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BRISBANE - The crew of a 5,000 tonne barge that was swamped by huge seas whipped up by tropical Cyclone Nelson off far north Queensland are preparing to abandon ship.
The 110-metre barge, an Australian-registered vessel called Wanma, started taking on water and experiencing engine trouble at about 10.30pm local time yesterday while it was in the Gulf of Carpentaria, 50 nautical miles north-west of Karumba.
Australian Search and Rescue and State Emergency Service (SES) crews have been keeping regular contact with the vessel, now 10km offshore, and are expecting to rescue the 10 people on board some time this morning.
The category two-rated Cyclone Nelson crossed North Queensland's Gulf of Carpentaria coast near Gilbert River Mouth early this morning.
Residents in surrounding areas are still on high alert, although the cyclone is losing strength as it crosses the land.
A cyclone warning remains this morning for coastal and island communities from Karumba to Pormpuraaw, extending inland to Palmerville.
Though Cyclone Nelson is losing strength, senior forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology Bryan Rolstone said today a sister storm off the coast of Cairns is picking up speed again.
Mr Rolstone said the potential cyclone would move south-east towards New Zealand, but that it was already producing very strong winds which would affect the east coast of Queensland between Cairns and Townsville.
The two systems are expected to cause further flooding today in parts of north Queensland - between Mackay and Cairns - just starting to recover monsoonal flooding.
- AAP
