Future Cairns: Richard Stevenson reveals future vision for Port North
The future is bright for Ports North and Cairns as The Common User Facility promises an opportunity to become gateway to the Pacific, says CEO Richard Stevenson.
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The construction of a $360m Common User Facility capable of servicing vessels up to a whopping 5000 tonnes will be critically important to cementing Cairns as the Gateway to the Pacific, according to Ports North CEO Richard Stevenson.
Mr Stevenson took over the top job at Ports North in August last year and has outlined his vision for the city to become an economic powerhouse, with his organisation enabling and establishing partnerships across the Pacific region.
Key to the vision will be the construction of the $360m Common User Facility and making sure it is used to its full potential.
“This facility will allow us to expand our footprint in the Pacific and really project into the region,” Mr Stevenson said.
“It becomes an attracting force for all types of marine operators including defence here at home, and from our partners.
“We are already demonstrating the work we can do to service vessels from around the world and (helping) their ability to project from the geographic gateway of Cairns into the Pacific.”
Mr Stevenson said the CUF, when built, would be a massive step up in the region’s ship servicing capability.
“It provides comfort to these foreign nations that we have the capacity they need and there is real opportunity to expand in this area,” he said.
“Boats are all hulls in the water that need money put in to them.
“They all need maintenance so there is opportunity to make us a point of difference.”
Mr Stevenson said there was also massive potential in Cairns to become a hub for innovation and training.
“On the back of the CUF comes amazing opportunities for training, specialisation, and education,” he said.
“We already have connections here in the training space with our Pacific neighbours out of the Marine College and there is opportunity to expand there.
“We are expecting there will be a highly specialised workforce that will help support the work of the CUF and there is a massive educational benefit that can come off the back of that.”
The Ports North boss said it was an exciting time to be leading the organisation, with opportunities here in Cairns but also in the business’ regional ports as well.
He said his goal for the organisation was to become a leading provider and enabler of regional prosperity.
“While we are a government-owned corporation and we operate as a commercial business, we have a larger remit where we will undertake activities that may not be the best for our bottom line, but they are the best for our region to develop,” Mr Stevenson said.
“We provide infrastructure, we provide services, we provide the enablers for industry and individuals to create regional opportunities and we will try to get ahead of the game to provide the best opportunities for Cairns.”
Work at the port is also set for a major shake-up in the years to come, as the marine industry innovates.
“The jobs that some of our kids will be doing simply do not exist yet so that is quite exciting with what that means for our industry,” Mr Stevenson explained.
“We have seen things change in what ships are, hulls have changed, ship repair has changed, where it used to be a ship carpenter we now have high skilled welders working on hulls.
“I think the new skills we will see will come with those opportunities in education, we are talking highly technical work, we are moving into a different sort of industry.”
Mr Stevenson said maritime work was continuing to evolve, and there was an opportunity for Cairns to lead in that space.
“I like to think we will be an innovation hub of marine maintenance,” he said.
“We need to raise, train and sustain (workers) in Cairns.”
The future prosperity of the port also lies in opportunities beyond the CUF and maritime maintenance, Mr Stevenson said.
“There is a lot of opportunities with the cruise industry,” he said.
“We have also identified a number of potential capital investment programs if targets with cruises are achieved.
“We also already have a pathway of whether we should look at larger ships, longer ships, staying for longer, and that all feeds into our long term planning.”
The critical minerals that lie under the soil on The Gulf coast and central areas of Far North Queensland will also feed into Cairns’ prosperity, Mr Stevenson said.
“Regionally we have some of those longer term opportunities that rely on critical minerals, particularly in Cape Flattery, but also in The Gulf region as well,” he said.
“We are working with number of proponents about potential longer-term mining activities and export ports so there is far bit happening in that space with more of our longer term projects to help enable these guys get up off the ground.”
Mr Stevenson said there was bound to be big changes into the future with the way the port operates, but there will always be the chance to grow and innovate while maintaining the character of the Far North.
“There is a part of me that likes the idea of the old Barbary Coast of Cairns,” he said.
“I would like to think that Cairns will always have that element of the Tropical Far North Queensland feel.
“There is bound to be significant changes in how our vessels operate we will see a different fleet and there will be some amazing tech advancements around propulsion with fuel and emissions.”
Mr Stevenson said ports can be seen as steady and not very innovative but they need to be able embrace innovation to make the most of the future.
“It’s all achievable and its part of our remit to enable this region to grow and prosper,” he said.
“There so much opportunity in the port, Cairns and the region.”
Navigating the future: Cairns and Far North Queensland as the Pacific gateway
Richard Stevenson, Ports North CEO
I’ve spent more than three decades in the maritime industry – a journey that’s shown me the world!
I was raised in Mena Creek and continue calling the Cairns community home.
Now, as CEO of Ports North, I’m getting the chance to influence opportunities that will be good for maritime and good for Far North Queensland.
The Pacific region has so much opportunity when it comes to global trade and connectivity, and Cairns is perfectly positioned as an entry and exit point in the supply chain.
There are opportunities for growth with an engaged, capable and efficient local workforce and an enviable natural environment offering a great lifestyle.
At Ports North, we’re keenly aware that to truly position Cairns, and our region, as the Pacific gateway, we need to continue investing in our infrastructure.
A robust and efficient transport network is the lifeblood of any successful gateway, and we are committed to investing in our port facilities and workforce capabilities.
With funding from state and federal governments, the expansion of our marine precinct will provide state-of-the-art facilities for maintenance, repair, and overhaul.
It will cater to growing demand from commercial, defence, and recreational vessels.
And, is expected to deliver significant economic benefits for Far North Queensland, including job creation, attracting domestic and international investment, and diversifying our regional economy.
A prosperous future will be built on sustainable and resilient businesses.
Ports North’s extensive network of maritime and community partners means we can influence positive economic, social and environmental outcomes.
We have a responsibility to bring together multiple parties and lead sustainability initiatives that will make our communities inspiring and viable places to live and work for generations.
Local collaboration will be essential in realising our vision for Cairns and Far North Queensland.
Through partnership we can leverage each other’s strengths and create synergies that benefit us all.
Whether it’s joint infrastructure projects, knowledge sharing initiatives, or promotional marketing campaigns, effective collaborations will boost our global competitiveness.
Importantly, we need to be innovative.
In an increasingly digital world, embracing new technologies and processes is needed to stay competitive.
From blockchain-enabled supply chain management to predictive analytics for port operations, we are constantly exploring ways to streamline processes, reduce costs and enhance efficiency.
It’s well within our grasp to establish Cairns as a well-known and considered gateway to the Pacific and the world.
By focusing on infrastructure development, sustainability, collaboration and innovation, we can position our region as a vital hub for trade, tourism and investment.
Unlocking our full potential will need to be done together.
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