Tropical cyclone Quang is forecast to hit Exmouth and the port of Ashburton Saturday morning, according to warnings from the Australian Bureau of Meterology, but bypass the Pilbarra’s main iron ore ports of Dampier and Port Hedland.
Pilbarra Ports today announced they had begun clearing the port of Ashburton which they expected to shut down by midday tomorrow (1 May) Australian Western Standard time.
“Currently there is impact to shipping operations at the ports of Dampier and Port Hedland,” a spokesperson for the authority said via a statement provided to IHS Maritime today.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Quang is forecast to become a category 1 cyclone as it passes over Exmouth before dawn, but winds could extend from Coral Bay to Carnarvon. Wind gusts are forecast reach 270 kph.
Meanwhile Australia’s eastern seaboard is bracing for a second wave of heavy rain and wild weather that shut down all NSW ports in April, stranding passengers aboard a Carnival cruise ship outside Sydney Harbour.
This post was sourced from IHS Maritime 360: View the original article here.