Rough weather has suspended all inbound traffic in Durban, shipping agent Trade Ocean told ENGINE, citing an alert from South Africa's Transnet National Ports Authority.

IMAGE: Aerial view of Durban port landscape. Getty Images

Strong north-easterly wind gusts of up to 35-40 knots and waves of over 3 meters are forecast in the port area throughout the day.

Weather conditions are expected to moderate by evening, but strong winds are forecast to return in the early hours of 1 November and again on the morning of 2 November.

The port authority said only some vessels moving within the port or leaving the port area are allowed to continue operations. The suspension was initially announced only at Maydon Wharf terminal and then extended to all the terminals in a subsequent alert.

The port authority said it will advise when the conditions are safe for movements to resume.

Bunker operations are expected to be hit by the suspension. Vessels calling at the port for bunkering may face congestion and supplies could be delayed once the weather normalises and operations resume.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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