Port Headland issued a Safety Bulletin which reiterates and strengthens the Port of Port Hedland’s mandatory requirement of three auxiliary Engines on Capesize vessels of ≥120,000 DWT calling at the Port of Port Hedland. It supersedes Marine Safety Bulletin 01/2019, 03/2020 and 08/2022 and establishes enhanced verification and testing expectations to safeguard the port’s navigational integrity and operational continuity.
Port of Port Hedland is the world’s largest bulk export port and operates a single-entry, tidally constrained channel. The channel operates under tight under-keel clearances to maximise throughput and efficiency.
In this environment, even a brief interruption to electrical power particularly affecting propulsion, steering, or control systems, can result in a loss of steerage and consequently could result in grounding which could potentially be with significant economic and environmental impact and consequences.
The Port’s risk management framework therefore requires high redundancy in vessel power systems to mitigate these risks. The requirement for three fully functional and operational auxiliary engines has been in place for several years and was reaffirmed under Local Marine Notice PH 09-24 (published in June 2024). This bulletin restates that requirement with additional verification standards.
This redundancy requirement is a safety-critical control intended to prevent total electrical power failure during confined navigation.