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11 Jan 2018 / Port Hedland, Dampier & Broome, Australia

Ports prepare for Tropical Cyclone Joyce

The Port of Port Hedland is now at Cyclone Alert Stage 3 – Clear Port.

As of 0500 WST this morning (11 January) the Tropical Low (09U) was in position 16.7S 121.8E in open water some 280 NM North East of Port Hedland and has generally been moving in a South Westerly direction overnight. The system has been steadily intensifying and is expected to be declared as a cyclone within hours.

The system is expected to track SSW’ly during Thursday with a coastal crossing still expected on the East Pilbara / West Kimberley coast near 80 Mile Beach on Friday afternoon as a Category 3 system, the most recent track map is attached for information.

The Port of Dampier remains at cyclone alert Stage 1 – Monitor.

As per latest Bureau of Meteorology forecast, a tropical cyclone JOYCE (Ex low 09U) lies about 75 nautical miles Northwest of Broome. Confidence in the current centre is relatively high.

The most likely scenario has the system tracking generally SSW direction today, and crossing the coast near 80 Mile Beach as a category 3 system later on Friday.

After landfall, the system should then take a more south westerly track over inland parts and weaken.

As Joyce tracks inland, heavy rainfall is expected near and east of the system. Even after it weakens below cyclone intensity, gale force winds could still continue on the eastern flank of the system as it moves over the inland Pilbara.

If TC Joyce changes track to a more westerly direction there is a possibility that port of Dampier may experience gale force winds however advise at this time suggests there is only a slight chance of this happening. As a precaution Port of Dampier is likely to move toCyclone Stage 2 – Prepare around 1600 hours this evening.

This stage(Prepare) involves extensive communications and consultation between the Dampier Harbour Master, Port Terminal Operators, Port users and Pilots. Operational plans, sailing drafts, tidal requirements and intentions will be discussed and evaluated against possible response scenarios.

The Port of Broome was closed to shipping from 1530hrs yesterday (10 January) until further notice, in anticipation of cyclonic impact over the next 24 hours.

Severe weather warning signage has been placed at the Entrance Point boat ramps closing the ramps to recreational users. The public access walkway along the jetty neck is also closed. The Port's radio will be unattended during this period. ln an emergency, please contact the Harbourmaster on 0429-121-875.

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

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

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