Next stage of Fremantle inner harbour expansion underway

The $98.5m project is part of an overall expansion plan which will allow the port to accommodate larger ships.

Six other berths are being strengthened to handle the heavier cranes which will be used to service larger vessels.

Berth 10 will be used for containers, general cargo and ro/ro trade.

Work on deepening the inner harbour to allow a draught of 14 metres will start in November and is due for completion by the end of 2010.

Deepening of the inner harbour will produce about 2m cu metres of dredge material, which will be used to reclaim more of the Rous Head area to the immediate north of the container facilities.

Western Australian transport minister Simon O’Brien visited the port on Saturday to mark the start of the work.