The diverse inventory that Northern Stevedoring Service (NSS) prides itself in handling reflects the depth and variety of products and services making up the North Queensland economy.
Copper concentrate, anode and cathode, check. Lead concentrate, check. Automobiles, check. Live cattle, check.
Fish food? Check.
Image: NSS_Product from the Tassal Fish Farm in Proserpine
Yes, fish food for the prized barrumundi and prawns grown in farms along the north Queensland coast.
NSS Stevedoring Manager Scott Neame explains the produce is delivered from Tasmania.
“This load is for farms in Proserpine. There’re a few other farms on the Queensland coast and it comes up here in bulker bags. We see it once a month as part of the process to ensure there’s plenty of feed for young.
“So, it’s a big industry and we’re handling two and a half thousand one-tonne bulka bags this time.
“The challenge is with the weather at this time of year. It’s can be bucketing down rain and we’ve got a weather sensitive product.
“We’re conscious that this is an essential service for the fish and prawn farming industry and our goal is maintain a steady flow of supply.”
It they didn’t get fed there was a chance the stock would become damaged as they become cannibalistic Mr Neame said.
The feed comes as dried pellets and there are different sized pellets for different seafood. NSS loaded its trucks and transported the bags for storage locally, he said.
“From where it’s run down to the farms on b-doubles around the clock”.
The fish food is manufactured in Tasmania by Skretting Australia.