General Description
Location: Dampier is situated on the NW coast of Australia, close to Karratha.
General overview: Dampier is a major iron ore and LNG exporting port.
It is also the main operational base for contractors working on the North West Shelf natural gas project and the Pluto LNG project. The principal exports are iron ore, salt, LNG, LPG condensate and ammonia.
The Withnell Bay Offshore Terminal and the new Burrup Terminal (both operated by Woodside Energy) are covered in this entry. Rio Tinto owns the Pilbara Iron operations and those of Dampier Salt, the world's largest exporter of salt.
Traffic figures: Approx 6,000 vessels visit the port and 165,000,000t of cargo handled annually.
Load line zone: South Indian Ocean Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical May 1 to Nov 30, Summer Dec 1 to Apr 30.
Max size: Parker Point Berth: Max departure draught 18.8m.
East Intercourse Island Ore Berth: LOA 340m, 250,000DWT, max draught 19.5m is possible, dependent on tidal conditions.
Withnell Bay LNG: LOA 310m, draught 13.2m, 150,000DWT. (LPG/Condensate max draught 13.5m).
Largest vessel handled: "Bergeland", LOA 339m, beam 55m, 322,941DWT.