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Page last updated on 14-07-2021.
News
Port of Townsville welcomes Carnival Luminosa
Port of Townsville welcomed the maiden visit of Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Luminosa on Tuesday, 11 November, with the vessel homeporting in Brisbane for the summer season. This summer will mark Carnival Luminosa’s fourth consecutive season sailing from Queensland, with 70,000 guests expected to travel across 25 voyages throughout the season. More than 2000 passengers and crew arriving to Townsville aboard the 294-metre cruise ship, with the majority of guests coming from Korea, Japan, and China. Port of Townville General Manager Business Development Drew Penny said Carnival Luminosa’s arrival from Brisbane complements the region’s growing appeal as a must cruise destination and opens new opportunities for Northern Queensland itineraries. “This maiden call reflects the growing demand for cruise ships in Queensland’s waters and creates opportunities for more frequent visits to northern ports like the Port of Townsville,” Mr Penny said. “It’s an exciting time for our city as we continue to welcome more cruise ships and showcase everything North Queensland has to offer,” he said. Australia’s ties with Japan, China, and Korea are crucial for cruise tourism as these nations represent major visitor markets and key partners in the tourism industry, and strengthening these relationships helps position Townsville as a globally connected regional city. Townsville Enterprise Director of Visitor Economy and Marketing Lisa Woolfe said even with this being a last-minute schedule change, our community has rallied together to deliver another outstanding welcome. “Townsville always turns it on for its cruise visitors, whether it be 12 months or hours' notice,” Ms Woolfe said. “We’ve got our cruise volunteers welcoming visitors as they disembark the ship, market stalls and entertainment set-up in the terminal, and buses transferring passengers to the Strand. “Today’s arrival offers a fantastic boost for local businesses with an estimated economic value of half a million dollars flowing through our city in just one day. “This is a maiden voyage and an opportunity to showcase just how Townsville turns it on for its visitors. “Today’s arrival is a testament to the port expansion, which has allowed large ships into Townsville.” This will be Townsville’s busiest cruise season yet with 25 cruise ships from 13 cruise lines set to visit our city between July 2025 and April 2026. Cruise provides a major boost to the local economy with each passenger spending about $200 a day exploring the region.
Port of Townsville welcomes new fortnightly shipping service
The Port of Townsville is continuing to support its customers and meet the region’s fast-growing import and export demands, welcoming a new fortnightly shipping service by ANL, linking North Queensland to China. The new service, APR2, will be transporting a variety of goods including machinery, chemicals, tyres, furniture and white goods. The route includes travelling southbound from Asia to Australia, before leaving to travel north from Australia, back to Asia. The ARP2 service provides direct coastal shipping options from southern ports, significantly reducing wait times for customers and improving driver safety by redirecting freight off the Bruce Highway and on to the ‘Blue’ highway. Port of Townsville General Manager Business Development Drew Penny said the Port was pleased to welcome ANL’s new shipping service to North Queensland. “It’s promising to see new services, such as APR2, come on board to our Port, especially with the region experiencing growth in a number of sectors,” Mr Penny said. “As Northern Australia’s largest multi-cargo port we’re always looking for opportunities to work with new companies, especially those that can assist us with servicing the ever-evolving needs of our customers. “We may be a regional city, but we service the needs of global importers and exporters, now more than ever we need to ensure we are able support that demand, with services such as APR2.” With the addition of ANL’s new fortnightly service, the company will now offer weekly services to and from Townsville and North/Southeast Asia. This development also enables North Queensland businesses to access more frequent shipping direct to China. ANL & CMA CGM Group Agencies Managing Director Oceania Cluster Shane Walden said the APR2 service is tailored for regional supply chains that depend on efficient and timely logistics. "With APR2, we’re responding directly to what our customers need—more frequent sailings, stronger China and Northeast Asia connections, and greater flexibility across key Queensland ports including Townsville, Gladstone, and Brisbane,” Mr Walden said. “This service is designed for today’s supply chain realities, offering improved access to CMA CGM’s global network and reliable transit options that support both imports and exports across the region." By expanding regional connectivity and transit efficiency, APR2 reflects ANL’s ongoing commitment to delivering innovative and resilient logistics solutions across Asia, PNG, and Australia. Whether transporting essential imports or vital exports, this new service supports faster, smarter cargo movement. The second vessel of the service Mount Wilhelm will depart Townsville Port tomorrow, and follows the successful maiden voyage of the service, San Giorgio on Monday, 20 October.
Port of Townsville supports milestone chickpea export
The first dry bulk chickpea export has left the Port of Townsville bound for India and Pakistan in a milestone for the grain and pulse industry. The 38,500 tonne of chickpeas were transported from North Queensland growers to a storage facility in Townsville before arriving at the Port. The chickpeas were sourced from towns including Richmond, Julia Creek, Maxwelton and Marathon and mark the first dry bulk pulse shipment of its kind for the Port. The chickpea export was driven by Sizer & Cogill Bulk & General Carriers Director Chris Sizer, who worked on the export project for five years with local growers and industry stakeholders, including the Port. Port of Townsville General Manager Business Development Drew Penny said the Port already exports containerised pulses and grains, also packed by Sizer & Cogill at their purpose-built facility but as this was the first dry bulk shipment of pulses, and it was a momentous achievement for all involved. “We’re always looking for ways to further support our North Queensland growers, industry stakeholders and customers especially to meet the global demand for products such as chickpeas,” Mr Penny said. “The work Mr Sizer and the team has done during the last five years to make sure this milestone chickpea shipment came to fruition is commendable. “I also want to thank our Port staff who worked closely with Mr Sizer to prepare for the shipment.” He said the Port is continually working with industry and supply chain contacts to explore new opportunities such as the chickpea export service. “This milestone export shipment will be noticed not only by industry, but also our international customers, showing our readiness and capability to be able handle such a significant shipment,” he said. Sizer & Cogill Bulk & General Carriers director Chris Sizer said the company’s new purpose-built storage and handling facility on the Port Access Road is now operational and nearly complete – cementing the foundation for large-scale exports. “This has always been about giving our growers more options and creating efficiency in how we move their product,” Mr Sizer said. “Seeing grain/pulses leave Townsville in bulk for the first time is not just a business achievement – it’s a win for the whole supply chain.” A strategic partnership with Sizer & Cogill Bulk & General Carriers, Agristorage & Logistics and Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) also ensured the shipment would occur, Mr Sizer said. “Having a global leader like LDC on board shows how much potential this region holds,” Mr Sizer said. “We all share the same goal – to support our local growers and unlock new export pathways.”
