Modelling work over the past two years by the Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA) has identified opportunities to increase the shipping capacity in Port Hedland's channel over the next three years to as much as 577 million tonnes a year.

According to PPA, the current modelled export capacity of Port Hedland port is 495 million tonnes. It achieved a record throughput of 447 million tonnes in the 2015 financial year, of which iron ore accounted for 440 million tonnes.

The modelling, conducted in collaboration with independent maritime engineering company OMC International, found that if a number of innovations and efficiencies at the port were implemented it could bump up the channel's capacity.

The port is responsible for about 30% of global seaborne iron-ore trade.

Port users have an allocated export capacity under "A and B classes" but can also apply for extra "D class" shipping rights which are offered once their allocated capacity has been reached but further capacity remains within the rest of the port. The increased availability at the port would not change the A and B class capacity allocated to each user but would add to the available unallocated D-class capacity.