On the 3rd March, 1944, the U.S. Navy's floating dock, A.R.D. 10, arrived in the harbour and was accommodated between Nos. 2 and 3 mooring buoys for the purpose of her operations, this unit relieving the pressure on the south slipway and being better able to take up the larger U.S.N. submarines which had been constructed and become based on the port. However, almost as soon as the floating dock arrived, a state of alarm occurred over the whole of the State and this craft, together with several other vessels, was despatched to Cockburn Sound. There was also an exodus of other U.S.N. units, which proceeded to Albany for safety and, after the tension had passed, which was about a week later, all vessels returned to the inner harbour.

Notwithstanding this state of alarm, the work of discharging and loading vessels, which were required to be despatched as quickly as possible, proceeded continuously but, had. the necessity arisen, arrangements were such that all lighting in use on the ships and on the wharf would have been instantly extinguished and the harbour become merged in the black-out conditions that prevailed all along the coastal area.

In May, 1944, the Naval authorities advised of their intention to provide furnace oil bunkering facilities along portion of the North Quay. This work was eventually put in hand and the pipeline placed into service on the 10th July, 1945. The value of this facility is such that it will always remain a permanent asset for peace-time purposes, as prior to its installation, commercial vessels accommodated at the North Quay have always had to move across to Victoria Quay to take on any bunker supplies of this nature.

On the 5th September, the Royal Navy submarine depot ship Maidstone and several R.N. submarines arrived to form a British base for the submarine attacks upon enemy shipping, further submarines arriving later on in the year and thus causing a sizable task force to be built up at the port. As a number of Royal Netherlands Navy submarines had also become based on the port some time previously and placed under the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet Command, there was now a very powerful force of submarines operating out of Fremantle against the enemy.

In December, the Royal Navy battleship Howe, accompanied by three destroyers, passed through the port, being the first section of the powerful British fleet despatched to assist in operations in the Pacific.

For the financial year ended 30th June, 1944, the gross revenue of the Trust amounted to 667,573, exceeding the previous year's revenue by just over 52,000. Owing principally to the large increase in exports, the trade of the port increased by more than 233,000 tons as compared with the previous year. The pilotage services of the port increased considerably during the year, due to the additional services required in passing vessels over the degaussing ranges, adjustment of compasses, engine trials, etc., in the outer harbour.

Perhaps one of the most serious aspects which the Commissioners were required to face during the war period was the over-riding powers exercised by the Commonwealth Government right from the outbreak of war, whereby vessels with ammunition and explosives were required to enter the inner harbour, contrary to port regulations. Although many precautions were exercised by the Commonwealth Defence authorities in respect of these vessels, the Commissioners nevertheless felt obliged to urge that still greater precautions be taken and, following the disaster with an ammunition vessel in Bombay Harbour during the height of the war, the matter naturally became extremely pressing.

Eventually, the Commonwealth authorities set up their own special civilian organisation to attend to these vessels, and all possible co-operation was afforded by the Commissioners.

An equally serious matter was the over-riding powers similarly exercised in respect of vessels conveying inflammable liquid in bulk. Many representations were made by varied interests during the war period for the relaxation of the precautionary measures imposed by the Commissioners in the interests of the safe handling of this commodity, but finally the Commonwealth asserted its higher authority under National Security Regulations in the interest of the prosecution of the war and the Commissioners therefore had no option but to yield to such authority although, of course, it was realized by them that all responsibility in the matter would have to be borne by the Commonwealth subject, of course, to the Commissioners continuing to exercise the same measures of control that were ordinarily applied in the course of handling such a dangerous commodity.

(extracts from the 1946 Fremantle Harbour Trust Annual Report)