The biggest, the longest and the heaviest machines are objects of real fascination. The country's largest haulers, be they on the road or the sea, play a vital role in Australia's minerals industry — one of the country's chief Senders name and address primary industries. The gigantic face shovel, weighing some 100 tonnes, is used for excavation, dropping its payload into the back of the enormous 200-tonne-capacity bulk hauler, which moves it to the crusher. The concept of the road train, the biggest of which operate in Western Australian mines, was devised in Australia. The country's longest and sometimes heaviest trains — commonly 2km long with three diesel engines hauling 200 cars — are those used for carrying ore. The MS Berge Stahl is managed by BW Bulk and is the largest iron-ore carrier in the world. It is 343m long, 63.5m wide and has a draft, or depth in the water, of 23m. The Berge Stahl visited Port Dampier in Western Australia in November 2006.
Stamp illustrations: Jamie Tufrey
Cover design: Adam Crapp, Australia Post Design Studio
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