Infrastructure and Innovation

The innovation, infrastructure, and performance of our business is critical to ensure we deliver our services sustainably.

At the core of our operations is the safe and sustainable shipping of high-quality Australian coal to enable access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy around the world.

Using energy-efficient assets and increasing our renewable energy use at the Terminal is also a key future focus for NQXT and APO. We are geographically well-placed to utilise renewables as the area typically achieves more than 13 hours of daylight each day, making solar power a substantial factor in our renewable energy journey

Business Performance

Our customers are the key driving force to our operations and business performance is important to us. Ensuring we meet the needs and objectives of our customers is critical to maintaining our ongoing operations.

We have an exceptional track record of Terminal throughput, including minimisation of time at berth and load times for vessels.

Electronic documentation has expedited processes for vessels, ensuring they berth at the Terminal when they are ready for loading, and coal is available. These aspects are pivotal for customer confidence that our processes can competently and efficiency handle their raw materials.

Infrastructure delivery, asset management and Terminal efficiency

Heavy machinery is necessary to transport large volumes of raw materials for our customers. Asset management and maintenance is conducted proactively to ensure we meet the required productivity.

In line with our business plan, we are developing asset lifecycle and long-term maintenance plans for key assets. 

A culture of efficiency is important to achieve our organisational targets for production, safety, environment, and governance. 

Case Study

Automated water quality monitoring stations & infrastructure investment

Controlled water discharges have been necessary during extreme weather events to minimise the risk of flooding or damage to infrastructure and the environment. The water discharged adheres to strict water quality standards and environmental approval conditions. 

The uncontrolled release of water can be a high-risk event for the local environment. To ensure real-time monitoring of local marine environments and water courses, APO operates two automated water quality monitoring stations. The monitoring stations also collect samples for subsequent laboratory testing. The stations are solar powered, with a battery backup, reducing our energy use and emissions.

We have also invested in a range of infrastructure initiatives to manage water releases.

This includes initiatives focused on: 

  • Preventing water entering the site,
  • Managing and directing water flows across the site,
  • Storing water for compliant releases, and
  • Measuring and treating water to ensure quality compliant releases.

These innovations allow us to adhere to our strict quality standards.

Case Study

Safer Shipping

Safer Shipping

The Dynamic Under Keel Clearance (DUKC) technology is a joint NQXT, APO and NQBP initiative introduced at the Port of Abbot Point in FY21 to improve sailing safety.

Traditionally, static calculations were used to determine the safe allowable times for large or deep drafted vessels to load and sail. These calculations did not allow for changes in wave heights, weather forecasts or metocean data. The DUKC system determines more accurate sailing windows for deep draft vessels based on forecast and actual metocean data collected by wave rider buoys, current sensors, lookdown lasers and anemometer feeds installed at the Port of Abbot Point.

The implementation of DUKC has resulted in the safe maximum allowable sailing draft for vessels to be more accurate, providing greater vessel loading and sailing windows.

Most importantly, the innovation allows greater safety and a significant reduction in the risk of vessels striking the ocean floor. Other benefits from DUKC implementation globally have been better channel sailing paths.