Greener pastures for Port Community Fund recipients
Environmental initiatives, education and well-being programs are among the projects being funded through the Port of Townsville’s 2025 Community Fund. A total of 32 applications were received, with 13 successful recipients sharing in $50,000 that will go towards a range of projects across the region supporting the Port’s pillars of planet, people, prosperity and community. Port of Townsville CEO Ranee Crosby said the annual fund has supported 55 projects across the region with a combined value of more than $2.5 million, since it launched in 2021. “The Port of Townsville is always striving to support and strengthen our community ties, including to areas outside of Townsville, as our operations extend to Hinchinbrook, the Burdekin and the North West,” Ms Crosby said. “I want to thank all the applicants for their time and effort in submitting their applications for a wide range of great initiatives and projects. “The applications we received were of high quality with our judging panel faced with a tough time narrowing down the final choices.” One of this year’s successful applicants, Black River Pony Club Committee Member and Chief Instructor Chantelle Turner said the club applied to the Community Fund to replace their irrigator, as it was leaking water and suffering from wear and tear. “Environmentally, the new irrigator will enable consistent and sustainable maintenance of our arena surface—reducing dust, erosion, and runoff into nearby waterways, while supporting the regrowth of drought-tolerant grasses,” Ms Turner said. “Over time, this helps protect local ecosystems and ensures a safer, more resilient surface for horses and riders. “By maintaining a safe and welcoming arena, we continue to foster social connection through community rallies, clinics, and competitions, all held in a shared green space. “Economically, the improved facility enables us to host larger events that attract visitors from across North Queensland, stimulating local business and strengthening our club’s long-term viability. “This project is a practical, community-driven step toward a more prosperous and connected regional future. Each application is assessed by the fund’s panel that carefully considers requests with the Port’s values of Partnerships, Opportunity, Respect and Trust and our themes of Prosperity, Planet, Community and People. Recipients of the 2025 Port Community Fund Organisation Item/s Funded Magnetic Island Network for Turtles For branded marquee and flags to take to community events and raise awareness of the organisation Townsville Suicide Prevention Network Inc. For branded shirts, marquee, pull up banner and a BBQ Townsville Motor Boat and Yacht Club Partner for the Magnetic Island Race Week Community Festival Athletics North Queensland A new electronic starting system Townsville Toy Library Table and chair setting for children Townsville Barramundi Restocking Group Supply and delivery of 2100 barramundi to support recreational activities at Ross River Dam Kirwan State High School Purchase of equipment and plants for a biodiversity garden Road Safety Education Limited Delivery of driver education workshops for teens in Townsville Herbert River Cricket Association Purchase of Wi-Fi modem and four scoring tablets lost in 2025 February floods Lucinda Progress Association Funding for a face painter and gifts and lollies for the 2025 Christmas Carols event Black River Pony Club Funding for a new irrigator Set to Succeed Purchase of household items to furnish a house that First Nations people will stay at whilst undertaking apprenticeships and traineeships in Townsville Cleveland Tennis Club Installation of screens at clubhouse
Townsville Port farewells captain of the seas
After 40 years of guiding more than 23,000 vessels into ports around the globe, Port of Townsville Marine Pilot Captain Gerard de Silva is retiring. He joined the Port of Townsville’s pilotage team in 2007 after starting his career at the age of 20 in Sri Lanka, where he was one of the first cadets to be taken into the country’s merchant navy. Marine pilots travel out to the shipping channel aboard a pilot vessel, then board the vessel to be brought in, via a vertical rope ladder before then guiding the ship into the port. The pilots do the same when ships leave a port. Captain de Silva piloted his last vessel into the Port of Townsville on 14 August 2025, a bulk carrier with tugboats performing a water cannon to celebrate his last day at Townsville Port. Today, he will undertake his final pilotage movement at the Port of Abbot Point. He has piloted every type of vessel from cruise ships, fishing vessels, container ships and submarines. Captain de Silva reflected fondly on some of his most memorable moments throughout his career. “Handling some of the famous ships like Queen Elizabeth II, I handled in Colombo before I came to North Queensland,” Captain de Silva said. “As a ship’s Captain I’ve been to Europe, UK, Middle East and so many countries.” Port of Townsville General Manager Operations, Project Delivery and Safety David McLoughlin said Captain de Silva was one of the Port’s longest serving pilots and he will be missed. “Gerard has been doing this for 40 years and been working at the Port (of Townsville) for 18 years,” he said. “Overall, he’s climbed about 100 kilometres of vertical ladders. “We thank him very much for his service and dedication to our industry.” In his retirement Captain de Silva plans to keep busy by spending more time with his family including his eight grandchildren.