Ports resume near-normal operations in better weather

Dubai, Aug 4, 2009 (WAM)- Al Ruwais and Das islands' ports have reopened and ship movement has returned to near normal levels, a source at the Abu Dhabi National Tankers Company (Adnatco) told Gulf News on Monday.
The ports had been closed since Thursday evening due to poor visibility caused by the sandstorm that has engulfed much of the UAE.
Ruwais Port lies just 10km east of Jebel Al Danna Port from where most of the UAE's crude oil is exported. The ports are about 250km west off Abu Dhabi coast.
Adnatco officials declined to confirm news reports yesterday that Al Danna Port had been closed since Friday due to the storm.
"Whenever you have poor visibility, it affects ship traffic. Some ships might be delayed and some ports might face closure, but it's usually for brief periods of time," said an Adnatco official, who asked to remain anonymous.
Adnatco is a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), the entity responsible for production and export of the emirate's crude.
At Mina Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi, ship movement also returned to normal yesterday as weather conditions improved, an official told Gulf News.
"The ships had been delayed on Sunday. A large vessel, which had to berth in the morning, reached only by evening, a delay of more than 12 hours," he said.
Visibility improved in Ras Al Khaimah Port yesterday to about 3,000 metres from about 500 metres on Sunday, an official said.