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30 Jan 2018 / Port Kembla, Australia

High winds and swell

There is currently a forecast of high winds and swell conditions, issued by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) for Port Kembla and the Illawarra Coast. Port stakeholders are advised to monitor the BOM issued forecasts and make independent decisions without waiting for advice from the Port Authority of NSW.

There is a possibility of delays to marine operations within the port until Sunday (4 February) and we will endeavour to provide as much notice as possible. From the current forecasts the worst of the weather appears to be from this evening around 1800 until Thursday evening (1 February 2018), but this could be extended with very little notice.

The latest weather warnings have been issued by BOM. The links below are all current and will give you access to the latest Bureau of Metrology forecasts and warnings for your information and planning purposes.
http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/forecasts/illawarracoast.shtml
http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/marinewind.shtml

The port remains open and will continue managing ships according to risk on a case by case basis as required. The anchorage [is] closed from 1600 this afternoon and for vessels to remain greater than 12nm off the coast, unless they are proceeding to/ from the Port as part of the Port Kembla shipping schedule.

For vessels that are alongside in the port of Port Kembla, Masters are to ensure all adequate precautions have been made for securing their vessels for the weather conditions expected. This may include, but not limited to:
- extra lines,
- anchors ready for letting go or lowered to the seabed if considered necessary,
- ramp positioning for PCCs and
- requiring tugs on standby at the discretion of the Master, and without waiting for instruction from the Port Kembla VTIC or Harbour Master.

As a precondition of vessels remaining within the Port during this weather event, Masters and Agents are advised that I reserve the right to order tugs to be on standby for vessels that remain in the port for the purposes of port and navigational safety, the costs of which will be shared equally amongst the vessels alongside in the port at the time.

(For information about operations at Australian ports contact GAC Australia at [email protected])

Source: Port Kembla Harbour Master

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

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