The first convoy for the year arrived on 3rd January, 1941, and comprised the vessels Queen Mary, Aquitania, Mauretania, Dominion Monarch, Awatea with H.M.A.S. Canberra as escort. The three largest vessels, together with the Nieuw Amsterdam, formed the next convoy that called at Fremantle on the 10th February, the escorting H.M.A.S ships being the Australia, Hobart and Sydney. A few days later, as previously mentioned, the Queen Elizabeth arrived to take up duty as a troop transport of Australian and New Zealand service personnel.

In April, five of the world's largest ships constituted the only convoy calling at the port during that month, the vessels being the Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary, Ile de France, Nieuw Amsterdam and Mauretania. Owing to her draught, the Ile de France was also unable to take up a berth within the inner harbour.

No other convoy then arrived until September, 1941, when, apart from the Aquitania, it only consisted of medium-sized Dutch passenger vessels. The next convoy which called in November, 1941, consisted solely of the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary.

For the year ended 30th June, 1941, the trade of the port, with other Australian ports, remained consistent with that of previous years so far as imports were concerned, the decreased tonnage of general cargo being more than offset by the increased quantities of coal imported, there being a much heavier demand than usual by vessels requiring coal bunker supplies. Overseas trade, however, showed a marked decline in both imports and exports, there being a further large decrease in the consignments of phosphate, sulphur and general cargo, and in the shipments of wheat, wool and fruit, although there was a substantial increase in the shipment of flour. In consequence of the loss of such trade, the gross revenue of the Trust decreased by some 41,000 when compared with that obtained in the year ended 30th June, 1939.

The last month of the calendar year saw the outbreak of hostilities with Japan, when the sudden closeness of war increased the importance of the port of Fremantle. A limited amount of quayage and shed space upon Victoria Quay was immediately requisitioned for the purposes of the Royal Australian Navy and arrangements were entered into in respect of the necessity for ensuring greater security of the wharves.

(extracts from the 1946 Fremantle Harbour Trust Annual Report)