AndrewNatta has dedicated almost three decades to working on Non-Process Infrastructure across Northern Australia, bringing his extensive engineering expertise to major infrastructure and resource projects. His vision for economic enablement through logistics infrastructure has driven the development of two significant port projects in Western Australia: Onslow Marine Support Base (OMSB) in Onslow and Kimberley Marine Support Base (KMSB) in Broome. These projects, which have collectively delivered over $400 million in common user marine infrastructure, aim to open up Northern Australia’s Maritime Logistics capabilities. Andrew will continue to drive investment in common user infrastructure across Northern Australia with the vision of normalising freight and logistics networks for the North, in doing so, unlocking the true economic potential of Northern Australia.
Andrew’s passion for ports stems from his belief that wellfunctioning ports are economic enablers, creating ripple effects that impact all aspects of the economy. His innovative approach and commitment to enhancing accessibility for importers, exporters and general cargo operations has positioned him as a key figure in the region’s economic development
APAC Outlook (AO): Firstly, could you provide me with some insight into your 30-year career in non-process infrastructure across Northern Australia, and explain how you became interested in the major infrastructure and resource sector?
Andrew Natta (AN), Owner and Director: I started my career in trades such as plumbing, industrial gas, and commercial work. During this time, I undertook further studies in commerce, hydraulics design, and performance-based fire engineering solutions before working for multinational engineering firm, Connell Wagner, in hydraulic designs, fire engineering, and project management.
I was naturally drawn to the Pilbara region in Western Australia, where I began project managing multi-disciplinary engineering
projects at Nelson Point in Port Hedland whilst working for Connell Wagner.
I built a reputation for my ability to manage and oversee highly complex projects, managing the feasibility, detailed design, and documentation of strategic port upgrades such as ship loaders, wharf and berth upgrades, high volume fuel import bunkering pipelines, and road networks.
I saw the opportunity to start my own engineering firm in resource engineering and design, RED, focusing on strategic infrastructure projects and total turnkey solutions in all disciplines of engineering – in other words, RED not only designed but also built the projects.
My focus was to provide bespoke services and garner a reputation for high end delivery. It was during this time my interest grew around ports.
I like projects that are a pillar to the clients’ business. For example, an iron ore mine could have the very best iron on the market – but if it doesn’t have a rail network and port to support it, then it has no product.
I quickly learned that ports are true economic enablers - wherever you find a well-functioning port, you’ll find robust industry and a thriving community. This realisation fascinated me and firmly set my course in the direction of port infrastructure.
Building on the developments highlighted earlier, I recognised a significant opportunity at Beadon Creek in Onslow and went on to establish Onslow Marine Support Base (OMSB) to develop port infrastructure at the Creek. Drawing from my experience and working alongside a skilled team, we collectively embraced the challenge of transforming the region’s maritime logistics landscape.
I negotiated leases, design and documentation contracts, leased several kilometres (km) of ocean floor to build a 5km long shipping channel and gained the appropriate approvals, all with the support of the founding co-investors.
AO: Following on from this, could you talk us through your development of Onslow Marine Support Base and Kimberley Marine Support Base projects?
AN: The OMSB and KMSB projects enhance Northern Australia’s maritime logistics capabilities by providing:
• Direct access to point of use – most consumable materials and project cargo are imported into Perth from Asia driven back up from the Northwest.
• Direct access to export of regional products.
• Port certainty.
• Ability to commercially negotiate with the port in a private company approach.
• Ability to negotiate multi-year contracts.
• Non-characteristic port options for the market.
• Equal treatment for every customer.
AO: As part of your vision of economic enablement through well-functioning ports, how will you continue to drive investment in common user infrastructure across the region?
AN: We have a non-bias approach with our customers; we are focused on facilitating trade and taking a cooperative approach to meet their needs. This approach involves co-investment, giving clients greater certainty around costs and the management of their products as they move through the port. It’s a long-term investment strategy, designed to support both emerging businesses and those adapting to new markets by ensuring affordable, sustainable access and reliable port operations.
AO: How will this mission materialise over the next decade and have an impact on Northern Australia’s port infrastructure projects?
AN: We will see the remainder of the market throughout the Pilbara and Kimberley regions achieve certainty and the ability to service itself.
Western Australia has a very strong bulk market – the largest in the world – and it should be the crown of the north, the export of which takes priority in our ports. However, if we don’t have the ability to manage consumable needs of all regional industries, or if we are unable to facilitate the export of our of our other products, like rare earths and agricultural products within the region, we inevitably face the concentration risks associated with that. OMSB and KMSB provide the solution to overcome these problems, and we are now seeing the benefits of this.
AO: Looking ahead, how do you plan to evolve the current industry mindset and place a greater focus on accessibility and activity for importers, exporters, and cargo operations across Northern Australia’s ports?
AN: The industry mindset is changing because we are taking the time to educate the market that the capability is there and we are open for business.
The market has been asking for a solution for years – our job now is to prove we are reliable and can do what we say we can.
Redefining Logistics in Western
Australia’s North-West
Located in Onslow, Western Australia, a gateway to the resource-rich North-West, Onslow Marine Support Base (OMSB) has become a trusted partner in delivering efficient, innovative, and sustainable solutions across the ports and logistics sector. Opening in 2017, OMSB has grown from an emerging port operator into a fully integrated logistics hub, committed to optimising supply chains and supporting the complex, changing demands of the offshore industry.
