Pilbara Marine to provide tug services at Port Hedland

By Tom Eddershaw - May 31, 2016.

Fortescue Metals Group subsidiary Pilbara Marine has been selected to provide a second tug service at Port Hedland on Australia’s west coast, under a non-exclusive licence for towage services.

Pilbara Marine is expected to begin operations in the 2018-19 financial year with an initial fleet of nine tugs.

BHP Billiton (Towage Services) currently has a non-exclusive licence for towage services at the Port Hedland and operates 18 tugs.

Pilbara Marine will lease government land within the port to construct marine and landside facilities for the development of a tug haven behind Anderson Point berths one to three.

Port Hedland is one of the world’s biggest bulk export port according to the Government of Western Australia. In 2014-15 more than 446 million tonnes of bulk cargo were shipped through the port and 2,874 vessels visited the port.