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Freight set to increase at Fremantle Port

WA announces a $98.5 million initiative to deepen Fremantle Port's channel to improve freight capacity

Western Australian Transport Minister Simon O’Brien has announced a $98.5 million initiative to deepen Berth 10 at Fremantle Port’s North Quay to improve freight capacity.

O’Brien says the upgrade will allow bigger vessels to enter into the port and allow the facility to improve on the $25 billion in trade it handles annually.

“Consistent with a world trend, the average size of container shipping at Freemantle has increased by about 85 percent in the past 15 years,” O’Brien says.

“Over the past decade, container trade through Fremantle has grown annually by an average of about 10 percent.

“Ensuring the inner harbour can accommodate bigger ships at full cargo carrying capacity is vital for operational efficiency, with flow on benefits for our importers and exporters and the community.”

O’Brien says the channel must be deepened because larger container ships are imposing heavier loads on the wharf’s infrastructure.

The reconstruction of the 52-year-old berth will enable it to be used for container shipping, as well as roll-on and roll-off vessels and other general cargo ships.

Other works in the pipeline for North Quay include the strengthening the container berths from four to nine for larger container ships and new cranes needed to service them.

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