About the Esperance Port Authority

The Esperance Port Authority is an agency of the Government of Western Australia, operating under the Port Authorities Act 1999, and oversees the operations of the Port of Esperance.

The Port has grown significantly in the last decade. It is the largest nickel concentrates exporting Port in the southern hemisphere and is the gateway to world markets for Australia's principal nickel mining region.

With the completion of a $54 million port upgrade project in February 2002, Esperance became the deepest port in southern Australia, capable of handling Cape Class vessels up to 200,000 tonnes, plus fully loaded Panamax class vessels up to 75,000 tonnes. As a result of this development, iron ore exports through the Port are expected to total 8 million tonnes per year by 2008.

The Port is also a major grain exporting hub and handles bulk imports such as fuel and fertilisers.

Esperance Port is expected to handle 190 ships and more than 10 million tonnes total throughput of trade in 2008.

The Esperance Port Authority's principal functions are to:

• facilitate trade within and through the Port and plan for the future development of the Port; and
• be responsible for the safe, efficient and environmentally responsible operation of the Port.