The export facility will operate at a reduced capacity for at least two weeks while repairs are made to the number two loader, damaged when a bulk carrier collied with a berth.

Loading of 40,000 tonnes of coking coal on the bulk vessel Iron Chieftain for OneSteel's Whyalla steelworks began on Friday night at the terminal's number one bulk products berth, according to PKCT managing director John Brannon.

Brannon said the main task now facing PKCT was to stabilise the damaged 1600 tonne shiploader on the coal berth, which had been dislodged from its rail track by the impact.

"Preliminary engineering estimates are that we will be able to stabilize the unit in about two weeks," Brannon said. "This will allow us to use the adjacent undamaged number two shiploader along the unaffected portion of the berth.

"After a short term interruption to our operations, we're back to our core business of loading coal," Brannon said.

Austral Coal said its current 70,000t shipment of thermal coal to Japan may be delayed by a couple of weeks, although its next cargo of coking coal was not scheduled until late May.

Meanwhile, Centennial Coal said its marketing strategy offered customers port diversification in NSW, with the ability to switch supply between Port Kembla and Newcastle to accommodate any unforeseen incident.

The port is not loading coal for any of Centennial’s export customers at the present time. The group's next shipment, scheduled for mid-May, is expected to proceed

as normal following the recommencement of coal loading at the port.