The shipping platform

Location: Situated on the central coast of Queensland approx 12nm S of Mackay. General overview: The port of Hay Point, one of the largest coal export ports in the world, is part of the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBPC) group of ports and has been developed specifically for the export of coal. There are two coal terminals, Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT) leased from the State Government by Prime Infrastructure Trust (PIT) and Hay Point Services Coal Terminal (HPSCT) owned by BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA). Together, these two terminals service mines in the Central Bowen Basin of Queensland via an integrated rail port network. The port also includes the area of Dudgeon Point, 2.5nm to the NW, where there are plans to construct further new facilities for the export of coal. Traffic figures: Hay Point exports approx 99.5 million tonnes of coal annually, of which Hay Point Coal Terminal handles just over 36,000,000t and Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal just over 63,000,000t annually. No imports are handled. Load line zone: Tropical. Max size: Max LOA 300m, beam 56m, draught 17.5m, 200,000DWT. Max airdraught: DBCT, 30.3m; HPCT No 1, 23m; HPCT No 2, 24m, all less height of tide. Largest vessel handled: "Iron Pacific", LOA 315m, 231,850DWT.