REGION REPORT | OCEANIA
development, facilitating the export of battery metals, the import of renewable energy infrastructure and supporting the growth of direct shipping services to the Pilbara,” says John Freimanis, project director Lumsden Point, Pilbara Ports. “Following a competitive process,
we were impressed by Konecranes’ customer focus and reliable performance. Pilbara Ports is excited to partner with Konecranes to tailor this high- performance infrastructure to the unique needs of Port Hedland.” The cranes come equipped with a
Tandem-lift Assistant, enhancing safety and precision when handling heavy or oversized loads using both cranes. Performance is ensured through a combination of a condition-based maintenance system, Konecranes TRUCONNECT remote monitoring, and a spare parts package that can be quickly accessed. “Once again, we see our material handling equipment being entrusted to support a vital link in the global economy,” says Holger Wagner, regional sales manager at Konecranes. “Being selected to support the world’s largest bulk export port authority is a great honour for Konecranes. We look forward to helping Pilbara Ports meet its productivity and sustainability goals,” Konecranes booked the order in Q4 2024 and is scheduled to deliver the cranes to the Pilbara Ports Lumsden Point development in 2026.
CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS One of the primary challenges facing Australian ports is constraints and congestion. “The country’s ports,
particularly those in major cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, have been struggling to keep up with the growing demand for goods due to increased international trade, population growth and urbanisation,” says TechSci Research. “These congestion issues are characterised by several key factors. “Firstly, Australia’s ports are
experiencing higher volumes of container traffic, driven by the country’s strong trade relationships with Asia, Europe and North America. The growth in containerised cargo has outpaced the expansion of port facilities, leading to increased waiting times for vessels and trucks, longer turnaround times, and inefficiencies in cargo handling. “Secondly, the limited availability of land
for port expansion in densely populated urban areas adds to the challenge. Expanding existing ports or building new ones can be a complex and costly process that requires overcoming environmental, regulatory and infrastructure hurdles. This often results in delays and extended planning phases, making it challenging to alleviate congestion quickly. “The inadequate transportation
infrastructure connecting ports to inland regions contributes to congestion. Efficient and reliable transportation networks, including road and rail systems, are essential for moving goods to and from ports. Bottlenecks and infrastructure limitations on these transport links can cause delays and further exacerbate congestion at the ports. “To address this challenge,
stakeholders in the Australia port infrastructure market must invest in
significant expansion and modernisation projects, improve intermodal connectivity, and implement more efficient cargo handling systems. These measures are essential to enhance the capacity of Australian ports and reduce congestion.”
GREEN COMPLIANCE Like elsewhere, Australian ports are adopting greener practices, such as reducing emissions and implementing energy-efficient technologies. This has led to Ports Australia
producing its first guidance document to support Australian ports in driving the transition to net zero, while retaining long- term global competitiveness. The Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Port Hedland is equipped with a specialised terminal. © ambient_pix /
Shutterstock.com viii | April 2025 | Dockside Lift & Move Supplement
Inventory Guidance aims to assist ports and their stakeholders around Australia in developing GHG emissions inventories. “Currently, our sector lacks tailored emissions guidelines, which is critical on our collective path towards net zero,” says Gallacher. “This new guidance is underpinned by national and international frameworks and provides our ports with a series of steps to follow as they navigate their journey towards net zero.” The guidance provides comprehensive advice on how Australian ports can quantify and report on Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 GHG emissions. “Ports are complex from an emissions accounting standpoint due to multiple stakeholders, overlapping jurisdictions and their role as a node in the value chain,” adds Gallacher. “This makes existing frameworks challenging to apply. This guidance aims to provide clarity and consistency in emissions measurement and reporting for ports across Australia.” Key areas addressed in the guidance include understanding reporting obligations, determining emissions accounting methods, and setting reporting boundaries. It also covers gathering data, estimating emissions, and how to review the findings. The guidance was developed with the support of Worley Consulting and Ports Australia’s Climate Change and Decarbonisation sub-committee. “As Australia moves toward a net-zero economy, decarbonising port operations not only helps meet environmental targets but also enhances Australia’s economic resilience, ensuring that our ports remain internationally competitive in an increasingly green-conscious global market,” says Gallacher. “Guidance like
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