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Page last updated on 14-07-2021.
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Capacity boost at Port of Townsville's busiest berth
The Port of Townsville is increasing handling capacity at Berths 3 and 4 through a $6.5 million upgrade that will improve cargo-handling capacity and enable larger vessels to access one of the Port’s busiest berths. The works have enabled the Port’s Liebherr Ship-to-Shore crane to operate along an additional 360 metres of berth, extending its reach from Berth 4 onto Berth 3 and enabling it to service 550m of quayline. Port of Townsville General Manager of Operations, Projects, and Safety David McLoughlin said the upgrade formed part of a broader program of works to accommodate larger-class cargo ships at the Port of Townsville and to strengthen its long-term trade growth and capabilities. “Berth 3 is one of our highest demand berths, and extending the crane access provides great efficiency gain for our customers,” Mr McLoughlin said. “With the Ship-to-Shore crane now able to work across both Berths 3 and 4, we can support future trade growth by handling greater volumes and turn ships around more efficiently.” More than 85 per cent of the work was delivered locally, with BMD Constructions’ Townsville team leading the project and supported by local subcontractors. BMD Northern Region General Manager Gerard Keynes says the project is the result of BMD's collaborative, local first approach. “We delivered this project for the Port of Townsville, supporting growth at northern Australia’s largest container and automotive port for decades to come,” Mr Keynes said. “We drew on over 30 years of experience in North Queensland, with a strong focus on engaging local workforce and suppliers. "Clocking over 13,000 hours of work, the project engaged local contractors, including DLB, BK Concreting, Metalrig and Advanced Civil, while creating full-time employment opportunities for engineers, supervisors, labourers and concreters. “This project forms part of BMD’s strong and expanding pipeline in Townsville across the transport, land development and port sectors.” The project which commenced in July 2025 and reached practical completion this month, was delivered while maintaining continuous operations at Berths 3 and 4 for the duration of the construction period.
Port of Townsville cyclone preparations underway
Port of Townsville is advancing cyclone preparations as a Tropical Low continues to approach the North Queensland coast. As of 10.51am the Bureau of Meteorology updated their forecast, with the low expected to develop into a Category One Tropical Cyclone at 10pm on Saturday, 10 January. The Regional Harbour Master (RHM) closed the Ports of Townsville and Lucinda for shipping movements due to the developing weather conditions from 6pm on Thursday, 8 January 2026 with damaging winds forecast in coming days. This resulted in the cancellation of cruise ship Noordam which was scheduled to berth in Townsville today (9 January) and several other commercial vessels have been postponed. The Ports remain closed to shipping and continues to follow advice from Bureau of Meteorology, Townsville Local Disaster Management Group and the Regional Harbour Master. Port of Townsville Acting General Manager Operations, Project and Safety Dennis Littlewood said the Port had moved to ‘condition yellow’ in response to the impending weather. “The Port of Townsville begins its cyclone readiness on 1 November each year and we are well prepared for whatever the weather might deliver over coming days,” Mr Littlewood said. “Port of Townsville landside operations remain open and operational, with activities being undertaken to secure landside infrastructure including implementing tie-down plans and minimising cargo on berths and in laydown areas. “We are continuing to work closely with the Bureau of Meteorology and Maritime Safety Queensland on precautionary measures to ensure the safety of Port staff and workers and minimise damage to critical infrastructure.” The Port will continue to follow advice from the Bureau of Meteorology, Townsville Local Disaster Management Group and Regional Harbour Master and will reassess the Port shipping status as further information becomes available.
Residential ship visitors explore Townsville day and night
For residents sailing full time on the largest privately owned residential ship, ensuring Townsville was included on their 2025/26 itinerary was a must. The World, Residences at Sea, is one of a kind, with 165 luxury residences, sailing a continuous itinerary across every ocean and continent, with the residents curating their must-see destinations. The residents have been exploring the east coast of Australia since 1 December 2025 and will continue down the coast until 12 January 2026. The guests will arrive in Townsville on Thursday 11 December 2025 and depart on Saturday 13 December 2025, offering the residents and crew on board the unique opportunity to explore our region day and night. This is The World’s fourth visit to Townsville with previous calls in March 2003, September 2006 and December 2009. Port of Townsville General Manager Business Development Drew Penny said this cruise season was shaping up to be Townsville’s busiest, with 25 cruise ships from 13 cruise lines visiting between July 2025 and April 2026. “We’re seeing cruise ship companies who haven’t visited Townsville before engaging with us to see how we can accommodate their visit, which is a really positive sign,” Mr Penny said. “The World is a little different to the vessels we see in terms of the clientele and length of stay, so we’re really excited to be able to welcome the residents for their extended stay. “They’ll also be able to enjoy Townsville in the evenings if they wish to and visit our nearby restaurants and dining precincts such as Palmer Street.” Mr Penny said the Port can accommodate overnight stays and encouraged cruise ship operators to work with the Port’s cruise team to see if extended stays could be part of their future itineraries. The World’s President and Chief Executive Officer Jessica Hoppe said The World is not a cruise ship, rather, it’s a community where residents live aboard, some full time, travelling the globe from the comfort of their own private luxurious apartments. “It’s a real pleasure for The World to visit Townsville and spend time with the people and places that make this region so memorable,” Ms Hoppe said. “Our residents have a say in where the ship goes and vote on the destinations we visit. So being here says a lot about their genuine interest