Fremantle Ports Portfolio Newsletter April 2023

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

FREMANTLE PORTS
 
Portfolio
FREMANTLE PORTS' NEWSLETTER APRIL | 2023

Passenger terminal powers on sustainably

Fremantle Ports is powering ahead sustainably thanks to 1,100 new solar panels installed at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal. The Hon Rita Saffioti MLA, Minister for Transport; Planning; Ports, was on hand to switch on the new panels that now provide all of the terminal's operational energy needs. This an investment by the port of $950,000, generating 836MWh of electricity annually, and offsetting 15,000 tonnes of CO2 over 25 years, which is the equivalent to planting 85,000 trees.

FIND OUT MORE
 
 
FISHERPEOPLE'S FRIEND 

North Mole Open

Our regular visitors to North Mole will be pleased to hear that North Mole has re-opened!  Over the past two months, we have imported over 5,000 tonnes of granite to repair and reinforce 175 lineal metres of seawall so the area can be enjoyed for years to come.  We look forward to seeing you enjoying the walkways, the fishing, the sunsets and of course, the ship arrivals.

 
 
 
SUPPORTING LOCAL SHIP BUILDING 

New pilot boats 


Fremantle Ports has awarded a $7.6m contract to Geraldton boat and ship builders, Dongara Marine, to construct two new pilot boats to enhance its small boat fleet.  The first pilot boat is scheduled for delivery in mid-2024 and the second later that year.  Fremantle Ports CEO Michael Parker said the new pilot vessels would be pivotal in the organisation's continued delivery of an efficient and highly-reliable service to ship owners, shipping agents and customers.

READ ARTICLE
 
 
 
EROSION PREVENTION PARTNERSHIP 

Port Beach nourishment complete

Fremantle Ports in collaboration with the City of Fremantle and WA Department of Transport recently completed works to nourish the sand at Port Beach.  Visitors to the popular beach will now notice it is looking fresh and there's plenty more of the white sandy stuff to feel between your toes.  It's all part of how we are caring for our marine environment, combatting erosion and maintaining local swimming spots to be enjoyed by people of all ages, while ensuring good access for our customers.  We thank you for your patience during these works which are now complete.

 
 
 
TRADE FACILITATION 

Steely determination
 

The global appetite for steel rises like a new skyscraper. Although not eclipsing all-time peaks in 2016-17, strong demand for steel and high iron ore prices are keeping Fremantle Ports very busy. One fast-growing steel export market is Vietnam, where Western Australia launched a new trade office recently.

SEE TRADE REPORTS
 
 
 
HISTORY COMES ALIVE 

New event re-enacts daring rescue


Fremantle Ports proudly supports Tourism Rockingham's new event - the Catalpa Rescue Festival.  On Easter Monday, 10 April 2023, join in a fun-filled afternoon celebrating the daring escape of six Irish prisoners from Fremantle Prison 150 years ago, featuring live music, Irish dancing, free kids activities, food/licenced bar area, market stalls and more.

SAVE THE DATE
 
 
 
CRUISING 

Royal visitors sail on in

Fremantle Ports recently hosted our latest royal visitor - this time the Queen Mary sailed in and this vision was captured by one of our very own team.  He braced the cool dawn to snap these amazing images that show how the cruising industry is back... and how!  Find out more about the cruise industry and its connection to Fremantle Ports at our website.

FIND OUT MORE
 
 
 
 COMMUNITY NEWS
 
 

Investing in our community

Did you know that in the last 25 years Fremantle Ports has invested more than $1 million in our local community groups?  If you have a project that connects to our four main pillars of community enrichment, education, environmental leadership and/or arts and culture, we want to hear from you! Funding is open year-round, so get your application in now.  Pictured above is the Coogee Community Garden, one of our most recent recipients.

Grants were also awarded recently to:

  • Bluebird Fremantle Peer Support Group (Fremantle chapter)
  • Fremantle Volunteer Heritage Guides Association Inc - Cannon Firing 
  • Fremantle Netball Association
  • Fremantle Port Swimming Club 
  • Rockingham Senior High School (Fremantle Ports Maritime Scholarships)
  • WA Wildlife - Native Arc Inc - Marine turtle Facility WA
  • North Fremantle Primary School Open Day
  • Tourism Rockingham - Catalpa Adventure Festival
  • Spare Parts Puppet Theatre.


