Australian Cyclone

[John Arton]

Have any of our friends here been caught up in the tremendous cyclone that has hit the Pilbara region shutting down all the iron ore exporting ports and has anyone up to date information on any evacuations/damages etc.?
rgds
JA

[j.sabourn]

John, Cyclones in this part of the world are an expected way of life and normally no big deal if sufficient warning is given. As soon as they cross the coast they start to diminish and later turn to copious amounts of rain which the farmers rely on. The average for cyclones per year is about 4 or 5 during the season. In 1991 I had only been out here about 3 weeks and was master on a supply vessel working out of Dampier. There was a cyclone alert and the Harbour master wanted the harbour cleared. I was at the time coming off charter and pumping commodities ashore before taking the ship back to Singapore. Everyone disappeared in the harbour including the surveyors for the off hire survey. I had to cast off myself, I had been told there were cyclone moorings close by, after going there everyone was taken. I didn't have time to make a run for open water so went and anchored behind a small island putting out about 12 shackles. Kept the engines running and steamed on the anchor. Our only damage was we lost all our canvas awnings. Believe have mentioned previously All the offshore installations are demanned and they send seamen out to man during cyclone alerts, a lot of my work came from such. Australian shipping as regards the offshore side is different than the UK out here you are expected to do anything you are qualified for and not slotted into some groove like the UK offshore Industry. The 11 years I worked out here was like a breath of fresh air compared with what I had been used to. Regards John S.