Posted on 18 Apr 2023
Western Australian iron ore hub Port Hedland, located in northwest Australia, reopened last Friday as a cyclone moved inland, Kallanish notes.
Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA), which runs Port Hedland, says the agency has wasted no time in getting the Port of Port Hedland back up and running since last week’s temporary closure due to Tropical Cyclone Ilsa. It added on 17 April that it achieved a new record throughput over 24 hours since the reopening. It shipped 2.817 million tonnes with 15 vessel movements. The previous 24-hour throughput record for the Port of Port Hedland of 2.573 million tonnes was achieved in December 2021. In 2021-22 the port had a total annual throughput of 561 million tonnes with 6,689 vessel movements.
According to PPA, as of 9:03am on 14 April, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) advised that Tropical Cyclone Ilsa is located approximately 105 kilometres west northwest of Telfer and 160 kilometres east of Marble Bar. The category 3 system is weakening as it moves further inland.
PPA says it has undertaken inspections of navigation aids, the channel and berths and has confirmed safe operations can resume. PPA is also liaising with terminal and vessel operators and stakeholders for the recommencement of shipping.
Tropical Cyclone Ilsa crossed the Pilbara coast as a Category 5 system around midnight on 13 April (Thursday). It crossed approximately 120 kilometres east north east of Port Hedland.
PPA started to close the Port of Port Hedland in the early hours of 12 April (Wednesday), with all berths and anchorages cleared by 1pm on 13 April (Thursday). After safety inspections, the port was re-opened at 11am on 14 April (Friday) – three hours after the all clear had been given.
Source:Kallanish
