BBI head of industry relations and communications Helen Liossis told International Longwall News that shutdowns due to weather were a common occurrence and operations had returned to normal.

“Unfortunately we can’t control the weather but what we can control is the safety of our workers, which is why work was stopped for a short period,” she said.

The weather warning was issued by Australia’s weather bureau and saw loading also halted at Hay Point Coal Terminal just south of Mackay.

BHP Billiton’s Emma Meade said that loading recommenced yesterday at Hay Point with the first ship coming through in the morning and a second docking in the afternoon.

Gladstone Port said that it had been unaffected by the weather.