OMC Milestones

2023
New record for Port Botany

Stretching 350m long and tipping the scales at 111,000 tonnes, The CMA CGM Pelleas becomes the greatest length overall to ever dock at Port Botany. The vessel is 43m wide and has a capacity of 9,600 TEUs.

2022
New record for Port Botany

At nearly 300 metres long, the 10,926 TEU CMA CGM Estelle arrived at Patrick Terminals in Port Botany, setting a new record for the ship carrying the most containers to ever visit Australia.

OMC wins award

OMC is named winner of the ‘Excellence in Transport and/or Conveying’ award for technology that moves bulk solids materials from one location to another, with DUKC® technology being recognised at the awards ceremony in Melbourne.

New record for RAK Ports

With a draft of 13.25m, Summer Sky becomes the deepest draft vessel to call at SAQR Port.

New record for Southern Ports

Port of Bunbury breaks their throughout record with 17.945 million tonnes of product traded through the port during the 2021-22 financial year.

New record for Whyalla

On June 2nd, the Bulk Honduras sets a new record load of 52,000wmt for SIMEC’s Whyalla Port.

New record for Pilbara Ports Authority

PPA creates a new annual throughput record of 773.1 million tonnes for the 2021-2022 financial year - an increase of 1%.

New record for Lyttelton Port

Lyttelton Port achieves the milestone of exchanging over 500,000 TEU in a financial year - with a total of 503,00 TEU.

New record for Port Botany

Le Havre becomes the heaviest ship ever to arrive at Port Botany, with a displacement of 140,480 tonnes.

New record for Port Botany

MSC Tokyo becomes the deepest draft container ship to call at not only Port Botany, but any Australian port, with a draft of 15.1m.

2021
New record for Mid West Ports

Great Wencheng becomes the largest cargo export out of the Port of Geraldton, with a total load of 79,996 tonnes of iron ore.

OMC wins award

OMC won the 'Advanced Technologies' award at this year's Governor of Victoria Export Awards (GOVEAs) for outstanding international success in the field of information technology (IT), digital technologies, software, hardware or digital services, including solutions utilising cloud based platforms, artificial intelligence, machine learning, IoT, augmented /virtual reality and/or blockchain.’

New record for Port Botany

STI Condotti becomes the deepest tanker to be welcomed at Port Botany, with a draft of 14.7m, exceeding the previous deepest by approximately 50cm.

New record for Port Botany

Port Botany breaks records after containership MSC Asya becomes the heaviest vessel to berth with a displacement of 140,252 tonnes. It is also understood to be the deepest container ship to berth in an Australian Port, with a draft of 14.8m.

New record for RAK Ports

On October 7, the Star Crios set a new record draft of 13.25m from the Inner Harbour of Saqr Port, UAE.

New record for Mid West Ports

During August, Mid West Ports Authority recorded a total iron ore trade of 1,092,166 tonnes, the highest monthly throughput recorded since November 2019.

DUKC® installation for Abbot Point
A DUKC® system is installed at Abbot Point, Queensland.
DUKC® installation for Port Botany

A third DUKC® system has been commissioned for New South Wales Port Authority, with this latest system being installed at Port Botany, Sydney.

New record for RAK Ports

On July 23rd, bulk carrier Zagori sets a new record for Saqr Port, with a draft of 13.18m.

New record for Port of Montreal

With a capacity of 6,730 TEU, the MSC Melissa becomes the largest container ship to sail St. Lawrence River, measuring 303m long and 40m wide.

New record for Southern Ports Authority

The Port of Bunbury surpasses previous records with an annual throughput of 117.11MT.

New record for Pilbara Ports Authority

Pilbara Ports Authority achieves a record-breaking annual throughput of 724.7MT, exceeding 700MT for the first time.

New record for Port of Melbourne

The Soroe Maersk at 347 metres long and a capacity of 9640 TEU is the largest ship ever to enter the Port of Melbourne.

New record for Port of Melbourne

At 9200 TEU, the CMA CGM Loire becomes the heaviest vessel to berth at West Swanson Dock.

New record for Port of Melbourne

The OOCL Canada, measuring at 335m long,42.9m wide, with a displacement of 120,000 tonnes and 8.888 TEU, becomes the largest and heaviest container vessel to berth at West Swanson Terminal.

