BROOME’S floating wharf has been launched in China and is ready for transport to its Kimberley home.
The overseas fabrication is complete, and subject to appropriate weather windows for transport, the floating wharf will be delivered to Broome.
The $200 million facility, funded and constructed by Kimberley Marine Support Base (KMSB) Pty Ltd is scheduled to be in operation in the second half of 2025.
The floating wharf, designed to handle Broome’s significant tidal flows will complement the Port of Broome’s existing facilities.
The new infrastructure will incorporate an approximately 300 metre-long causeway connecting to 165 metre x 50 metre floating wharf platform.
Construction was carried out by contractor TAMS with design and testing carried out in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Minister for ports, David Michael, announced the start of construction in September 2023.
The wharf is expected to service a variety of industries including: agriculture including cattle transport; general cargo; cruise ships; platform support vessels, RoRo for vehicles and machinery; green energy; and international import and export.
The wharf, along with associated on-shore terminal facilities is located to the south of the Port of Broome wharf and will provide complimentary facilities for maritime trade and tourism.
KMSB have obtained a range of approvals including: cultural and heritage, and the EPA determined that the project did not need to be formally assessed under the WA Environmental Protection Act 1986.
