Rough weather disrupts operations at Mediterranean ports

Strong winds and high swells have disrupted operations in Gibraltar, Las Palmas and off Malta.

IMAGE: Aerial view of the Bay of Gibraltar. Getty Images

Inbound traffic has been suspended at Gibraltar due to adverse weather, a port agent said.

The area is facing rough winds of more than 35 knots and waves of above 1.5 metres. The weather is expected to remain disruptive until at least 28 January.

This could cause increased congestion at the port and delay bunkering.

In the Canary Islands' bunkering hub of Las Palmas, swells of above 2 metres and as high as 4 metres are forecast intermittently between 21 January – 5 February.

This has led to supplies currently being carried out only in the inner anchorage and at the berth, port agent MH Bland said.

Malta Offshore has faced rough weather since the start of the week, with winds above 35 knots and waves exceeding 3 metres, forcing the cancellation of all bunkering operations.

While conditions are expected to improve in the second half of the week, backlogs from the weather disruption are expected to cause delays in bunkering.

The weatheris forecast to deteriorate again from 26 January and remain intermittently rough through 3 February.

By Nachiket Tekawade 

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