2020
DUKC® Recognised at awards Night

RAK Ports, for Saqr Ports, is announced as the winner of the ‘Intelligent Shipping Award’ for optimising port operations with DUKC® at the 2020 Seatrade Maritime Awards.

New record for Southern Ports

The Port of Bunbury reached a new trade record in December 2020 with 1.845 million tonnes of trade and 46 ships through the port, up from the 1.67 million-tonne record from January 2018.

PortWeather Installation for CentrePort
PortWeather commissioned for CentrePort Wellington, NZ.
PortWeather Installation for Lyttelton
PortWeather commissioned for Lyttelton Port Company, NZ.
New record for Port of Melbourne

The MSC Rachele arrived with a displacement of 123,900mt, the heaviest vessel ever for East Swanson dock. 

New record for RAK Ports

The MV Soho Mandate loaded a cargo of Clinker at Berth 12 in the Inner Harbour of Saqr Port with a final draft of 13.02m, allowing the vessel to load approximately 7000t of additional cargo.

New record for Port of Port Hedland

Annual iron ore exports at the Port of Port Hedland totalled 531.5Mt, an increase of 24.9Mt or five per cent from the previous year.

BerthAlert Installion for Alcoa

A new BerthAlert installation for Alcoa Kwinana Refinary, Western Australia.

New record for Fremantle Ports

At a draft of 14.7m and displacement of 138,820 tonnes, the MSC Sindy set a new record for the deepest vessel ever to depart Fremantle Inner Harbour.

New record for Port of Melbourne

MSC Pamela calls to Melbourne, at a length of 336.7m and a beam of 45.7m, it makes her the largest container ship to successfully berth at Swanson Dock.

New record for RAK Ports

At a draft of 12.85m, Elbabe becomes the deepest draft vessel to sail out of Saqr Port, 65cm deeper than the static draft.

New record for RAK Ports

The Ganga K sails from Saqr Port with a record draft of 12.83m.

DUKC® installed for RAK Ports

RAK Ports has commissioned a DUKC® system for Saqr, UAE. The first ship to sail under DUKC® had a draft of 12.76m, 56cm deeper than the previous maximum draft.

2019
New record for FMG

Fortescue Metals Group has achieved a record shipment of iron ore in the December 2019 quarter with 46.4 million tonnes.

New record for Port of Port Hedland

A new monthly record for iron ore exports totalled 47.3m, a 3% increase from the same time last year.

New record for Fremantle Ports

At a draft of 14.2m and a beam of 48.2m, the CMA CGM Rhone becomes the widest draft constrained vessel to call at Fremantle.

New record for Fremantle Ports

Fremantle Ports welcomes two giant container ships, Maersk Skarsind and MSC Elma, to call at the Fremantle Inner Harbour. Both vessels have a beam of 48.3m.

New record for Port of Melbourne

MSC Elma, with a deadweight of 110,103 tonnes and a beam of 48.3m, is one of the largest vessel classes to call at Melbourne.

New record at Whyalla

Loaded to 205,805Mt, the Hanna Oldendorff sets a new tonnage record for SIMEC's Whyalla/Spencer Gulf iron ore export operation.

New record at Port of Newcastle

The Pro Alliance has become the largest fuel tanker to enter the Port of Newcastle, measuring 244 metres in length.

New record at Port Hedland

The Port of Port Hedland reported a new tonnage record on January 15. 10 vessels departed the port in convoy carrying a total of 1,754,741 tonnes of bulk, exceeding the previous record from December 2017 by 165,680 tonnes.

New record at Port of Newcastle

The Brook Trout becomes the first LR1 tanker to call at the Port of Newcastle

2018
OMC recognised at awards night

OMC is named the runner-up of the 'The China Merchants Port Holdings Innovation' Award at the Lloyd's List Global Awards.

OMC wins award

OMC is named the winner of the 'Supply Chain Innovation & Technology' Award at the Australian Shipping & Maritime Industry Awards.

OMC wins award

OMC is named the winner of the 'Support Service Provider of the Year' Award for the Lyttelton Port (NZ) dredge optimisation project at the Dredging and Port Construction Awards.

