Hot Port News from GAC

At 7:00 am AEST, Category 2 Tropical Cyclone Iris was recorded as having sustained winds near the centre of 100 km per hour, with wind gusts to 140 km per hour. It was located within 55 km of 17.5 degrees South, 148.8 degrees East, 290 km northeast of Townsville and 405 km north of Mackay.

Iris is expected to continue moving slowly to the south through most of today while continuing to intensify, before curving more to the southeast, parallel to the Queensland coast, tomorrow (Wednesday 4 April). At this stage, the cyclone is not expected to cross the Queensland coast but may approach the coast close enough to produce significant impacts.

Iris may impact Queensland from early morning tomorrow, Wednesday 4 April.

MACKAY & HAY POINT
The Regional Harbour Master will close the Mackay and Hay Point Pilotage Areas from 1200 hours local time, Wednesday 4 April 2018. All ships are to prepare to depart immediately. Hay Point VTS will allocate departure time to each ship to ensure all ships have departed in an orderly manner by 1200 hours Wednesday 4 April 2018. No ship movement will be allowed after the closure. Ships returning to Hay Point anchorage after the re-opening of the pilotage area will be allocated the same anchorage positions before the closure.
All movements at Hay Point have been suspended until further notice. No vessels are alongside. The terminal has suspended all cargo train movements until further notice. Coal will remain at the various coal mines stockpiles until further notice.

ABBOT POINT
The Regional Harbour Master has declared the Pilotage Areas of Abbot Point and Bowen closed as of 1200 hours today (3 April). Vessels at anchorage off the port of Abbot Point are directed liaise with Abbot Point VTS to depart the anchorage.
All movements have been suspended until further notice. No vessels are alongside. The terminal will suspend all cargo train movements from 1200 today until further notice.  Coal will remain at the various coal mines stockpiles until further notice.

DALRYMPLE BAY
All movements have been suspended until further notice. No vessels are alongside. The terminal has suspended all cargo train movements until further notice.  Coal will remain at the various coal mines stockpiles until further notice.

GLADSTONE
The Regional Harbour Master requests that from midnight tomorrow (4 April) all vessels currently at anchor be prepared to heave anchor and set sail for sea.  Vessels alongside are requested to secure hatches and run additional mooring lines. VTS will conduct 3-hourly broadcasts from mid-day today on VHF 13.

For information about operations at Australian ports contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com