Travel along the coast north of Sydney and 675km and around eight hours later, you’ll arrive in the beautiful coastal town of Yamba.
A popular tourist destination, Yamba’s population of almost 7,000 can double in the holiday season as people come from far and wide to enjoy the town’s laidback atmosphere, boutique shopping, café culture, outdoor activities and, of course, its stunning unspoilt coastline.
While Yamba may be known as a getaway for families, surfers and tourists travelling along the New South Wales coastline, it’s the town’s port that helps to drive the local economy.
Located at the mouth of the Clarence River, the Port of Yamba — the easternmost port in Australia — serves the whole Northern Rivers and New England regions including the towns of Grafton, Maclean, Ballina, Lismore, Casino and Coffs Harbour.
The Port of Yamba is also the home to New South Wales’ second-largest fishing fleet as well as housing a vibrant shipbuilding and repair industry that services businesses along the coast and the Clarence River.
Managed by Port Authority of New South Wales, the Port of Yamba operates 24/7 to ensure the safety of the ships that use its waterways.
As they approach the entrance to the Port of Yamba, vessels over 30m are assisted by Port Authority’s dedicated pilotage service. After boarding the vessel at sea, Yamba’s marine pilots then help the vessels navigate safely through the Clarence River headlands and into port.
Overseen by the Newcastle Harbour Master, around 40 commercial vessels visit Yamba each year, with the marine operations team tasked with keeping the port and the marine environment safe from potential incidents.
Whether responding to emergencies such as marine pollution, reporting incidents or issuing permits for dangerous goods, Port Authority’s Yamba team are on hand to protect the port that makes a big difference to the coastal communities of northern New South Wales.