PORT of Townsville has marked the completion of its Channel Upgrade project with a visit from the largest cruise ship ever to dock at the port.

The arrival of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth’s yesterday (14 January) capped off the $251-million project, which involved widening Townsville’s channels from 92 metres to 180 metres at the inshore end.

Completion of the two-year capital dredging project means vessels of up to 300 metres in length can now access the port. At 294 metres long, Queen Elizabeth is the largest ship of its size to berth at the port. Six large ships from three cruise companies are scheduled to visit Townsville this year.

The first stage of a 30-year port expansion project, the channel upgrade included construction of a two-kilometre rock wall and bounding a 62-hectare reclamation area.

“This project will deliver the largest cruise ships Townsville has seen to date and will be carrying thousands of passengers and crew, which means significant economic injections into our local economy and local businesses” Ms Crosby said.

Queensland transport minister Brent Mickelberg said the project is important for the resilience of shipping and freight movements.

“It provides the safest, most cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solution for meeting the freight requirements of North Queensland,” he said.

The civil and marine division of Queensland company Hall Contracting dredged 3.4 million cubic metres from the Platypus Channel and Sea Channel to facilitate the port’s expansion.

“As an Australian contractor, Hall Contracting is proud to have overcome stiff competition from European-based multinational dredging companies to deliver the Port of Townsville Channel Upgrade project in our home state,” Hall Contracting CEO Cameron Hall said.

Port of Townsville’s broader port expansion plan also includes adding up to six new berths in the Outer Harbour and associated infrastructure.

“North Queensland is home to some of the most significant emerging opportunities that will fuel economic growth for decades to come, spanning critical minerals, mining and processing, renewable energy transmission and generation and advanced manufacturing,” Ms Crosby said.

She said the ongoing expansions would support a pipeline of major projects in the region.