Severe Weather Closes Sydney and Port Botany
Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) Australia is advising that Sydney and Port Botany have been closed to all shipping movements since 22:00hrs yesterday evening until further notice, due to storm force winds and swell at the pilot boarding grounds. A small intense low pressure system is currently located off the New South Wales coast near Sydney and the Hunter district and is moving slowly northwards with an associated trough. Gale to storm force southerly winds and large seas are extending along the coast behind the trough. The low and trough will move slowly further offshore during Wednesday with an associated gradual easing in the winds. A high pressure system will move across southern New South Wales by Friday, bringing more stable conditions for the later part of the week.
Cyclone Warning for North Queensland
Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) is advising of the approach of Cyclone Ita towards the North Queensland coast of Australia. Forecast to develop into a severe category level 4 tropical cyclone, it is expected to make landfall late on Friday, April 11 between the Lockhart River and Cape Flattery. With gale force winds and high sea levels predicted, warnings of potential floods to low lying areas are being issued. ISS Australia has provided the latest port update from the region and will continue to monitor the impact of the storm on behalf of shipowners and operators.
ISS Australia to Provide Support Logistics for Jan De Nul
Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS), a maritime services provider, was selected to provide support logistics to the Jan De Nul Group for an offshore energy megaproject in Australia. The Belgium-based Jan De Nul Group specializes in dredging operations around the world and has appointed ISS Australia as its agent for the importation of 15 vessels into North West Australia. The business also includes port agency, husbandry services and other logistics support. Working as part of the Wheatstone project in the Northern Carnarvon Basin, one of Australia’s largest resource ventures, Jan De Nul will be involved in a pipeline stabilization project. To date, eight vessels have already been imported into the country with a further seven vessels due to arrive between now and October 2013.