To find out how Fremantle Ports can help your community initiative, the application form and guidelines are available here

 
 
COMMUNITY EVENT 

Harbour Master Classic returns

There is still time to register for the Harbour Master Classic when it returns to Victoria Quay on Sunday 7 May 2023.  Fremantle Ports is proud to present this popular event in partnership with the Western Australian Marathon Club.  Choose your distance (5 or 10km), register yourself or gather your workmates, family, neighbours, friends and get a squad together, choose a team name and start training.  Entries open now via our website.

REGISTER NOW
 
 
 
COMMUNITY SUPPORT 

Plan your Easter break


Planning an Easter trip to Rotto via Victoria Quay, or a visit to Gage Roads Brew Co, the WA Maritime Museum or E Shed Markets?  Be sure to plan ahead and travel safely and sustainably at this busy time.  Walk or cycle, use bus, train or rideshare and avoid the parking hassle.

SEE WHAT'S ON OFFER AT VICTORIA QUAY
 
 
 
VOLUNTEERS 

Take a Port Walk back in time

Since 2020, our Friends of Fremantle Ports have helped with Harbour Boat Tours, a Fremantle Passenger Terminal open day, Maritime Day, two Harbour Master Classic fun runs, Harbouring Secrets roving theatre on Victoria Quay, archiving and many, many Port Walks. Our Friends are enthusiastic devotees of the port and have built up an amazing amount of knowledge about the port's history and current operations.

BOOK A FREE ONE-HOUR PORT WALK
 
 
 
COMMUNITY EVENT 

B Shed Builds for LEGO® fans

Calling all LEGO® fans! WA Maritime Museum and Fremantle Ports are delighted to present B Shed Builds, a community LEGO® exhibition.  Come down to WA Maritime Museum to take a look at the creativity on display as we share the love of bricks and building with some of WA's finest LEGO® builders.  We have contributors from some of Perth's best community LEGO® clubs, including Perth LEGO® Users Group and WA Brick Society.


Address: Victoria Quay, Fremantle
Times: Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 April 2023, 9.30am - 5pm
Entry Fees: Adults $15, Children FREE, Concessions $10

REGISTER NOW
 
 
 
 HISTORY
 
 

Aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)
visits Fremantle


March 1982: Making her first visit to the Indian Ocean and her first and only visit to Fremantle, USS John F. Kennedy, flagship for Carrier Group Four (CCG-4),  anchored in Gage Roads on March 19 for a seven day rest and recuperation visit following an extended presence in the Arabian Sea. 

 

Four vessels of the Carrier Group, including USS Robert E. Peary, USS Josephus Daniels, USS Mississinewa and USS Hassayampa berthed in the Inner Harbour, with USS Seahorse and USS San Jose berthing at HMAS Stirling. The remaining  vessels of the 10 member battle group took their liberty leave in the ports of Albany, Bunbury, and Geraldton.

 

With over 7,000 visiting sailors in the Port of Fremantle the extra demand for telephones was met by Telecom Australia  who provided  a mobile unit adjacent to the Passenger Terminal at Victoria Quay. Buses were chartered to convey naval personnel to Perth.


By 25th March most vessels of the Carrier Group were at sea in the Indian Ocean, with later visits to Mombasa, Kenya, Toulon, France and a call at Malaga, Spain before returning home to Norfolk, Virginia in July.

 

USS John F. Kennedy was named after the 35th President of the United States and was the last conventionally powered aircraft carrier built for the US Navy. She was officially christened on 27 May 1967 by Jacqueline Kennedy and her 9 year old daughter, (now Her Excellency Caroline Kennedy, US Ambassador to Australia), two days short of what would have been President Kennedy's  50th birthday. The carrier entered service in September 1968.


In March 2007, after almost 40 years of service, USS John F. Kennedy was decommissioned. She went to the shipbreakers in Brownsville Texas in October 2021.

 

Fremantle Ports
 
Fremantle Ports is a Western Australian Government trading enterprise that strategically manages the Port of Fremantle. Fremantle Ports operates on commercial principles to ensure that the needs of importers and exporters now and in the future can be met in a sustainable way with the support of customers and the community.