Damage to Newcastle coal loader 'minor'

Heavy-lift vessel Happy Buccaneer delivered the 1,200-tonne shiploader to the new K8 berth on Kooragang Island at the port of Newcastle last Thursday.

During the unload, NCIG said it appeared part of the boom structure had been "distorted".

"So far, the extent of the distortion to the few members of the boom appears minor and any repairs required will be undertaken on site once the unit is lifted from the ship," the terminal operator said.

"It's envisaged there will be no delay to the commissioning of the shiploader or to the program to start operations at the new export terminal."

The loader took 15 months to build in South Korea and its delivery was the latest step in the completion of the new 30mtpa terminal scheduled to begin loading coal next year.

The loader was designed to load coal at more than 10,000 tonnes per hour.

The terminal is currently behind its original construction timetable.

Construction was planned to begin in 2007 but did not start until April last year, ahead of planned operation in 2009.

NCIG has since said it plans to begin operating in the first half of 2010, a timeframe confirmed by New South Wales ports minister Joe Tripodi last month.

NCIG said last week it expected to start shipping coal in the second half of next year.