Comprehensive Infrastructure and Capabilities
OMSB owns and operates the Beadon Creek facility, providing full control over its infrastructure and services. This includes a 277-meter berth line for vessels up to 120m LOA with a 6.5m draft, dual LCT ramps, 31,000m² of hardstand, and heavy lift crane capabilities. Just 17 kilometres away, at the Port of Ashburton (POA), OMSB operates as a licensed stevedore in collaboration with Pilbara Ports. This dual-port model enables streamlined mobilisation and demobilisation, enhanced scheduling flexibility, and reduced project risk, all through a single service provider.
Beyond marine operations, OMSB delivers extensive landside support including warehousing, storage, and transport. The base also offers exclusive quayside vessel maintenance for out of service periods, shoreside inspection and repair services, and multi-land storage options designed to minimise out-of-service periods.
OMSB’s infrastructure is currently undergoing key upgrades to support 900,000L of fuel storage and 800,000L of potable water capacity, with high-flow bunker points by January 2026. OMSB’s onsite services include fabrication works, hydraulic and pneumatic hose manufacturing and certified reefer container handling with safe food
management protocols. These capabilities are backed by residential staff and large-scale industrial land availability, reinforcing OMSB’s commitment to reliability, quality assurance, and supply chain leadership.
Supporting Decommissioning in the Pilbara
While OMSB’s core focus is infrastructure and logistics, it also plays a pivotal role in Australia’s offshore decommissioning efforts. Strategically located near the Carnarvon Basin, OMSB has completed five major decommissioning projects and is fully licensed to support dismantling, recycling, and compliant waste handling. Its proximity to the Northwest Shelf oil and gas fields, combined with access to ANSIA-zoned industrial land and a Class IV waste facility, positions OMSB as a key enabler of safe and efficient decommissioning in the region.
As the Pilbara prepares for the retirement of over 70 fields and hundreds of offshore structures over the coming decades, OMSB’s integrated ecosystem ensures readiness to support this transition, while maintaining its primary focus on infrastructure, logistics, and operational excellence.
A Gateway to Smarter Logistics
OMSB’s unique integration of efficiency, innovation, and sustainability positions it as a leader in the ports and logistics sector. With a strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and a commitment to end-to-end solutions, including decommissioning, OMSB is more than a port operator; it is a forward-looking logistics partner driving smarter, future-ready supply chain outcomes.
Australia is on the cusp of a logistics revolution with the imminent launch of the Kimberley Marine Support Base (KMSB) in Broome, set to commence operations in September 2025. Purpose-built to serve the mining, energy, cargo, agriculture, and cruise sectors, whilst servicing vessels across the Kimberley and Pilbara regions, KMSB is poised to redefine port logistics and unlock new economic potential for the north.
At the core of KMSB is a state-of-the-art floating wharf, engineered to operate 24/7 despite Broome’s extreme tidal variations. The 11,500+ tonne, 9,250 square metre structure includes a 255-metre berth line plus northern and southern dolphins, 400-metre bi-directional causeway, supported by an 85-metre linkspan bridge. This infrastructure sits within a naturally deep berth pocket (-15m LAT), whilst multiple berths enable consistent access from small vessels to ones ranging to over 300 metres length overall (LOA). The facility is equipped for high-load operations, including a high-capacity mobile harbour crane for cargo, subsea equipment, and modules, with integrated diesel bunkering delivering up to 200,000 litres per hour.
Strategically located within the Port of Broome, KMSB is designed to overcome the region’s historical tidal constraints, offering year-round operational access. The facility includes over 20 hectares of landside capability that we are progressively bringing on -line to support just-in-time staging and broader project mobilisation. This infrastructure is tailored for a wide array of cargo formats – containerised freight, bulk and breakbulk cargo, construction modules, critical minerals and the introduction of roll-on/roll-off vessels for equipment.
KMSB’s impact extends beyond infrastructure. It is expected to support over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction and operations, catalysing economic growth across multiple
sectors. Its proximity to Broome Airport also enables integrated sea-road-air freight solutions, enhancing regional connectivity.
“This isn’t just a port, it’s a catalyst for economic growth,” said KMSB Managing Director, Andrew Natta.
“Every vessel that docks in Broome unlocks opportunities across our region, from local businesses and tourism operators to supply chains serving global industries.”
The facility’s operational model reduces reliance on long-haul road transport routes. By enabling cargo to be discharged in Broome instead of Fremantle, KMSB will significantly cut road travel distances to Northern Australia (including inland destinations), reducing costs, emissions, and delivery times. This is particularly beneficial for all industries like agriculture, where consistent, tidal-free export scheduling improves animal welfare and supply chain reliability.
KMSB is able to handle oversized components such as wind turbine blades, solar systems, and commercial battery imports associated with the renewable energy sector.
After recently acquiring land at Lumsden Point, Port Hedland, the dual-port approach allows operators to manage logistics throughout Western Australia’s resources corridor, providing integrated service across locations. With proximity to Asian trade routes and a local workforce, KMSB serves as a logistics base for both regional and international activities.
As berth applications and land reservations are open, operators are encouraged to engage early to tailor support packages for diverse logistics needs.
For more information or to coordinate logistics planning, visit http://www.kmsb.com.au or contact bookings@kmsb.com.au.
