BHP has begun testing two new automated ship loaders at its Port Hedland export facility in Western Australia’s Pilbara, in a move it hopes will provide significant production and cost benefits.
The eight ship loaders at BHP’s Nelson Point and Finucane Island operations load around 1,500 bulkers each year, exporting around 280m tonnes of iron ore.
Ultimately, BHP said it aims to fully automate eight ship loaders by 2023 under an AUD 50m ($34.2m) project that will use 3D laser scan technology.
BHP said the project is expected to enable an increase in production of more than 1m tonnes each year through the combination of greater precision, reduced spillage, faster load times, and equipment optimisation.
“This is an exciting next step in WA Iron Ore’s autonomous journey and is expected to deliver significant safety, production and cost improvements as well as new job and development opportunities for our people,” said BHP’s asset president WA iron ore Brandon Craig.
“The ship loader automation project shows that our Pilbara teams are at the forefront of innovation, technology and operational excellence.
“Automating our ship loaders will improve safety for our people and allow us to load our ships more precisely and efficiently, including through automatic adjustments for weather, hazards and other variable port conditions,” he added.
BHP said the ship loaders will transition towards becoming fully automated later this year and once completed, will be operated from its integrated remote operations centre in Perth.
The company said an “enhanced approach to technology has unlocked significant performance” through innovations such as remote operations centres, fleet management systems and automated equipment, like trucks and drills.
