THE ARRIVAL of the first container vessel at the Port of Wyndham in more than a decade marks progress in Western Australia’s push to export Ord Valley cotton.

The milestone comes during a pivotal few months in northern WA’s cotton industry which included the official opening of the gin and adjacent classing facilities.

On August 5, an ANL container vessel, the MV Scion Mafalda, docked at the port discharging 200 40-foot empty containers.

The port is owned by the WA Government and regulated by the Kimberley Ports Authority.

Logistics and fuel company Cambridge Gulf Ltd holds the lease and manages the port’s day-to-day operations.

In a statement, Cambridge Gulf Ltd said this development signalled “the beginning of our cotton exports” out of Wyndham.

“We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone with the Scion Mafalda’s arrival, marking the return of container shipments to Wyndham Port after a long hiatus,” the statement said.

“Wyndham is ready to claim its role as a vital hub for cotton production in Western Australia.”

In a statement, Kimberley Ports Authority called the achievement “a huge step forward for the Kimberley region”.

“This landmark arrival paves the way for direct cotton exports from the East Kimberley, unlocking exciting opportunities for local industry,” the statement said.

To facilitate the new trade pathway, KPA said it had invested in a new container stacker and spreader to ensure efficient handling.

First Port of Entry

KPA also said it was “working closely” with the Federal Government’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Australian Border Force to “progress First Point of Entry (FPoE) infrastructure, enabling direct international shipping into Wyndham”.

The Federal Government in January approved the application for expanded border services at Wyndham, as well as other WA ports at Ashburton and Dampier.

This will allow for more direct international shipping, meaning businesses and industries in the north will be able to import and export goods closer to their operations, without having to transit through ports further away.

The FPoE status will also permit companies to import the empty containers required to export cotton.

At the time, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the FPoE status would be a “game-changer” for the Ord cotton industry and Port of Wyndham.

“Cotton’s an industry that can grow here, but it can only grow if it has the capacity for export,” Mr Albanese said.

“[I]n order to do that, you need to have the customs facilities so that you can have a seamless export process which boosts productivity.

“By having customs facilities directly there, it changes the way that the Kimberley will be able to operate in the future.

“It is productivity improving, it’s job creating and it’s economic growth enhancing.”

Classing facility opens

Alongside the new gin, OrdCo in July launched Top End Classing, a cotton-classing operation to further support the industry.

Machinery imported from Switzerland has been installed at the site, which is run by two staff with training and backing from Australian Classing Services.

The local facility will cut the turnaround time for classing results to four or five days, compared with 12 to 14 if samples were sent to the nearest facility in New South Wales.

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