Port Hedland shut down by cyclone

Port Hedland Port Authority (PHPA) activated its cyclone contingency plan when first warnings were received, at 5pm on Tuesday (8pm eastern time).

A total of 29 vessels - eight at berths within the harbour, and 21 anchored in the vessel queue - were sent to safer waters away from the path of the storm.

All vessels were cleared and the port closed at 2am on Wednesday morning (5am in the east).

A PHPA representative said that the operation of the contingency plan was a “successful” one, and that all unnecessary staff had been sent home for their safety.

The Bureau of Meteorology is reporting that the cyclone made landfall at 4:30am local time today, and that the region is currently being hit by “destructive” wind forces, in some places exceeding 150 kph, and consistently over 130 kph.

Residents in low-lying areas are being warned that the cyclone could cause an extremely high tide, as well as up to 250mm of rainfall.

It is not known when the port will re-open.

“A cyclone of this proximity, can take between 24 and 48 hours to pass,” the representative told Lloyd’s List Australia.

“We’ll be keeping a close eye on the [Bureau of Meteorology] reports, and will decide on an opening time based on that information.”