Fortescue has officially opened its Herb Elliott Port at Port Hedland, Western Australia.

Twiggy Forrest’s Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) has procured six tugs and leased a further three more - the final element in its new supply chain, according to chief executive Elizabeth Gaines.

“The tug fleet and new facilities will maximise the efficiencies of our operation and provide long-term sustainable towage services crucial to meeting the demands of our customers,” Ms Gaines said.

FMG founder and chairman Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest says it was a massive effort.

“We aimed to develop the world’s most advanced vertically integrated bulk operations infrastructure, and to seamlessly link this with our core exploration, metallurgical and mining operations,” he said.

“Our aim was to develop an integrated world leading system to deliver critical ores that would build the economies of nations. The strategic decisions made by the board to build our fleet of ore carriers and Fortescue owned and operated towage capability mark the critical completion of this part of Fortescue’s journey.”

A new fleet of ore carriers will be based at the nine berth tug and harbour facility called Judith Street (named after Forrest’s mother), near Fortescue’s berths at Anderson Point.

An internal competition for the naming of the tugs chose species of sharks, including FMG Tawny, FMG Spinner and FMG Hammerhead.