The shipping platform

Location: Port Kembla is situated on the New South Wales coast, approx 60km SSW of Sydney. General overview: The harbour consists of an Outer Harbour protected by breakwaters and an Inner Harbour which has been dredged out of the flat hinterland. It is the second largest coal exporting port of New South Wales and the largest port for the importation of iron ore and limestone for the manufacture of iron and steel which are then exported. Imports include iron ore, fertilisers, limestone and petroleum products. Traffic figures: Approx 770 vessels and 24,000,000t of cargo are handled by the port annually. Load line zone: Summer. Max size: LOA 300m, beam 50m, draught approx 16.0m, 206,306DWT. Ships over 300m and/or beam of over 50m require special approval from the Harbour Master. Max arrival/departure draught 15.2m plus height of tide divided by 1.08 (UKC). A min of 1.20m UKC is required for vessels not using DUKC program. Largest vessel handled: "Iron Pacific", bulk carrier of 232,000DWT.