Townsville Port celebrates Channel Upgrade completion with Queen Elizabeth’s arrival

Port of Townsville is celebrating the completion of its $251 million Channel Upgrade project with the arrival of Cunard’s luxury cruise ship Queen Elizabeth on Tuesday, 14 January 2025.

The upgrade involved Townsville’s shipping channels being widened from 92m to 180m at the inshore end, allowing larger vessels up to 300m in length to safely access the port, instead of bypassing Townsville.

Port of Townsville CEO Ranee Crosby said the channel widening had been pivotal in attracting larger cruise vessels to Townsville. 

 “This project will deliver the largest cruise ships Townsville has seen to date and will be carrying thousands of passengers and crew, which means significant economic injections into our local economy and local businesses” Ms Crosby said. 

 “This milestone heralds a new era of maritime tourism for the region, promising to boost the local economy and offer visitors an unparalleled experience to explore our region right throughout the year.” 

Director for Cunard Australia and New Zealand Katrina McAlpine said they were thrilled guests travelling on Queen Elizabeth would be able to access the Port of Townsville for the first time.

“We are excited that Queen Elizabeth is the first cruise ship of her size to berth at Townsville Port, bringing our guests right to the city’s doorstep,” Ms McAlpine said.

“It’s a magnificent setting, offering our guests unparalleled convenience for exploring all that Townsville and its surrounds have to offer.”

Hall Contracting CEO & Director Cameron Hall said his company was proud to have delivered such a significant project for the Townsville region.

“As an Australian contractor, Hall Contracting is proud to have overcome stiff competition from European-based multinational dredging companies to deliver the Port of Townsville Channel Upgrade project in our home state, creating approximately 140 local jobs and boosting the Queensland economy,” Mr Hall said.

“In addition to dredging 3.4 million cubic metres of material from the Platypus Channel and Sea Channel, our marine civil division also built a 2.2km rock wall as part of the Channel Upgrade to facilitate expansion of the Port.

"We will leave behind an enduring legacy in Townsville, having delivered more than 30,000 hours of training to local workers and provided hands-on industry experience and learning opportunities to a range of trainees, apprentices and university students.”

Ms Crosby said the $251 million Channel Upgrade project was the first stage of a $1.6 billion Port Expansion Plan, which includes the creation of up to six new berths, 150 hectares of land reclamation and channel widening and deepening.

“North Queensland is home to some of the most significant emerging opportunities that will fuel economic growth for decades to come, spanning critical minerals, mining and processing, renewable energy transmission and generation and advanced manufacturing,” Ms Crosby said.

“Through continued expansion, our Port will play a critical role in supporting the North’s pipeline of major projects.”