Tropical Cyclone Amika

28 Feb 2022 / Port Hedland & Dampier, Australia

Due to Tropical Cyclone Amika, the ports of Port Hedland and Dampier are at Cyclone Alert Stage 1 – Monitor.

Vessel Masters shall ensure:
- Vessel's engines and machinery are fully operational.
- Vessel's stability, trim, and propeller immersion are appropriate.
- Vessel's manning, stores and bunkers are adequate for departure.
- Preparations are made in accordance with their respective cyclone response plan.

Terminal/berth operators are to ensure that:
- The latest cyclone forecasts are taken into account when planning operations over the coming days.
- The response plan accounts for time required for vessels’ to clear the port and the approaching tropical system safely.

Shipping operations will continue as planned. Adjustments will be made based on prevalent and expected weather conditions associated with the tropical system. The weather forecasts will continue to be monitored and further advice will be issued within the next 24 hrs or earlier if there is a substantial change/escalation to the situation.

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Anika continues to track across the northwest Kimberley and is likely to redevelop off the west Kimberley coast either later Monday or on Tuesday.

The Warning Zone covers Mitchell Plateau to Beagle Bay, including Cape Leveque and Derby. The Watch Zone covers Beagle Bay to Sandfire, including Broome.

At 05:00am AWST, Ex-Tropical Cyclone Anika was within 35 km of 15.5 deg. South / 125.4 deg. East, 95 km east of Kuri Bay and 435 km northeast of Broome. It was bringing sustained winds near the centre of 65 km per hour with wind gusts to 95 km per hour, and moving southwest at 11 km per hour.

Anika continues to move slowly southwest over the northwest Kimberley. However, gales may still occur near the coast near the system. The low is expected to track further west-southwest across the northwest Kimberley during Monday.

It is likely to redevelop into a tropical cyclone as it moves off the west Kimberley coast either later Monday or Tuesday and intensify further. A severe tropical cyclone impact to the east Pilbara or west Kimberley coast is forecast for Wednesday or Thursday.

For information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at [email protected]

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