Our Terminal services are critical to the region’s coal industry, connecting Hunter Valley coal to a global market.
Hunter Valley Coal Chain
Newcastle shares a rich history of coal being loaded for export in the Port of Newcastle for over 200 years.
We receive coal through rail receival stations, stockpile the coal, blend the coal using unique blending methods and load the coal onto cargo vessels. We are a Newcastle business who provides services to the local coal industry for international coal export.
From pit to port, the Hunter Valley Coal Chain spans 450km, involves 35 mines, rail haulage providers and ARTC, three export terminals, The Port of Newcastle and the Hunter Valley Coal Chain Coordinator, making it one of the largest and most collaborative coal supply chains in the world.
The coal is hauled distances of up to 380km to reach the Port of Newcastle. We export Hunter Valley coal to more than 20 countries around the world. The coal we handle is used in export markets for energy production and steel manufacturing.
Coal in motion
Our combined licences coal loading capacity is 145 million tonnes across both Carrington and Kooragang Coal Terminals, making Port Waratah the largest coal export terminal in the world.
To supply coal to our five shiploaders across our two terminals, we have more than 100km of conveyor belt in operation. Over the last 10 years, the average combined terminal throughput is 103.4 million tonnes a year. Explore our performance and sustainability practices.
Port Waratah has an Environmental Management System (EMS) and Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) accredited to internationally recognised best practice standards ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 respectively.
These management systems are subject to external auditing on an annual basis and provide our framework for managing environmental and occupational health and safety aspects of the business.
Port Waratah’s EMS and OHSMS were both recertified in 2023, which involved a seven-day auditing programme by an external auditor across both terminals and a thorough review of our management systems. Our EMS has maintained ISO 14001 accreditation since 2009, and OHSMS since 2014.
Port Waratah is proud of our ability to blend coal into a highly homogeneous product. As a cargo assembly terminal, our customer determines which trains will form each individual cargo. The stockpile is then assembled for the specific vessel and cargo into an allocated stockyard space.
Port Waratah’s complementary methods of stacking and reclaiming ensure high levels of product uniformity. The video demonstrates this in action.
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Early History
Jun 2024
The Official opening of Kooragang Coal Terminal was held on 19 June 1984. Kooragang Coal Loader received the first coal in December 1983 from Saxonvale mine and the first shipment left on 9 May 1984 bound for Japan. The Kooragang Coal Loader began with a capacity of 15 million tonne per year compared to the 145 million tonne annual capacity today.
Jul 2023
Port Waratah welcomed the TR Lady bulk carrier at the Carrington Terminal. The vessel is unique as it's been retro fitted with 3 huge rotor sails that spin, capturing wind power to add thrust and propel the vessel forward. This wind-harnessed propulsion technology is helping transform the shipping industry to comply with International Maritime Organisation emission reduction targets and regulations.
Feb 2023
Our 2023-2030 climate action plan defines our emission reduction target and our strategic path to get us there. It fortifies Port Waratah's commitment to mitigate emissions, manage climate risk and make a positive contribution to Australia's Paris climate accord commitments.
Dec 2021
In 2021, Port Waratah loaded 1,279 vessels, our highest-ever number of vessels through Port Waratah Kooragang and Carrington Coal Terminals. The vessels included a record number of Handy-class vessels through Carrington Terminal, highlighting the importance of service flexibility provided by the two terminals.
Aug 2021
Port Waratah has announced an extension to the Carrington Terminal lease from 2024 to the end of 2031. The decision to continue operations at Carrington aligns with Port Waratah’s expectations of coal industry demand, particularly from South-East Asia, where demand for high-quality Hunter Valley Coal remains strong. This announcement supports the Hunter Valley coal industry, local jobs and the regional economy and community.
Jun 2020
Our Value of Caring includes caring for our people’s psychological health and wellbeing. Implementing the Mental Health Framework was a key business improvement project in 2020 and forms part of the Live Better, Work Better wellbeing programme.
Oct 2019
Port Waratah awarded SafeWork NSW Excellence Award for our innovative industry-first Marine Survey Trolley; delivering operational benefits while eliminating workplace risks.
Jan 2019
In 2019, Port Waratah proudly welcomed our first female apprentice. Antonia Moncrieff joined our team in January 2019 for a four-year electrical trade apprenticeship. Since that time, we have continued to actively recruit female apprenticeships and tradespeople helping to increase diversity and inclusion across our business.
2018
Port Waratah developed and integrated an industry-first Site Water Balance Model, a predictive model which is integrated into the Terminals’ control systems. The model combines real-time data of water storage levels, site water requirements and current forecast weather, to manage the response and performance in a forecast rain or storm event.
2016
After loading more than 300 million tonnes of coal in 40 years, the Carrington Terminal replaces three shiploaders with two new shiploaders, designed to modern safety, environmental and technological standards. Port Waratah celebrated celebrates 40 years of delivering for the region in October of the same year.
2015
Terminal 4 Project is approved subject to conditions by the State and Commonwealth Governments. In 2018, Port Waratah announced that it does not intend to proceed with the Terminal 4 development.
2014
Record 111.9 million tonnes of coal loaded by Port Waratah and exported through Port of Newcastle. Second highest year on record was 2021, with 111.3 million tonnes of coal loaded.
2009
Further expansion at the Kooragang Coal Terminal included the introduction of an additional Reclaimer (total of 4) and an additional Stacker (total of 6), the upgrade of two of the three dump stations and two stacking streams resulting in a combined total throughput capacity of 113 million tonnes per year.
2007
This expansion was completed in 2007 and includes an additional 1400 metres stockpile Pad D, a further extension on the existing Pad C by 200 metres, a fourth stacking stream and a fifth stacker. Port Waratah takes the total shiploading capacity to 102 million tonnes per year.
2002
Completion of Stage 3 Kooragang expansion. Shiploading capacity at Kooragang Coal Terminal increased to 64 million tonnes per year. Total shiploading capacity at Port Waratah reaches 89 million tonnes per year.
1996
With the completion of the second shiploader at Kooragang Coal Terminal, Port Waratah’s nominal capacity reaches 66 million tonnes per year.
1990
Port Waratah Coal Services purchased all of the shares in Kooragang Coal Loader Limited, thus making Kooragang Coal Loader Limited a wholly owned subsidiary of Port Waratah. The combined loading capacity of both Carrington and Kooragang Terminals was 46 million tonnes per year.
1982
Port Waratah expand Carrington Terminal to present capacity of 25 million tonnes per year.
1974
Gollin & Co commenced construction of a new coal loader at Port Waratah, the current site of Carrington Coal Terminal. Stockpile areas occupied the ‘old’ Port Waratah rail marshalling yards.
