Finance, Infrastructure, Regulatory Reform, Ports and Waterways Minister Joe Tripodi said in a statement released yesterday the new vessel arrival system would lead to reduced shipping costs.
The first stage of the trial runs for three months and will have the Newcastle Port Corporation tracking the movement of vessels via satellite technology for 14 days before arrival.
The second stage of the trial will have the NPC using the collected data to program vessel arrival based on speed, location and performance during the trial.
Under the system Port Waratah Coal Services will provide incoming vessels with a recommended arrival time based on the loading date.
As the port currently works on a Turn of Arrival system (first in, first served), the trial system aims to avoid a dash by ships to join the waiting queue.
“It’s hoped this new system will allow coal ships to better time their arrival at the port to avoid spending time at anchor off the coast,” Tripodi said.
“With a typical vessel able to reduce its fuel consumption by 40 per cent through a 20 per cent reduction in speed, this makes sense from both an economic and environmental view.”
Newcastle Port Corporation will engage in consultation with industry ahead of the next year’s launch of the trial system.
With industry approval, the second stage of the trial involving the voluntary slowing of vessel movements can proceed.
Apart from the new satellite trial system, Tripodi has also approved changes to the Port Safety Operating Licences of major ports in the state which will ensure they have adequate communication operations.
“Each port will now be required to keep recording equipment, including backups, for port radio channels and to conduct regular reviews of port communications procedures,” he said.
Newcastle Port Corporation chief executive Gary Webb said new software and hardware would be received over the next two weeks.
However, PWCS general manager Graham Davidson does not see the trial as the sole solution to terminal access.
“Whilst the system may create an impression that vessel queues have been eliminated, it should not be interpreted as a solution to the broader issue of accelerating coal exports from Newcastle and meeting customer demand,” he said.
“It’s imperative that coal producers and the New South Wales government reach a long-term solution on terminal access in the very near future so that the Hunter Valley coal chain can move towards increasing output.”
Davidson said PWCS would work with the NPC to ensure the trial vessel arrival system does not inadvertently slow down activity at the wharf.
PWCS expects the Hunter Valley coal chain to achieve throughput of 91.5 million tonnes in 2009 with the capacity to grow to 113Mt per annum by September 2009.
Last year the Japanese owners of the Pasha Bulker had to fork out $A5 million to free the stranded ship which was grounded for 25 days, enough time to become a local tourist attraction.
