Port Waratah Coal Services has announced a major $270 million capital investment program to future-proof the Kooragang Terminal and support the evolving needs of the Hunter Valley coal supply chain beyond 2030.
The investment is anchored by the procurement of a new shiploader, to be installed at the K4 berth as a replacement for the original Shiploader 7.08, which has been in operation since 1984. The new shiploader is expected to be operational by 2028.
The program also includes extensive upgrades and life-extension works on the other two Kooragang shiploaders, 7.09 and 7.10, both commissioned in the 1990s. Works on Shiploader 7.09 will commence in July 2025, requiring a four-month outage, with similar projects to follow over the next four years.
“This significant investment in our assets ensures Port Waratah is positioned to meet the demands of the Hunter Valley coal industry reliably, flexibly and cost-effectively into the future,” said Port Waratah CEO, Hennie du Plooy.
“The Kooragang Terminal shiploaders are all reaching key milestones within their lifecycles. One of our iconic yellow shiploaders has delivered 40 years of service, with the other two installed in the 1990s. An asset assessment and continued use study completed in 2023 recommended a strategic programme of work on all three shiploaders.”
“As we have demonstrated at our Carrington Terminal which has been operating since 1976, strategic investment in maintenance, upgrades and replacement ensures that infrastructure such as this can perform reliably over long periods. Our aim is to find the optimum balance between investment in and the capability of our shiploading fleet over time to ensure that we can meet not only customer demand, but also changing stakeholder expectations for safety and environmental performance.”
Port Waratah has engaged Civmec Construction and Engineering for the design, construction, and delivery of the new shiploader and the refurbishment works on Shiploader 7.09.
Civmec is a leading Australian construction and engineering services provider, with major operations in Tomago, NSW and headquarters in Western Australia. The new shiploader will be manufactured in Australia using Australian steel wherever possible, supporting local manufacturing and supply chains.
“We are looking forward to working with the Civmec team to deliver the first shiploader refurbishment and getting started on the design for the replacement shiploader,” Mr du Plooy said.
“The refurbishment works on Shiploader 7.09 will commence in July with an outage of four months to complete structural and strengthening works, replacement of mechanical components, and surface protection. We are confident that Port Waratah will continue to meet customer demand despite this disruption through leveraging the redundancy available in the remainder of Kooragang Terminal and the capacity of the Carrington Terminal.”
Civmec CEO, Pat Tallon, added, “Civmec’s balanced machine works portfolio continues to grow, with the award of a new shiploader project for Port Waratah. Design and engineering will be executed by our in-house balanced machines engineering team, with manufacturing, preassembly, and no-load commissioning undertaken at the Group’s fabrication facilities. Once complete, the shiploader will be transported to the Kooragang Terminal for installation via heavy-lift ship.
“We are proud to be able to deliver the design, manufacture, assembly and construction of this machine using Australian steel and our Australian workforce. We are equally proud of our position as a tier one contractor in NSW, having made significant investment into the community and growth of our business with extensive local facilities and development of a skilled workforce in Newcastle.”
The project is expected to generate more than 100 specialised jobs throughout its duration and create a range of local employment and subcontractor opportunities—further strengthening Civmec’s commitment to the Hunter Region.
This substantial investment reinforces Port Waratah’s leadership in the coal export terminal industry and its long-term commitment to operational excellence, regional growth, and stakeholder value.
IMAGE | Staff of the Port Waratah Shiploaders
