Northport this morning took the decision to keep the port closed until at least 0700 on Wednesday (15 February) as a result of weather conditions created by ex-tropical cyclone Gabrielle’s path down the east coast of the upper North Island. The decision will be reviewed later today with a final call to be made no later than 1500.

All port users have been included in the decision-making process and have supported this decision. The safety and wellbeing of everyone working at the port is paramount.

The Northland harbourmaster closed Whangārei harbour to all commercial shipping yesterday from 0900hrs to late Tuesday afternoon. All port operations were cancelled at that time and only a skeleton crew remain at the port to monitor infrastructure and storm water levels.

Generally, the facility is holding up well to the gale conditions. Both of the port's Wave Rider buoys have lost their moorings in the exceptional swell created by Gabrielle. They are in the process of being recovered. This will limit deep draft vessel transit until at least one of the buoys can be repositioned - this will be late Tuesday or Wednesday morning at the earliest.

Much of Northland is experiencing power outages. So far Northport has maintained power from the grid but it does have emergency generator capacity to keep the facility secure and continue administration and security duties.