Australia News

Australia’s Pilbara Ports has taken a step further towards development of a low-carbon ammonia bunkering hub in the Pilbara by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Yara Pilbara.The Yara Pilbara plant is one of the largest ammonia production facilities in the world, utilising world-class export infrastructure in the Port of Dampier.The MoU advances the Pilbara Clean Fuel Bunkering Initiative as the two organisations have agreed to work collaboratively on government and stakeholder advocacy…

Exxon Mobil is set to ship around 600,000 barrels of fuel from the U.S. Gulf Coast to cover its own import requirements in Australia, the first such shipments by the oil major, four sources with knowledge of the matter said.The planned shipments, on a route rarely used for refined products flows, show how severely global oil trade has been impacted by the near-complete halt of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran began striking vessels in the waterway this week in retaliation for U.S.

On Friday, 20 February, Austal Defence Australia and Damen Shipyards Group signed a contract supporting the local construction of Landing Ship Transport (LST) 100 vessels for the Australian Defence Force. Under the agreement, Damen will provide the design and associated licences, enabling Austal to build the vessels at its Henderson shipyard in Western Australia.The signing ceremony took place at the Australian Marine Complex Common User Facility (AMC CUF) in Henderson and was…

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has concluded a 24‑day response operation to support a vessel in distress in the Coral Sea, Queensland, preventing risk to the Great Barrier Reef, the marine environment and seafarers.On February 1, AMSA received reports that Liberian‑flagged Swift Hangzhou was experiencing engine failure. AMSA immediately initiated response arrangements to coordinate a safe and effective outcome lasting over three weeks due to the complexity of the incident.

An Australian warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait, a government source said on Sunday, in the latest transit of the sensitive waterway by a U.S. ally that Chinese state-backed media said was tracked and monitored by the nation's military.In addition to claiming sovereignty over democratically governed Taiwan, Beijing views the narrow, highly strategic strait as Chinese territorial waters and has responded aggressively on occasion to foreign navies sailing there.The Toowoomba…

The Port Authority of New South Wales (NSW) has assisted Fire and Rescue NSW in containing and extinguishing a fire that destroyed and sank three vessels and caused significant damage to a fourth at Spit Bridge Marina in Mosman, Australia.The authority deployed four vessels to the site, including its dedicated firefighting vessel Girawaa, which was used to pump up to 16,000 litres of seawater per minute onto the blaze to help contain the fire and protect nearby private vessels…

Australia’s Woodside Energy has finalized a long-term liquefied natural gas supply agreement with Türkiye’s state pipeline operator BOTAŞ, marking Woodside’s first long-term LNG contract with the Turkish market.Under the sale and purchase agreement, Woodside will supply BOTAŞ with about 5.8 billion cubic meters of natural gas equivalent, or around 0.5 million tons per annum of LNG, for up to nine years starting in 2030.The deal converts a non-binding heads of agreement signed in September into a binding commitment.

Spirit of Mulgumpin, a customized 22-meter tour vessel Incat Crowther has designed for The Tour Collective’s See Moreton business has entered service supporting See Moreton’s operations in the Moreton Bay Marine Park in Queensland, AustraliaNamed in honor of the local Indigenous name for Moreton Island – ‘Mulgumpin’ – Spirit of Mulgumpin has been designed to support the unique schedule and operational requirements of See Moreton.The new vessel incorporates Incat Crowther’s stern swimming platform design which offers a quality passenger experience for vessel-based snorkeling and recreation.

Almost A$9 million ($6 million) worth of cocaine hidden inside a refrigerated shipping container (reefer) has been seized after Australian authorities intercepted the cargo on its arrival into Port Botany in New South Wales.Australian Border Force officers identified the consignment and conducted an x-ray examination which identified anomalies in the rear of the container.Further examination located 22 individually wrapped plastic blocks, with an estimated total weight of 27kg. Presumptive testing of the consignment returned a positive reading for cocaine.

Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT), Australia’s fully automated container terminal operated by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), recently enhanced maritime connection to Asian markets through a revamped Koala service.The service, operated by MSC, made its inaugural call at VICT on October 4, linking the Port of Melbourne directly with major ports in China and Indonesia.Fixed weekly route will offer increased flexibility to supply chains serving…

Australia’s TasPorts and H2U Group have signed an MOU to explore developing a green hydrogen and ammonia facility at Bell Bay port in Tasmania.The proposed facility would be initially capable of producing up to 500,000 tonnes of green ammonia per year with the potential to scale-up.TasPorts and the H2U Group will assess the technical, economic, environmental, and social feasibility of the project, including potential port infrastructure requirements, energy and water supply, export logistics…

The Australian Border Force (ABF) led a week of action in Portland last month, targeting criminal infiltration along Victoria's south-west coastline.The high visibility activity forms part of a broader operation to prevent organized crime groups from using the Australian border as a means for illegal activity, including trafficking illicit drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine.The week of action also focused on the threat of trusted insiders and involved community engagement to spread awareness of the Border Watch program…

