Jimmy Wilson News

BHP Billiton has approved $240 million (BHP Billiton share) to purchase six additional tugs and construct a new eight pen Tug Harbour at Hunt Point in the Port Hedland Port. The investment will also include the upgrade of workshop facilities, operational and service berths and two small boat moorings at the existing Nelson Point Tug Harbour. BHP Billiton Iron Ore President, Jimmy Wilson, said, “The project will mitigate the risk of a channel blockage by ensuring the continued safe escort of vessels in and out of the Port Hedland Inner Harbour. The new Tug Harbour improves upon previous designs with the facility requiring minimal dredging and marine-based infrastructure and having less environmental and visual impact.

BHP Billiton said on Tuesday it will spend $240 million upgrading its marine iron ore facilities in Western Australia. The funds will be used to purchase six tug boats and build a new tug harbor in the Port Hedland Port, with construction due to be completed in the September 2016 quarter. BHP is expected to show it shipped a record 250 million tonnes of iron ore through the port in fiscal 2015. when it releases its year-end operations report on Wednesday. "This project will enable BHP Billiton to safely meet projected demand for tug services and effectively manage shipping risk for all users of the Port Hedland Port," BHP iron ore division head Jimmy Wilson said in a statement.

BHP Billiton plans to construct a new eight pen tug harbour at Hunt Point in Port Hedland, as well as purchase six additional tugs, for $US240 million ($A326 million). The investment will also include an upgrade of workshop facilities, operational and service berths and two small boat moorings at the existing Nelson Point tug harbour. The project is expected to create up to 200 jobs in Port Hedland during construction phase. BHP is expected to show it shipped a record 250 million tonnes of iron ore through the port in fiscal 2015 when it releases its year-end operations report on Wednesday. "This project will enable BHP Billiton to safely meet projected demand for tug services and effectively manage shipping risk for all users of the Port Hedland Port…

BHP Billiton last night celebrated the shipment of its one billionth tonne of iron ore to China with customers, industrial associations, joint venture partners, suppliers and employees in Shanghai. BHP Billiton’s Chief Executive Officer Andrew Mackenzie was joined by President Iron Ore Jimmy Wilson, President HSE, Marketing and Technology Mike Henry, President Coal Dean Dalla Valle and guests to reveal the commemorative plaque to mark the milestone. Mr Mackenzie said BHP Billiton, a leading global resources company, was proud to contribute to the important trading relationship between China and Australia and to the country’s steel industry. “China is of immense importance to BHP Billiton and to Australia,” he said.

In the largest donation in Telethon history, BHP Billiton has committed $20 million over the next five years to the Telethon Kids Institute to improve the health and wellbeing of children in Western Australia. The first annual instalment of $4 million will kick-start the yearly Western Australian Telethon on Saturday night. The Channel 7 Telethon Trust is a registered charitable trust that has a philosophy to financially support the medical and social welfare of children and young people, and to fund research into children’s diseases. The Telethon Weekend live 26 hour appeal is held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre and is televised on Channel 7 Perth and on GWN7 throughout Regional WA.

BHP Billiton said on Wednesday it may seek government intervention to avert industrial action by tugboat workers at the Port Hedland iron ore port that threatens to disrupt hundreds of millions of dollars in exports. "It's highly likely we would do that," Jimmy Wilson, president of BHP's iron ore division, told reporters amid a long-running dispute between union workers and port services operator Teekay Shipping, which charges BHP a fee for operating tug services. BHP also called the union's demands on pay and working conditions "unreasonable". Australia's government has intervened in industrial disputes before. In 2011, the Fair Work Australia commission stepped in to end a long-running dispute between Qantas and three unions when the airline grounded its fleet…