DUKC® installed for Lyttelton

A DUKC® system is installed at Lyttelton Port, New Zealand, as part of the port's dredging project where OMC's channel design was able to reduce dredging by 43% in Stage 1.

OMC recognised at awards night

OMC is named the runner-up of the 'Intelligence Safety Innovation Award' at the Lloyd's List Asia Pacific Awards.

DUKC® installed at Amrun

A DUKC® system is installed for Rio Tinto's Amrun project in North Queensland.

New record in Torres Strait

The Leda Maersk has become the deepest eastbound container vessel to transit Torres Strait. With a draft of 12.5m, the vessel used AMSA's UKCM system to optimise timing to ensure there was an available sailing window to safely navigate.

OMC receives award

OMC is named the winner of the 'Business Services Award' at the Governor of Victoria Export Awards.

New record for Port of Melbourne

Cosco Thailand arrived at Victoria International Container Terminal, becoming the largest container ship to enter the Port of Melbourne. It is a 101,200 DWT vessel with a TEU capacity of 8500.

New record for Pilbara Ports Authority

Pilbara Ports Authority set a new 24-hour record of 2.478m tonnes was reported over two tides and 14 vessels.

New record in Torres Strait

At a draft of 12.5m, Lica Maersk becomes the deepest container vessel to transit through Torres Strait.

New record for Pilbara Ports Authority

The Port of Port Hedland achieved a record annual throughput of 519.4Mt, an increase of 18.4Mt of 4% from the previous year.

OMC receives award

At the International Harbour Masters Association (IHMA) Awards in London, OMC is jointly named the inaugural winner in the ‘Safe, Efficient & Secure Port’ category with Pilbara Ports Authority.

New record for Pilbara Ports Authority

A new monthly record for iron ore exports totalled 47.2Mt, an increase of 18.Mt or 4% from the previous year.

New record for Pilbara Ports Authority

The Port of Port Hedland reported a record tonnage in a 24-hour period on 2 June. Twelve vessels departed during the 24 hours, carrying a cargo of 2,398,423 tonnes. This was 187,599 more than the previous record of 2,210,824 set on 25 February 2018.

DUKC® for Gladstone Ports Corporation

A DUKC® system is installed at Gladstone, Queensland.

25th Anniversary Celebrations

OMC International (OMC) celebrates the 25th anniversary of the implementation of the first DUKC® operational system in the coal port of Hay Point, Queensland, maintaining an unblemished track record.

New record at Geraldton Port

Mid West Ports Authority welcomes the largest-ever bulk carrier – MV Rising Sun – to berth at Geraldton Port as part of a live trial using DUKC® technology. (This new 235m x 43m class ship can carry 10-15% more cargo).

New record at Port Hedland
DUKC® plays a major role in helping PPA export a total 42 million tonnes (Mt) of iron ore from Port Hedland in the month - an 8% increase from March 2017.
New record in Torres Strait

The RTM Weipa sets a new record for the deepest vessel to sail through Torres Strait, with a draft of 12.83m.

2017
New record at Port Hedland

DUKC® technology helps PPA set numerous shipping records at Port Hedland, including a new record tonnage on a single tide achieved on Dec 27. A total of 1,589,061 tonnes of cargo sailed out on eight ships.

New record at Port Hedland

A record 272 ship visits and a record monthly throughput of 47.1Mt for the Port of Port Hedland.

New record at Port Hedland

Port Hedland sets a new tonnage record of 2,183,611 tonnes over a 24-hour period, with a total of 12 ships sailing under DUKC® advice.

New record for Port of Melbourne

An Exxon tanker, the Aspen Spirit, sails as the deepest ship that has ever come into the port, with a draft of 14.7m. Two OMC engineers on board undertake GPS validation and the full-scale measurements provide excellent correlation with the results predicted by the DUKC® system.

New record for GrainCorp

DUKC® technology helps GrainCorp set new tonnage records for its Geelong operations. The Nord Pollux sails with more than 61,900 tonnes (biggest single shipment of canola fully loaded in Geelong)

2016
DUKC® installed at Whyalla

A DUKC® system is installed at Whyalla, South Australia.