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has been awarded a contract from BAE Systems Maritime Australia (BAESMA) for Naval Classification New Construction Services for the first three Royal Australian Navy Hunter class frigates. The Hunter class frigates are based on the design of the UK Type 26 frigate and are being built at Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia.Under the contract, LR will ensure that the design and construction of the anti-submarine warfare frigates are compliant with LR…

The work of Australia's defence force to protect its sea trade routes, including through the South China Sea, is becoming more risky as Beijing undertakes the "biggest military build-up in the world today", Australia's defence minister said on Tuesday.Open sea lanes, including trade routes that go through the South China Sea and East China Sea, were at the core of Australia's national interest, Richard Marles said in an opening speech at a navy conference in Sydney."That work is challenging and in truth it is becoming increasingly risky.

Carpentaria Marine Services, a marine services provider in northern Australia, is expanding its fleet after commissioning Incat Crowther to design a new multi-purpose offshore support vessel.Construction of the vessel, which will be deployed across northern and eastern Australia including Cape York and the Gulf of Carpentaria, is now underway at Richardson Devine Marine’s shipyard in Hobart, Australia.The new vessel will be utilized by Carpentaria Marine for a range of services including marine construction, dive operations, underwater surveying and remotely operated vehicle operations.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a critical minerals agreement aimed at countering China on Monday at a meeting marked by Trump's jab at Australia's envoy to the United States over past criticism.China loomed large at the first White House summit between Trump and Albanese, with the U.S. president also backing a strategic nuclear-powered submarine deal with Australia to bolster security in the Indo-Pacific.While Trump and Albanese greeted each other warmly, the U.S. president expressed ire about past criticism of him by Australia's U.S.

The Australian Border Force (ABF), Australian Federal Police, Queensland Police Service, and Papua New Guinea (PNG) authorities have successfully completed the latest Joint Cross Border Patrol in the Torres Strait.Running from September 22 to 27, officers visited communities in Daru, Sigabadaru and Ture Ture in PNG, and Saibai and Boigu Islands in the Torres Strait.The joint activity forms part of Australia and PNG's shared mission to protect the border from threats such as drugs and firearms trafficking…

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met his Papua New Guinea counterpart James Marape in the capital of the largest Pacific Island nation on Wednesday for defense talks after plans to sign a landmark mutual defense treaty stalled.The two leaders instead signed a defense communique.Marape told reporters it was in the two countries' mutual interest to work side by side on defense."I made a conscious choice that Australia remains our security partner of choice," he said, adding Papua New Guinea could not defend its land and ocean space alone…

The Philippines and Australia are working towards a new defence agreement to be signed next year, their defence ministers said on Friday, as both nations seek to step up military cooperation to deal with shared security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said the enhanced defence cooperation pact will pave the way for more frequent joint military drills aimed at boosting combined operational capability and strengthening regional deterrence.Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles…

Japan clinched a landmark A$10 billion ($6.5 billion) deal on Tuesday to build warships for Australia, marking Tokyo's most consequential defence sale since ending a military export ban in 2014 as it steps away from postwar pacifism to counter China.Under the agreement, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 7011.T will supply the Royal Australian Navy with three, upgraded Mogami-class multi-role frigates built in Japan from 2029. Eight more frigates will be built in Australia.Designed to hunt submarines…

Nineteen Indonesian nationals pleaded guilty to illegally fishing in Australian waters in three separate cases at Darwin Local Court on Tuesday, 8 July 2025.The matters arose from incidents where Australian authorities identified, intercepted and apprehended an Indonesian vessel fishing illegally on June 22, 2025 in the Cobourg Marine Park, Northern Territory and two Indonesian vessels fishing illegally on June 25, 2025 near Maningrida, Northern Territory.The crews were detained, and the Australian Border Force (ABF) seized the vessels.

Bardex, a leader in products and engineering services that make ports and shipyards safer, more efficient, and more profitable, has announced the opening of its office in Melbourne, Australia. Despite its extensive coastline, Australia historically has not prioritized developing its maritime infrastructure. However, the demand for ports and shipyards that support maritime sustainment, developing offshore wind, and decommissioning end-of-life oil and gas assets is growing and will…

A key U.S. warship arrived in Australia on Saturday ahead of joint war games and the first summit between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Donald Trump, which is expected to be dominated by military issues.The America, the U.S. Navy's lead amphibious assault ship in the Indo-Pacific, entered Sydney Harbour as the first of three ships in a strike group carrying 2,500 sailors and marines, submarine-hunting helicopters and F-35B fighter jets.More than 30,000 personnel from 19 militaries have begun to arrive in Australia for Talisman Sabre, the largest Australian-U.S.