The operating Authority for the Port of Esperance is the Department of Harbour and Light.

1964/65 trade: Imports were 59.205 tons of phosphate rock, sulphur and general, and 67,400 tons of bulk fuel oils. Exports were 47,519 ton of wheat, copper concentrate and magnetite.

Stage 1 of the CBH Esperance Grain Terminal (8 silos – capacity 17,600 tons, with a transfer gallery to Berth 1) was officially opened by the Minister for Transport Hon. C.D. Nalder, MLA on 23rd November.

Built by the Harbour and Light Department at Fremantle, the new Pilot Boat arrived on 25th December, coming aboard the ship ‘Truth’.

This vessel, once retired was given to the Esperance Museum, where it is on display.

Esperance Port Authority Act 1968 - An Act to establish the Esperance Port Authority and to provide for the Control and Management of the Port of Esperance and for incidental purposes – was assented to 26 September 1968.

Built in 1965, this station was originally acetylene powered light with a lantern house and traditional prismatic lens. [not a Commonwealth Light]

In 1984, the apparatus was removed when the light was converted to solar power and now comprises a lantern and GRP hut 4m high on a concrete base. The original concrete base is still visible. There is a helipad adjacent as helicopter is the only way this light can be serviced.

In 1969–1970: 700,000 m3 of spoil in the harbour basin was removed and used for the beach renourishment of Esperance foreshore.

Deepwater Jetty damaged when Shell’s 1955 built, 12,180 ton, 555 foot (169m) bulk tanker ‘Hemiglypta’ has anchor failure and collides at 105ft (32m) section. The jetty was then closed to shipping for months.

Live sheep exports commence in January. 8,206 head were loaded onto ‘Dona Clausen’ for Persian Gulf ports.

Well-known local Don MacKenzie used his fishing boat ‘Lilly” as the Port’s first tug.

In 1972 the 10 ton bollard pull (tbp), 60 foot (20m) ‘Cape Legrand’ was used as the first Harbour Tug, the tender for the service being won by Mackenzie’s Tug Service. The tug cost $120,000, built by Australian Shipbuilding Industries, with a 550hp Caterpillar engine and a steerable Cortz nozzle; a new development of the day.

Then followed ‘Cape LeGrand II’ (1985) – 28tbp, ‘Cape Arid’ (1995) – 28tbp, ‘Cape Pasley’ (2001) – 67tbp, ‘Shoal Cape’ (2006) – 69tbp, ‘Hellfire Bay’ (2013) – 68tbp.

The family business of Mackenzie’s Marine and Towage was carried on by sons Hugh & Malcolm (‘Fud’) and now Hugh’s son, Sean.