MetOcean strategic alliance
OMC announces a strategic alliance agreement with New Zealand-based MetOcean Solutions. The two announce the launch of three new products:
KeelCheck, PortWeather and BerthAlert.
New record for Port of Melbourne

The Port of Melbourne records a new draft record - the Ultimate Freedom becomes the deepest tanker to call at the port, with a draft of 14.58m.

New record for Port of Geelong

Cyprus- flagged ship Efraim A is the deepest draft bulker to visit the Port of Geelong with a draft of 11.9 metres.

New record for Port of Geelong

Singapore- flagged aframax tanker Phoenix Advance becomes the deepest-draft ship to call at the Port of Geelong with a draft of 11.9 metres – previously 11.6 metres was considered the limit.

New record for Port of Melbourne

Exxon chartered Felicity tanker ship with a draft of 14.5 metres – the deepest draft ship to visit Melbourne – docks at Gelibrand berth after a transit into port.

2015
New record for Arrium Mining

Arrium Mining sets new record for the most tonnes loaded aboard an export cape vessel. The MV ‘FPMC B Nature 380’ was loaded with nearly 205,700 wet metric tonnes (wmt) of iron ore for export, exceeding Arrium’s previous record by more than 1000wmt.

OMC receives award

At an awards ceremony dinner in Antwerp, OMC is named Winner of the 2015 IBJ Safety in Bulk Handling (Marine) Award for its maritime technology.

Queen’s Birthday Honours List
In the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, Dr Terry O’Brien is appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for ‘significant service to maritime engineering, to the development of innovative marine navigation equipment and to education’.
DUKC® technology adopted at Geelong Port

Victorian Regional Channels Authority (VRCA) announces it has adopted DUKC® technology to safely allow larger ships with more cargo to access the Geelong Port.

DUKC® installed at Spencer Gulf

OMC is contracted by Arrium Limited to install a DUKC® system. This is the first time that a DUKC® is being used for a transhipment operation.

2014
DUKC® becomes operational for Rio Tinto

In 2014, OMC delivered a DUKC® for Rio Tinto’s Dampier Salt operations at Mistaken Island. This system is used to help maximise safe sailing drafts and increase departure windows for Panamax ships.

Australian Maritime Hall of Fame

OMC Founder and Executive Director Dr Terry O’Brien AM is inducted into the Australian Maritime Hall of Fame for “making an outstanding contribution to Australia’s maritime industry” during an impressive career spanning more than 50 years.

OMC Enters Canadian Market
Port of Montreal commissions the DUKC® Series 5 system in St Lawrence River after more than 4 years of preliminary studies and visits.
2013
DUKC® turns 20!

Dr O’Brien’s first system was installed at Queensland’s Hay Point coal terminal in 1993.

2012
OMC receives award

At an awards ceremony dinner in Hamburg, OMC iHeave® wins the 2012 IBJ ‘Innovative Technology’ (Marine) Award.

2011
UKCM System Operational in Torres Strait
AMSA accepts DUKC® Series 5 for operational use as a UKCM system in Torres Strait. AMSA is the first client to install DUKC® Series 5 which allows accessibility via the internet.
OMC Enters North American Market
OMC wins its first North American contract, a DUKC® desktop study, for the Columbia River Bar, a treacherous waterway known as ‘The Graveyard of the Pacific’ because it has claimed about 2000 ships and 700 lives since 1792. The Columbia River Bar Pilots commissioned this study with funding from the Oregon Department of Transportation.
2010
DUKC® installation for Rio Tinto

Contract announced to install DUKC® management system in Rio Tinto’s Western Australian Cape Lambert port. This is OMC’s 21st DUKC® installation and is significant because Cape Lambert is Rio Tinto’s main growth port

Queen’s Birthday Honours List

In the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, OMC Founder and Executive Director Dr Terry O’Brien is awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to the maritime transport industry.

2009
DUKC® commissioned in Germany

Contract signed with the Federal Waterways Administration in Germany for DUKC® installations in the four ports of the lower and Outer Weser River, including Bremerhaven.

