Shipping History

When the port opened in 1897 there were 474 ship visits, classified as sailing vessels or steam and sail. Today, huge cargo and cruise ships call.

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Shipping - Then and Now

In 1897, Fremantle recorded a total of 474 ship visits. Of these, 127 were sailing vessels and the remainder were classified steam and sail. The gross tonnage of these vessels was about 550,000 tonnes. 

Today, the Inner Harbour handles huge container ships and vehicle carriers, general cargo ships, livestock vessels, small tankers, cruise liners and visiting naval vessels. Almost all of the bulk shipping is serviced from the Outer Harbour at Kwinana. 

In 2017-18, the total number of ship visits (commercial and non-trading) handled by Fremantle Port was 1,807 plus 31 naval ship calls. The mass tonnage was 71,931,322.

Sailing vessel Jordanhill berthing at B Berth 1911 - State Library of Western Australia 154116PD

Looking east along Victoria Quay ca.1930

Cargo vessels at North Wharf ca.1930

Cargo handling operations Victoria Quay 1934

Victoria Quay on a wintry day in November 1945 - Family of Saxon Fogarty

Cargo vessel Fremantle Star handling cargo at North Wharf 1958

P&O liner Iberia preparing to sail. Steam tugs Wilga and Wyola in the foreground 1965

Container vessel Kooringa handling A containers at North Quay 1966

Iron Derby at AIS Steelworks Jetty 1968

German cargo vessel Moselstein handling breakbulk cargo at C Shed 1969

Looking west along a busy Victoria Quay 1969

New Zealand Star passing her smaller sister Almeria Star berthed at A Shed 1980

Tuna vessels along Victoria Quay 1989

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