Dampier Port Shuts as Cyclone Olwyn Nears Australian Coast

By Phoebe Sedgman

(Bloomberg) — Two ports in Western Australia closed as a strengthening tropical cyclone approached the coast. The system isn’t affecting Port Hedland, the biggest-bulk export terminal that handles iron ore from the world’s prime exporter.

The port of Dampier, utilized by Rio Tinto Group, closed at 10 a.m. native time on Thursday, the Pilbara Ports Authority mentioned in an e-mailed assertion. Anchorages are closed to new arrivals aside from vessels continuing to cyclone moorings and small vessels in search of secure haven. The port of Ashburton shut at 8 a.m., it mentioned. There’s no important affect on operations at Port Hedland, in accordance with the authority.

Category 2 Tropical Cyclone Olwyn is anticipated to strengthen right into a class 3 storm because it approaches the Western Australian coast, the Bureau of Meteorology forecast. Apache Corp., an vitality producer with oil and gasoline belongings in Australia, mentioned Wednesday that it was evacuating non-essential personnel from offshore operations within the space. Australia’s cyclone season runs from Nov. 1 to April 30, with a mean of 4 storms crossing the coast, in accordance with the climate bureau.

“Olwyn continues to intensify as it moves toward the Northwest Cape and is expected to reach Category 3 before landfall,” the bureau mentioned on its web site. Olwyn is positioned 335 kilometers (208 miles) northwest of Karratha, it mentioned.

The ports will stay closed till additional recommendation from harbor masters, in accordance with the authority. Exports via Dampier totaled 176.7 million tons within the 12 months ended June 30, 2014, with about 83 p.c comprising iron ore, port knowledge present.

Condensate, liquefied pure gasoline and liquefied petroleum gasoline are additionally loaded at Dampier, accounting for nearly 14 p.c of exports within the 12 months to June, in accordance with port knowledge. About 73 p.c of imports have been petroleum, the information present.

Cargoes anticipated to be shipped via the remainder of March embody Australian North West Shelf condensate from Chevron Corp., Woodside Petroleum Ltd. and BHP Billiton Ltd., in accordance with two fairness producers with information of the preliminary loading schedule, who requested to not be recognized as they aren’t approved to talk publicly.

–With help from Serene Cheong in Singapore.