Cape Cuvier Towage Services

⁠⁠⁠Cape Cuvier operations summary:

The Cape Cuvier shiploading facility consists of an 800 m long jetty, with a single berth at the jetty head. Ships berth perpendicular to the jetty, within a 6-buoy mooring pattern. A single luffing and slewing shiploader is located at the jetty head. 

Ships are warped between the head and stern buoys to change hatches during loading. Loading throughput is nominally up to 3,000 tph, with typical shipments in the order of 30,000 to 80,000 tonnes. 

From the anchorage (~1 nm North of the jetty), ships are met by two tugs and a lineboat carrying the marine pilot and DSL mooring crew with DSL provided mooring lines. 

On entering the mooring pattern, lines are run to the mooring buoys with the assistance of a lines boat, securing the vessel within the berth. The ship is then moved close to the shiploader by slackening and tensioning lines appropriately, tug assistance is generally required. The shiploader is typically capable of reaching two hatches when the vessel is positioned correctly. 

Ships are warped between the head and stern buoys to change hatches during loading. All ship moves within the terminal are conducted under pilotage and undertaken with the support of a marine pilot and two tugs. DSL mooring personnel are also onboard for all ship moves (berthing, warping, sailing) to support mooring activities at the fore and aft of the ship.

On completion of loading, two tugs and a lines boat assist the ship out of the berth, before the ship departs port limits under its own power. At approximately 1 nm from the berth the mooring crew and pilot disembark, and shore lines are returned to the tug before the ship continues to sea. Cape Cuvier services approximately 40-50 vessels p/a with a mix of Salt and Gypsum vessels ranging from Handysize to Post-panamax.

Rio Tinto require a supplier to:

• Perform towage and small craft services for ship berthing, warping and de-berthing duties as required by Rio Tinto using the Vessels provided by Rio Tinto (Towage Services)

• Perform all tasks in relation to the transit of vessels from their accommodation in Carnarvon to the Port of Cape Cuvier and return.

• Comply with Rio Tinto's Transit Management Plans for all sea passages.

• Perform planned maintenance tasks that arise from the maintenance analysis conducted by either the Supplier or Rio Tinto, corrective maintenance tasks generally resulting from an inspection and predictive maintenance tasks due to deterioration in the Vessel’s condition (Operational Maintenance Services). 

• Perform services which are not Regular Services, but which Rio Tinto still requires the Supplier to complete (Out of Scope Services).

(collectively, Regular Services). 

• The Supplier must provide sufficient suitably qualified Partners to perform the Regular Services. 

• These qualified personnel may also be used by the Supplier to perform the Additional Services.  

• In addition to the Supplier Personnel required to perform the Regular Services, the Supplier must provide at no additional cost an additional one person to ensure Rio Tinto’s required Supervision, administration, safety, and operational standards are maintained.  

• A roster that provides reasonable planned time away from regular services.

• A roster that provides a permanent workforce that can be utilised for Maintenance or additional services when not required for shipping operations at Cape Cuvier this should be no less than a three-person team with suitable qualifications to operate any one of Rio Tinto's Vessels.

• These qualified personnel are effectively rostered on and must be available, where practical for maintenance and additional services for 365 days per year

Further Notification

This scope of work is a summary description of goods and/or services that may be required by Rio Tinto and may be subject to change in Rio Tinto’s absolute discretion.

 Your business capability statement, as stored on your portal profile, may be downloaded and referenced when the responses to the expression of interest are reviewed. It is recommended that Suppliers review the portal business details section to ensure all information, including contact email address, annual turnover and employee numbers, is current and accurate.

 As this is an Expression of Interest (EOI) only, the specifics of the package of work relating to breadth of scope, location and timing may be subject to change. If successful, the Supplier/s will be notified of any changes prior to award.