A huge $35 million piece of machinery was brought into the Port of Newcastle on Sunday on a massive ship.
The machinery - a bulk-ship unloader - stands more than 62 metres high and weighs 750 tonnes. It is one of the largest pieces of cargo ever to enter the port.
A specialist heavy-lift ship, the 19,000-tonne Happy Star, delivered the cargo to a port berth at the Walsh Point bulk precinct.
The 156-metre long Happy Star has two heavy-lift mast cranes to lift gigantic cargo.
The bulk-ship unloader is being installed at Newcastle Bulk Terminal. It has capacity to unload bulk cargo such as fertilisers, meals and mineral sands at up to 1200 tonnes an hour.
Port of Newcastle chief executive Craig Carmody said the unloader's arrival was "a significant milestone in optimising bulk-handling efficiencies at the Port".
"The previous two unloaders were built in 1968 and decommissioned in 2018, to be replaced with machinery that delivers the highest standards in safety and environmental management and a superior commercial outcome for customers," Mr Carmody said.
"This investment is part of Port of Newcastle's commitment to providing the most efficient supply chain for internationally-trading businesses and, ultimately, support the Hunter's economic growth."
The new unloader will now undergo a commissioning phase, which includes testing and training for crane operators and maintenance teams.
This commissioning is expected to take about four months, with the ship unloader ready for operation late this year.
