Potential Cyclone Affecting NW Australia
Dampier Port Authority has advised that there is a high probability of a tropical cyclone forming by late Wednesday or early Thursday between Indonesia and North West WA. It is possible that this cyclone will affect coastal waters including Dampier by the end of the week. Port of Dampier is currently at Cyclone Response Stage 1 – Monitor. The situation will continue to be monitored andupdates witll be issued as the situation becomes more clear. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology states there is an indicated increased risk of tropical cyclone formation by late Wednesday. A tropical low is forming south of Indonesia. There is only a small chance of this low developing into a tropical cyclone on Tuesday.
Dampier, Hedland Port Authorities to Merge
From July 1, 2014, Dampier Port Authority will be merged with Port Hedland Port Authority to form a new body named Pilbara Ports Authority, GAC reported in its daily hot news report. The Western Australian Government recently passed the Ports Legislation Amendment Bill 2013, introducing structural reforms to its statutory port authorities. The main thurst of the reforms is that, with the exception of Fremantle Port, port authorities will be merged or renamed to create four new regional port authorities: Mid West, Southern, Kimberley and Pilbara. The first to be created, Pilbara Ports Authority, will control and manage the ports of Ashburton, Dampier and Port Hedland. pilbaraports.com.au
New West Australian Deepwater Port Plan Unveiled
The Western Australian Government has unveiled a master plan for a multi-user, multi-commodity deepwater port in the Pilbara, which has the potential to be the biggest port in Australia, reports Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) in its latest Australasia newsletter. The State Government has proposed Anketell Port be built on greenfields land about 30 kilometres east of Karratha, and said the project would boast an eventual export capacity of more than 350 million tonnes a year. If realised, it would be more than double the total exports through the nearby Dampier Port and 20 per cent larger than shipments at Port Hedland, which is Australia's biggest export facility.
