Port of Bunbury’s Pilot Boat named!

More than 800 entries were received in Southern Ports’ competition to name the Port of Bunbury’s pilot boat, which will be named ‘Wardan’.

Suggested by eight local community members, Wardan refers to the sea water off Wardandi Country.

Southern Ports Chief Executive Officer Keith Wilks said the name was very fitting for a vessel which will call the sea off Wardandi Country home.

"We are always mindful that the Noongar Wardandi people have a long and deep connection to the land and waters in our region - one that extends some 45,000 years, far beyond our comparatively short 115 years of operation of course," Mr Wilks said.

“It’s why we were thrilled to receive this name suggestion Wardan from the community and are proud to acknowledge the Wardandi people in this way. We look forward to working closely with local Elders in the lead up to the boat launch and, more broadly, to listening, learning and collaborating with the Traditional Custodians in the years ahead.”

The new pilot boat will have a vital role in operations at the Port of Bunbury, transporting marine pilots to and from visiting ships so they can safely guide visiting vessels into and out of the port.

Built by Hart Marine in Victoria, the vessel combines innovative composite boat building techniques and refined engineering to support a lifespan of more than 35 years.

“We were overwhelmed with creativity and volume of name suggestions provided by the community through the competition and would like to thank everyone who entered,” Mr Wilks added.

The winners will be invited to attend the naming ceremony of the new pilot boat and receive a guided tour by one of the Southern Ports’ marine pilots on the new vessel when it arrives later this year.

To find out more about the Port of Bunbury, visit southernports.com.au