Page 16 - Towards better compaction v0.5

Towards Better Compaction

Port of Burnie
The port of Burnie is co-located with the city of Burnie and is the highest volume port in Tasmania. It
has four berths which can accommodate RO/RO containers, general freight, bulk mining, container
freight and woodchips.

Privately owned assets
include a long-term
container terminal lease
and a bulk mineral ship-
loader and storage facility.

The port of Burnie is the
largest general cargo port
in Tasmania and is also the
closest Tasmanian port to
Melbourne.

Stevedores/labour force

The primary purpose of the stevedores/labour force is to load and unload ships. They may be
employed directly by the Tasports or work for a third party. Operational duties include:

1. Berthing of vessels, including line handling
2. Provision and operation of loading equipment
3. Following the ship’s loading plan
4. Operating safely in a high-risk environment

Ships make money while transporting cargoes at sea, but when they are alongside, they cost their
owners money. Efficient loading operations helps vessels to depart as-soon-as-possible and
enhances the reputation of the port to shippers, owners and customers.

Qube provides stevedoring services at both ports and loading services at Bell Bay. Tasports provides
the loading labour force at Burnie.

Agents

There are two types of shipping agents, those that work for the vessel owner (known as the owner’s
agent) and those that work for the charterer (known as the charter’s agent). On occasions, the same
agents carry out both roles, but it is more usual to have separate charter’s and owner’s agents. In
some ports, the Master of the vessel may act as the owner’s agents.
The agent is the ship’s owner or ship’s operator’s agent in port and liaises between the ship, port
and any portside authorities (e.g. Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)).

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