Having battened down the hatches for a possible cyclone this week, Australia’s Port of Hedland, a major hub for iron ore export, still suffered disruption, but managed to reopen on Wednesday.
Tropical Cyclone Peta moved west of Port Hedland on Wednesday and tracked south westerly at a much slower speed than expected - but it still caused disruption and closure at the port.
The Port Hedland Port Authority (PHPA) closed the port for a total of 21 hours and anchorage was closed for 33 hours, but both reopened at 1600 on Wednesday. A total of 36 (4 part loaded and 32 from anchor) vessels left the port and anchorage due to the closure.
Approximately 50 returned after the closure, which comprised of the evacuated 36 vessels and new arrivals over the 48 hours of impact.
The problem is that iron ore prices have gained support from concerns that Australia’s cyclone season, which runs from November until April, will reduce supplies. Port Hedland is used by BHP Billiton, Fortescue Metals and Atlas Iron to ship ore, currently at a rate of around 200m tonnes per year, accounting for a fifth of global seaborne trade in the steel-making raw material.
Albina Skender, PHPA spokesperson, said to Port Strategy: "Port Hedland is located in Northern Australia which is a cyclone prone area. We budget for 5 days of closure per year and we have a well versed cyclone management plan which is designed to protect infrastructure, shipping and personnel and all this is part of doing business in the Pilbara."
This is the second time that the port has been affected by cyclones in only a month. Only two weeks ago, more than 3,500 homes and businesses in Port Hedland were left without power after Cyclone Heidi swept through the area.
