Broome WA (Kimberley, Western Australia)

Broome (port locode AUBME) is situated in Kimberley Western Australia's north-west, on the northern side of Indian Ocean's Roebuck Bay. A little port, Broome rose to prosperity in the 1860s with the discovery of abundant coastal pearl oyster beds. The town was founded officially in 1883 and named after Sir Frederick Broome.

In September 2023, Port Broome announced a CAD 200 million infrastructure development project with private investments. By this project was modernized the Port's logistics. The developer, KMSB (Kimberley Marine Support Base Pty Ltd), was contracted by the Kimberley Ports Authority to conduct the project fully privately (with its own funding). The project was expected to support annually ~1650 Western Australian jobs.

On September 20th, 2019, the State Government announced its approval of the lease agreements enabling KMSB to proceed with the project. It comprises a floating wharf/offloading facility (sized 9900 m2/106562 ft2, fitted with a heavy lift) plus on-land terminal facilities (both interconnected via dual/bidirectional causeway), to be built to the south of the Port's wharf. The new facilities are multi-use and complimentary for maritime trade and tourism.

Construction works (including dredging to a minimum 17 m / 56 ft draft at low tide) started in 2023 and were completed in 2026. For the construction works KMSB contracted Total AMS Pty Ltd. On February 21st, 2026, Le Jacques Cartier became the first cruise ship to use Broome's floating wharf. The facility addresses a major regional navigational challenge - extreme tidal fluctuations of several metres per cycle. By connecting the floating platform to the shore with a causeway, it rises and falls with the tides, ensuring reliable access for large cruise vessels and enhancing both cruise berthing operations and overall marine logistics at Broome.

Broome became a mecca for pearl-divers from across Asia, until in the 1950s pearling declined in the face of stiff competition from plastics industry. Some pearl harvesters still remain, and nearby cultured pearls are being farmed.

The town's population is around 15,000, growing up to over 45,000 per month during tourist season. The tidal range in Broome Harbour can be up to 34 ft (10,5 m), which results in large mangrove swamps and mud flats rich in wildlife. Tourists are attracted by the beaches and the "Golden Staircase to the Moon" - seasonal optical illusion created by moonlight reflecting off the ocean floor. Dinosaur footprints can be seen during low tide in the ocean bed west of the town, at Gantheaume Point.

For 2019, the port had scheduled a total of 59 cruise ship calls, of which 30 by larger and 29 by smaller ships. There are planned channel widening and dredging to allow docking for larger vessels.

Broome WA cruise terminal