Seafarer Tour - Port Hedland

I would highly recommend that you book onto a Harbour Tour at the Port Hedland Seafarer Centre while staying in this part of Western Australia.

The tour is on board the Seafarer Boat which transports crew members from the ships to the shore so they can do some shopping or just hang out at the Seafarer centre.  The centre provides internet, TV's and pool tables for the rest and relaxation of the crew. This is all provided free of charge and the money to run the centre is obtained from selling goods and also donations from the large companies that ship the iron ore from the Port Hedland Harbour. 

Our tour consisted of a talk on the history of Seafarer operation and a trip on the boat to pick up and drop off crew members from the ships. There are ladders down the side of the ship and the seafarer boat pulls up alongside. The crew getting on or off the ship are required to wear life jackets as the ladders are quite narrow. The ships are 300 metres long and 50 metres wide. The channel is only 187 metres wide and the ships go one way at a time. When fully laden they are 18 metres into the water - fascinating stuff.

See how much you learn on one of these tours.