Tropical Cyclone Casper update (13 December)

13 Dec 2023 / Queensland, Australia

Tropical Cyclone Jasper is moving slowly and expected to impact the Far North Queensland coast from late this morning (13 December).

At 06.00am AEST today, Tropical Cyclone Jasper was a Category 1 system with sustained winds near the centre of 85km per hour and gusts to 120 km per hour. It was located within 20km of 15.7 degrees South / 146.9 degrees East, estimated to be 180km northeast of Cairns and 180km east of Cooktown, and moving west at 7km per hour.

Jasper is forecast to cross the coast late this afternoon or evening between Hopevale and Cairns. It may intensify to Category 2 before making landfall but should weaken quickly as it moves inland overnight tonight as it moves over Cape York Peninsula.

The status of affected ports is as follows:

CAPE FLATTERY (Red warning)
Port is now closed.
Only movements of an emergency nature permitted.

CAIRNS (Red warning)
Port is now closed.
Only movements of an emergency nature permitted.

MOURILYAN (Red warning)
Port is now closed.
Only movements of an emergency nature permitted.

TOWNSVILLE (Yellow warning)
The port is at Condition Yellow and not planning to close. There are currently no vessels in port with the next vessel due this morning. Wind conditions will be assessed again prior to this movement.

ABBOT POINT & PORT OF HAY POINT INCLUDING DBCT
Both Ports remain open, however terminals ceased vessel operations and berths were vacant since 10 December due to weather & safety reasons.
Abbot Point coal terminal berthed 2 vessels yesterday (12 December) and is currently back to normal operations. HPCT & DBCT have scheduled vessel movements from midday today and operations are expected to return to normal.
Berth No.1 at Hay Point is currently under maintenance until the 15 December.

For further details and updates, as well as 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.