High School and St Mary’s College interviewed company representatives to gain insights into the types of roles available and the experience required to enter a specific industry.

During their 10-minute ‘speed date’ with KPA, students were welcomed by Operations Superintendent, Mal Gower and found out about the different career options at KPA with Keryl Lawford representing administration, boilermaker David Bott maintenance, Paul Taylor HSE and stevedore Robin Hajinoor wharf operations.

Held at the Broome Civic Centre in early May 2016, the ‘Speed Careering’ event was also attended by Shell employees, KT Marine, CHC, KGT, KTI, Broome International Airport, Monadelphous, Inpex, Toll Mermaid, Woodside and EAG. The event gave students a chance to see the many and varied career opportunities that are available within the oil and gas industry outside of working at a plant or other operating facility.

L-R: KPA’s Keryl Lawford, David Bott, Robin Hajinoor, Mal Gower and Paul Taylor talk to students during the Speed Careering event.