Opened by the Minister of Transport on 20th January, the facility was built at a cost of $1.5 million and has a capacity of 2,500 tonnes, enabling exports of meat and other perishables direct from the Great Southern region.

The modifying of the fendering system on Berths 1 and 2 enabled vessels twice the size of the original design specifications to be accommodated.

Exports of silica sand commenced. The first shipment was 23,885 tonnes to Japan.

With the restoration of the Town Jetty for tourism, led by the Albany Town Council, it was necessary to accommodate the Port’s pilot launch, tugs and workboats in a new structure within a marina, which also provided a public boat-launching facility with associated car parking.

During dredging divers discovered an old bomb lying at the bottom of the harbour, but continued to dredge. Then more were found and it reached the stage where WorkSafe ordered dredging to stop until the harbour was deemed safe.

The Port Authority submitted to the Commonwealth Government that as the ordnance were from World War II and it was known that they were dropped by soldiers in clearance exercises in October 1947 and March 1948, the Port wanted the Commonwealth to compensate it for the removal of the munitions and for other associated costs.

After 14 expert reports written on the bombs, four attempts at mediation and two expert meetings held over the next seven years, the Supreme Court was critical of the Commonwealth’s manner of defending the action taken against it.

A range of munitions, including seven artillery shells, were removed.

In June 2007 the Commonwealth agreed to pay the Port $5.25 million for past and future dredging and clean-up costs, and $1 million for legal costs.

The renewed Albany Town Jetty is a timber and iron finger jetty with a landing and steps on each side of the jetty head. Land fill encloses the base of the jetty on which a car park is located. A concrete boat ramp is located on the south west side of the seaward end of the reclaimed land.

It is located on the alignment of Spencer Street below the old Albany Post Office on the north shore of Princess Royal Harbour.

It is thought that heavy concentrations of artefacts associated with shipping remain under the sea bed around the jetty.

The jetty continues to be used for the Port of Albany and for recreational purposes. Water access is restricted to the pilot boat and tug berths.

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan opened the new Berth 6 (Woodchip) on 8 November, which is capable of handling the largest woodchip carrier ships currently in use.

Albany Plantations commenced exports of eucalyptus globulus woodchips, loading at Berth 6.

In 2001/2002, 70,740 tonnes were shipped.

Tonnages per year now average around 1.5 million tonnes.

Over 4,000 people visited Albany as passengers on three cruise ships visiting the port in 2004. More ships are scheduled for future years.

Captain Dennis Angelatos was Harbour Master in 2006.

Captain Steven Young was Harbour Master from 2006-2011.