We began at Port Hedland, the largest bulk mineral port in the world. Ships up to 200,000 tonnes are constantly arriving, filling in about 36 hours then departing, usually for China or Korea.
Can you see two tug boats guiding this ship. You can tell the ship is empty because a full ship will sit low in the water with the red part of the hull all under.
Two tugs are pushing this ship into its berth. The rope goes to another tug holding the ship back because there is a strong wind this day.
This ship is about 3/4 loaded. It must be loaded carefully a little in each hold or it will tip and break in half.
Some berths have no proper jetty. The shipping companies leave the sailors on board. Each ship has a crew of about 20. Many sailors feel isolated and lonely, missing their families. A volunteer Christian organisation called Seafarers Centre takes a small launch around the harbour, visiting every ship to bring sailors to shore, changes their money and offers any other help needed. The launch also takes tourists (like us) when it picks up the sailors.This helps cover their costs.
The sailors board the launch from a steep ladder at the side of the ship.
BHP brings Iron Ore several hundred km from Mt Newman on a private rail line. Each train is 2.9 km long, and has 4 engines. Ore is stockpiled then sent to the wharf on big conveyor belts.
Next stop, we head to a mining area, via Karijini, one of WA's most spectacular national parks.
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