Coal export facilities in the Australian state of Queensland have begun the slow process of restoring operations.
“The monsoon trough extending across Cape York Peninsula to the east tropical coast of Queensland should gradually weaken and retreat northwards over the next few days,” agency company GAC said.
“A tropical low over the central Coral Sea well to the east of Cairns will move further to the east-southeast in the coming days.”
Coal export facilities such as Dalrymple Bay and Hay Point were described as “fully operational” by GAC.
At Townsville, the monsoon trough is said to have moved offshore and the weather is now described as “fine and extremely hot”.
While minimal delays are now said to exist, rail services from Mount Isa is said to be “still an issue” but is expected to return to normal over the next couple of days.
At the Port of Weipa, which is a major bauxite export facility, GAC said the pilot launch is now operational and shipping is returning to normal.
Abbot Point Coal Terminal, which is Australia’s most northerly coal export facility, the picture is less clear.
The terminal was expected to return to operations late on Monday afternoon depending on the stockpile area clean up.
AIS data currently shows no vessels alongside at the port, however, a number of capesize and panamax bulkers are currently anchored offshore.
These include the 179,147-dwt True Endurance (built 2012), the 179,283-dwt HL Port Hedland (built 2010), the 84,900-dwt Navios Coral (built 2016), the 82,331-dwt Rosco Poplar (built 2008) and the 91,765-dwt Tatsuki Maru (built 2002).
Last week Abbot Point Coal Terminal said in a statement that the weather in North Queensland over the past fortnight had been “extreme and unprecedented”.
“We’ve had more than 900 mm of rain at the port since December alone, and that amount of water takes a toll,” it said.
“We had to suspend operations earlier this week because the extreme weather meant it just wasn’t safe for our employees to be onsite.
“Since 2017, we’ve been undertaking a three year major infrastructure upgrade programme to improve safety and environmental management.
“Conditions at the terminal are improving and the preparation of a return to operation plan is underway.”
