One of the last pieces of the Portland Marine Masterplan is a step closer to completion with the awarding of a tender for an on-water refuelling facility at the Trawler Wharf.


The project will see the installation of a diesel refuelling facility on the Trawler Wharf pontoon to provide vessel operators with a safe, cost-effective option for refuelling.


The refuelling facility will include a heavy-duty steel diesel storage tank and a marine grade diesel dispenser with automatic shutoff located on the existing Wharf.


It will also have a fuel pump and pipeline from tank to dispenser, electrical controls, tank level monitoring and leak detectors, payment facilities, vehicle impact protection, security gates, and fire and marine pollution services.


The Local Port of Portland Bay was successful in September last year in receiving funds from the Department of Transport and Planning for the facility, the need for which was highlighted in the 2016 Masterplan.


Currently, boats requiring fuel do so by private arrangement with local fuel tankers, subject to the tankers’ other commitments.


In some cases, boaters resort to the risky practice of manual handling “jerry cans”.


The options of manual handling drums or petrol stations are not available for larger, typically diesel, craft, that in some cases require thousands of litres to refuel.


The addition of an on-water fixed fuel facility to the Local Port will not only help current commercial fishers, it is expected to attract larger numbers of visiting vessels to the Portland region.


The facility is expected to be completed by late 2024.