Published: 12 Jan 2011
Floods forced Brisbane port to close to commercial maritime traffic last night, Lloyds List, DCN reports. Brisbane port was closed to commercial maritime traffic from 23:59 and all ships ordered out to sea.
A massive outflow of water from upstream means that even during an incoming tide, the river is flowing out at more than 3 knots at the port and even stronger closer to the city, according to the Harbour Master Captain Richard Johnson.
He said the port stopped all ships at 10am and those that were still loading were ordered to be out to sea by midnight.
Meanwhile the Courier Mail reports at least 10 barges and pontoons have broken from their moorings and are floating down the Brisbane River. A Maritime Safety Queensland spokesman said that strength of the current was pulling a number of vessels and pontoons from their moorings. ''The current strength of the current is about 7 to 8 knots and we are expecting it to get stronger as the day goes on,'' he said.
