# Karumba (AU KRB)

**UN/LOCODE:** AU KRB  
**Country:** Australia  
**Water Body:** Gulf of Carpentaria; Arafura Sea; South Pacific Ocean  
**Harbor Size:** Very Small  
**Harbor Type:** River (Natural)  
**GPS:** -17.4833, 140.8333

Few ports move deep-sea tonnage with so little draft as Karumba (AU KRB), at the mouth of the Norman River on the Gulf of Carpentaria. Maintained to only about 3.2 m, the river berth cannot load ocean bulkers directly, so zinc concentrate from the New Century mine leaves on shallow-draft transhipment vessels such as the Wunma and is reloaded onto deep-sea carriers roughly 20 km offshore. Karumba is also a key live cattle export port, holding the country's only quarantine yard from which cattle walk straight aboard, with around 10,000–15,000 head shipped in recent years. There are no container, reefer or general cargo services, and hinterland access is by road only, toward Normanton and Mount Isa. Regular dredging keeps the shallow channel workable and underpins every shipment. For containers and conventional freight, the multipurpose Port of Townsville further southeast is the practical alternative.

## Transit Times & Routes

- [Sydney → Shanghai](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/sydney-shanghai)
- [Sydney → Shenzhen](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/sydney-shenzhen)
- [Sydney → Guangzhou](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/sydney-guangzhou)
- [Sydney → Hong Kong](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/sydney-hong-kong)
- [Sydney → Tokyo](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/sydney-tokyo)
- [Sydney → Busan](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/sydney-busan)

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*Freight Academy — Seaport Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/karumba-port-au-krb](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/karumba-port-au-krb)*

*Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/seaports/en/karumba-port-au-krb](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/seaports/en/karumba-port-au-krb)*

*LLM-Summary (JSON): https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/seaports/karumba-port-au-krb/llm-summary?lang=en*