PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Cape Preston
Key data
updated Nov 2021Size limits
Harbour: LOA 166.72m, beam 28m, 28,115DWT.
Off Shore: LOA 299.84m, draught 12.2m, 115,000DWT.
Water density
1025.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Preston Transhipment Terminal | 12.20 m | 300 m | 15 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Nov 2021Restrictions
A pipeline (outfall) protrudes from the NW breakwater, half way along.
Tugs
Four tugs with 72t bollard pull available for transhipment barges.
Mooring
Cape Preston Transhipment Terminal: Specially designed mooring system with fenders and dolphins for large barges.
Charts and publications
Aus 742, 743, 327. BA 4723. Admiralty Pilot NP13, NP286(4).
Inspections
Port State Control here: Tokyo MOU, Indian Ocean MOU.
Running now: the Paris and Tokyo MOU concentrated inspection campaign on cargo securing, 1 September to 30 November 2026. Its questions are published: the questionnaire.
ISPS
ISPS Designated Authority: Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.
Contact person: The Secretary.
Address: GPO Box 594, Canberra ACT 2601 Australia.
Tel: +61 2 6274 7114.
Fax: +61 2 6274 7994.
Mob: +61 0417 273 185.
24 hour contact: Office of Transport Security Operations Centre.
Tel: +61 2 6274 8187.
Fax: +61 2 6274 6089.
Email: [email protected]
ISPS Compliance: ISPS compliance is 100% for Australian ports, Australian port facilities and Australian flagged ships.
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org
About Cape Preston
updated Sep 2016Where it is
Cape Preston is a privately owned port facility approx 30nm SW of Dampier Port and Karratha.
The port
CITIC Pacific Mining operates the Sino Iron Desalination Plant located at Cape Preston which produces large quantities of iron ore for transhipment. The transhipment system consists of a breakwater to shelter the loading facilities onshore, a port stockyard, conveyor system, a barge loader that is similar to a small ship loader and a large fleet of barges and transhipment vessels. The conveyor will carry iron ore along the 2.6km breakwater to the barge loaders. The barges will then be loaded and towed by tugs approx. 20km offshore to the STS transhipment area and transferred over to CITIC's own purpose-built 115,00DWT bulk carriers which will transport the cargo further to the company's Chinese steel mills.
Questions about Cape Preston
What time zone is Cape Preston in?
Local time at Cape Preston is UTC+8. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Cape Preston?
The deepest berth listed is at Cape Preston Transhipment Terminal: 12.20 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Cape Preston?
1025.
Who carries out Port State Control at Cape Preston?
Port State Control at Cape Preston: Tokyo MOU, Indian Ocean MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Cape Preston?
The UN/LOCODE of Cape Preston is AUCPN.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Cape Preston say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.
Plan a route to Cape Preston →
A planning aid, not for navigation. These facts come from public sources and each section shows how old it is. Check with the port, your agent, your ENCs and official publications. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.