at this stage.


Esperance Port is the deepest port in southern Australia and operated by the state government authority, Southern Ports.


Southern Ports, which also manages regional ports at Albany and Bunbury, has been contacted for comment.


Port jobs under a cloud


The incident comes after Southern Ports issued a warning to Esperance beach-goers in November to steer clear of a dangerous goods canister that fell off a grain ship.


The port at Esperance has been under a cloud recently with the threat of job losses due to mine closures.


The last trainload of iron ore from Mineral Resources' Yilgarn iron ore operations arrived at Esperance Port last week.


It follows last year's closure of the Ravensthorpe nickel mine and the Bald Hill lithium mine near Kambalda, with both mines exporting out of Esperance.


Another port customer, the Mt Cattlin lithium mine near Ravensthorpe, is scheduled to close mid-year.