OMC receives award

In Sydney, OMC wins the Lloyd’s List DCN 2009 Maritime Services Award ‘for its work in developing under keel clearance systems, which it has taken to international markets’.

DUKC® is now operational in Victoria

OMC licenses DUKC® to the Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC) to help ensure the safety of large ships entering Port Phillip Heads, one of the most challenging waters for ship navigation to be found anywhere on earth.

OMC receives award

DUKC® In-Transit wins the ‘Marine Civil Engineering and Construction’ category of the international Seawork 2009 Innovation Showcase Awards in the UK.

2008
DUKC® commissioned for Port of Weipa

DUKC® installed in the North Queensland port of Weipa.

World First Integration

DUKC® VTS (Vessel Traffic Services) operational

DUKC® Installed in Port Kembla, NSW

DUKC® installed for the Port Kembla Ports Corporation.

OMC Unblocks Australia’s Largest Iron Ore Port

DUKC® emergency response capability is successfully tested for the first time when Port Hedland Port Authority requests OMC’s technical help in refloating a large bulk carrier the ‘Iron King,’ which grounded due to a steering malfunction in Port Hedland, Western Australia. OMC helped to quickly unblock the port, avoiding the loss of US $40 million of product per tide cycle.

2007
First European DUKC® Installation

DUKC®< is installed in Lisbon, Portugal.

DUKC® PPU Operational
DUKC® PPU (Portable Pilot Unit) operational - a World first.
2006
Grant awarded to OMC

Third R&D grant awarded for development of Ground Warning System, later renamed DUKC® VTS.

2004
Newcastle has DUKC® Installed

First DUKC® installation in NSW (Newcastle).

2005
OMC is ISO 9001:2000 certified

OMC’s quality management system certified to ISO 9001:2000 Certification issued by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance Ltd with reciprocal recognition by JAS-ANZ and UKAS.OMC’s quality management system certified to ISO 9001:2000 Certification issued by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance Ltd with reciprocal recognition by JAS-ANZ and UKAS.

2004
DUKC® installed on Safety Grounds

Marsden Point in New Zealand is the first port to have DUKC® installed purely on safety grounds. The previous year, two super tankers were grounded within three months of each other in the channel leading to NZ’s only oil refinery. It was later shown that a DUKC® system would have prevented both these near environmental disasters due to inadequate UKC.

2003
Grant awarded to OMC

Second R&D grant awarded for development of PPU, the first ship-based system.

DUKC® Installation at Napier

DUKC® system installed at Napier, NZ.

OMC Featured in Promotional Campaign

The Victorian State Government showcases OMC as an innovative Victorian company in a promotional campaign for the State titled ‘Spotlight on Victoria – Think Melbourne, Australia for ICT’.

2001
DUKC® Installation at Taranaki, NZ

First DUKC® installation in New Zealand (Port Taranaki).

1999
DUKC® Installation at Geraldton, WA

DUKC® system installed at Bunbury.

1997
Grant awarded to OMC

First R&D grant awarded for a Berth Warning System (BWS) and upgrade of DUKC® system to Series II.

1996
DUKC® Installation at Bunbury, WA

DUKC® system installed at Bunbury.

1995
DUKC® Installation for the Port of Port Hedland

BHP commissions a DUKC® system at Port Hedland.

DUKC® Installation at Dampier Port

DUKC® system is installed at Rio Tinto’s Dampier Port.

1994
DUKC® Installation in Western Australia

DUKC® introduced into Western Australia (Fremantle) for BP tankers, then containers, with strong support from Captain Eric Atkinson, Australia’s longest-serving Harbour Master and 2012-2014 President of the International Harbour Masters Association (IHMA).

1993
Very First DUKC® Installation

First DUKC® Series 1 installation (at Hay Point, Queensland following strong support from Ports Corporation of Queensland) - this is the first operational Dynamic UKC System in the World.

1992
Ship Motion Model Trial in Brisbane
Dr O’Brien moves to Brisbane to trial his ship motion model in preparation for his first DUKC® installation.
1987
The Beginning of OMC International

After a distinguished 22-year academic career, Dr O’Brien leaves Melbourne University to commercialise his ship motion research to solve practical problems in the maritime industry and establishes OMC International – working from his home office in converted stables.