in Townsville and what it has to offer.” She said they were drawn to experiences that feel authentic, and Townsville’s combination of coastal beauty, vibrant culture, and access to North Queensland’s incredible natural landscapes really speaks to them. “Whether it’s taking in the views from Castle Hill, strolling along The Strand, or learning from the region’s leading marine research connected to the Great Barrier Reef, our community is truly looking forward to our time here,” Ms Hoppe said. “We’re grateful for the warm welcome.” Townsville Enterprise Director of Visitor Economy and Marketing, Lisa Woolfe said tourism is one of our region’s greatest economic drivers. “It strengthens local businesses, creates jobs and showcases Townsville North Queensland’s unique character to the world,” Ms Woolfe said. “Although this is one of our smaller ships, given the multi-day stay, we expect to see approximately $500,000 injected into our local economy due to the duration of the visit. “Welcoming a multi-day ship to our shores is an exciting progression for our cruise sector and provides visitors a unique opportunity to experience Townsville and the greater region by day and by night.” The next cruise ship to visit Townsville, will be Seabourn Quest on Monday 15 December. In the New Year the first cruise ship of 2026 to stop in will be Viking Orion on Sunday 4 January. To view the full cruise shipping schedule, visit: Shipping Schedule | Port of Townsville
Phosphate rock exports resume via Port of Townsville
More than 25,000 tonnes of phosphate rock has been exported to New Zealand via the Port of Townsville, following the PRL Group’s resumption of the North West Queensland’s Ardmore Phosphate Mine. The phosphate rock was transported in containers from the mine to Mount Isa by road, then onto rail to the Port for storage, before being moved via conveyor belt and shiploader into the vessel, leaving the Port on Wednesday 26 November 2025. Port of Townsville General Manager Business Development Drew Penny said the recommencement of export operations would have many positive impacts for the region and again demonstrates the importance of the Mount Isa to Townsville supply chain has in supporting the economy. “Whilst there was a temporary pause to phosphate rock exports from Townsville earlier this year, I must commend PRL Group for their hard work since taking over the Ardmore Mine to be able to begin exporting again so soon,” Mr Penny said. He said capabilities on the Port’s Berth 8, managed by Glencore, included a shiploader, that could efficiently and quickly load cargo into vessels. Mr Penny thanked PRL Group and Glencore for working with the Port to ensure a smooth process to begin the export operations again. PRL Group Chief Executive Officer Nick Gan said this is an incredible achievement, delivering their first shipment 72 days since taking over the Ardmore operation. “I would like to recognise the efforts of the Ardmore team and all of our partners who have been working with us to achieve this result, including the Port of Townsville, Aurizon, Northern Stevedoring Services (NSS), Glencore, Qube and the Queensland State Government,” he said. MITEZ Chief Executive Officer Maria James said they were delighted to see PRL's first shipment from Port of Townsville since the completion of their acquisition of the Ardmore phosphate mine in September this year. “Much work has been done since mine remobilisation and the necessary approvals to restart operations,” Ms James said. “What a brilliant outcome that PRL have developed pit to port operations in such a short time frame. Cost effective and efficient freight solutions are required for the export of phosphate and PRL's considered and measured approach is commendable. “MITEZ is proud to have PRL as a member, their innovative and tenacious approach to getting the mine up and running together with their commitment to the local community of Dajarra and the North West, and the flow on effects for the entire logistic MITEZ corridor supply chain is welcome and timely. “We look forward to working with them and wish them every success.” Glencore’s Townsville Manager for Refinery and Port Operations, Paul Taylor, said this was another example of the integrated Mount Isa to Townsville industrial supply chain at work. “Glencore’s Berth 8 shiploader already handles our own and third-party products, including metal concentrates and fertiliser, bound for international markets. Working with PRL Group is a natural extension of our operations that connect the mineral wealth of the north-west region to global customers,” he said.
Port of Townsville and Jet Zero explore Sustainable Aviation Fuel opportunities
The Port of Townsville and Jet Zero have established a partnership via a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to investigate storage and associated infrastructure needs to support the importing and exporting of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) products. As part of the MOU, an Investigation Committee will be established with representatives from both organisations, who will meet to discuss and develop options. The committee will also consider the feasibility of developing a new biofuel storage and blending infrastructure on Port land. Port of Townsville General Manager Business Development Drew Penny said the signing of the MOU was the first step of a valuable partnership. “We’re excited to collaborate with innovative organisations like Jet Zero to identify opportunities and deliver tailored solutions that strengthen their import and export operations,” Mr Penny said. “As Jet Zero progresses their Townsville-based Project Ulysses, it was only a natural fit for both our organisations to work together to consider how SAF products can be imported and exported and stored.” “It also signifies an important step forward for the future of the SAF industry in Townsville and aligns with the Port’s value to deliver sustainable prosperity.” Jet Zero’s Project Ulysses aims to produce both SAF and renewable diesel to meet growing the demand for biofuels within both the aviation and marine sectors. “We are delighted to partner with the Port of Townsville to explore infrastructure solutions that will enable low-carbon liquid fuels to move efficiently through the region,” Jet Zero Chief Executive Officer Ed Mason said. “This partnership highlights Townsville’s strategic importance in developing Australia’s sustainable fuel supply chains.” As part of the MOU, both parties will work together to assess the required infrastructure, technical and economic feasibility, and potential pathways to development.