06-Feb-2019
ENGAGE TOWAGE JOINT VENTURE ANNOUNCED
Melbourne, Australia
WEATHER UPDATE (6 FEBRUARY 2019)
North Queensland, Australia
Engage Towage Joint Venture announced
Wednesday, February 6, 2019, Melbourne, Australia
Engage Marine Pty Ltd (Engage Marine) and Smit Lamnalco are pleased to announce their investments in the Australian harbour towage joint venture, Engage Towage Pty Ltd (Engage Towage).
Engage Towage is a sustainable and competitive towage service provider within the Australian marine industry, providing clients with an alternative solution to existing operators. Current Engage Towage operations cover Port Jackson and the Port of Geelong utilising five modern azimuth-drive tugs…
…The scope of the joint venture is specific to providing increased choice in the Australian harbour towage market, and therefore the existing businesses of Smit Lamnalco and Engage Marine (including Westug) will continue to operate independently from this newly formed JV…
(For information about operations at Australian ports, contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com)
Source: Extract from Engage Towage media release dated 5 February 2019
Weather update (6 February 2019)
Wednesday, February 6, 2019, North Queensland, Australia
The monsoon trough extends from the Gulf Country across the base of Cape York Peninsula to the east tropical coast near Townsville, and should remain almost stationary or drift only slowly to the south over the next day or two. A deep tropical low that lies on the monsoon trough over northwest Queensland is slowly moving to the east and will continue to move in an easterly direction during the next few days. To the north of the low, a fresh to strong monsoonal flow persists across northern Queensland, this will lead to strong winds through the Gulf of Carpentaria with a risk of damaging winds across Cape York Peninsula.
Abnormally high tides are also likely to continue about the eastern Gulf of Carpentaria coast and through Torres Strait. Very heavy falls are possible particularly near the monsoon trough and low. A ridge of high pressure will maintain mostly fine conditions over the southeastern corner of the state, with just some showers expected mainly along and east of the Great Dividing Range.
Trains are understood to not be running at full capacity due to the wet weather and continuing EBA negotiations. Aurizon members have placed overtime bans for the next 2 weeks throughout Queensland in protest to the EBA negotiations. This will affect coal receivals at all coal terminals.
TOWNSVILLE:
Yesterday (5 February) saw reduced rain showers compared to the last 10 days and the dam capacity has decreased to 190%. Dam gates are still open to their maximum setting. This continues to cause moderate flooding downstream at many low-lying Townsville suburbs. The monsoon trough is moving further south of Townsville towards Bowen & Mackay.
Townsville Port is currently operational, all port services have returned and the minor delays at berths are being reduced.
LUCINDA:
The Northbound Bruce Highway from Townsville to Lucinda has been reopened but with drivers to maintain caution.
MOURILYAN:
Port is operational.
CAIRNS:
No impact on the port at this time, despite heavy rain in the vicinity over the last week. Port operations continuing as per usual.
CAPE FLATTERY:
Poor weather delayed a silica sand vessel further at this remote port.
ABBOT POINT COAL TERMINAL:
There are no vessels alongside with 21 vessels at anchor.
Berthing of vessels are currently suspended until further notice. Weather conditions are being reviewed by the terminal on a daily basis.
All employees at the terminal have been asked to stay at home by Terminal Management until further notice due to adverse weather conditions.
DALRYMPLE BAY COAL TERMINAL:
The terminal is operating as normal but is experiencing cargo arrival delays caused by the railway issues mentioned above.
HAY POINT COAL TERMINAL:
The terminal is operating as normal but is experiencing cargo arrival delays caused by the railway issues mentioned above.
For information about operations at Australian ports contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
