The Bureau of Meteorology upgraded Tropical Cyclone Fina to a Category 2 system early on 21 November, placing the Tiwi Islands and parts of West Arnhem Land under destructive-wind warnings. The storm is tracking south-east toward Cape Don and is expected to make a second landfall near Wurrumiyanga on Saturday afternoon, bringing gusts above 120 km/h and torrential rain.
As a precaution, Darwin Port began staged shutdowns of cargo operations on Friday morning. A fuel tanker carrying critical diesel supplies was fast-tracked into port and ordered to discharge immediately before harbour gates close. Live-export vessels and coastal barges have sought refuge in the Timor Sea, while cattle producers scramble to move stock off flood-prone plains.
![Cyclone Fina forces flight cancellations and port closures across the Northern Territory]()
Airlines have cancelled or rescheduled most flights in and out of Darwin for 21–22 November. Charter operators supporting mining and oil-and-gas projects in the Timor Sea have grounded rotary-wing services, potentially delaying crew-change rotations. The Department of Infrastructure has advised passenger-airlines to expect apron closures once sustained winds exceed 55 knots.
For mobility managers the cyclone poses a dual challenge: evacuating non-essential personnel from remote communities while securing supply chains for critical infrastructure projects. Companies with FIFO operations should activate business-continuity plans, ensure staff have at least five days of provisions and confirm that satellite-phone inventories are adequate.
Practical tip: register all travellers and assignees on the NT Emergency Services “SecureNT” app to receive push notifications on road closures, power outages and evacuation centres.
As a precaution, Darwin Port began staged shutdowns of cargo operations on Friday morning. A fuel tanker carrying critical diesel supplies was fast-tracked into port and ordered to discharge immediately before harbour gates close. Live-export vessels and coastal barges have sought refuge in the Timor Sea, while cattle producers scramble to move stock off flood-prone plains.
Airlines have cancelled or rescheduled most flights in and out of Darwin for 21–22 November. Charter operators supporting mining and oil-and-gas projects in the Timor Sea have grounded rotary-wing services, potentially delaying crew-change rotations. The Department of Infrastructure has advised passenger-airlines to expect apron closures once sustained winds exceed 55 knots.
For mobility managers the cyclone poses a dual challenge: evacuating non-essential personnel from remote communities while securing supply chains for critical infrastructure projects. Companies with FIFO operations should activate business-continuity plans, ensure staff have at least five days of provisions and confirm that satellite-phone inventories are adequate.
Practical tip: register all travellers and assignees on the NT Emergency Services “SecureNT” app to receive push notifications on road closures, power outages and evacuation centres.
