Gustav to disrupt chem shipping activity - brokers

01 September 2008 16:15  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--Shipping brokers are assessing the possible impact of Hurricane Gustav, which has made landfall in Louisiana, they said on Monday.

“I fully expect that all operations in the river have stopped as it appears Gustav will enter parts of Texas,” one broker said.

Another broker was extremely anxious with regards to the high water levels in the US Gulf.

“We are noting that water levels will rise by 4 metres in parts of the US Gulf, which could be disastrous,” he said.

One Baltic trader confirmed this information by stating that water levels in New Orleans were expected to reach 4.3 metres above average, although Hurricane Katrina three years ago saw levels rise 7.3 metres above average, the source said.

One broker was experiencing delays as its vessel was waiting to leave bound for Houston.

“We have a vessel in ARA (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp) now with a proposed direction of Houston but we are not aware if the vessel can leave,” the broker said.

"The situation in the US Gulf could turn into a logistics nightmare."

A ship operator said added: “The situation developing in the US Gulf will certainly delay shipments and disrupt schedules at the very least.”

Hurricane Gustav has already killed more than 80 people in the Caribbean as it passed through Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica en route to the US Gulf coast, where people are being evacuated to areas further inland.

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By: Dan Horlock
44 20 8652 3214

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