A BULK carrier which allided with wharf infrastructure on Groote Eylandt on Monday has caused “severe damage”, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority confirmed.

Cyprus-flagged Anikitos smashed into the wharf on 18 March when ex-Tropical Cyclone Megan (now a tropical low) tore through the Gulf of Carpentaria as it approached the Northern Territory coast.

Mining company South32 told the ASX on Monday that its Groote Eylandt wharf had been damaged in the cyclone, but it did not immediately reveal what had caused the damage.

Images have since emerged of a 189-metre-long bulk carrier alliding with manganese loading infrastructure in cyclonic conditions.

An AMSA spokesperson told DCN that Anikitos had been alongside at Alyangula, Groote Eylandt since 0748 ACST on 14 March, to load a cargo of manganese ore.

The ship is loaded with 41,140 metric tonnes of manganese ore, 1070 tonnes of low sulphur fuel and 109 tonnes diesel.

“On Saturday and Sunday (16 and 17 March), the vessel experienced severe weather of 100 kilometre-per-hour winds and four-metre seas due to cyclonic weather in the area,” AMSA’s spokesperson said.

“The wharf has sustained severe damage, and the ship remains alongside.

“The owners and insurers of the vessel are corresponding with tug providers to arrange tugs to assist the vessel with shifting from its’ current location alongside the wharf to a safe anchorage.”

As the incident has occurred within Northern Territory coastal waters, the NT government is leading the response, with assistance from AMSA under the National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies.

AMSA noted the National Emergency Management Agency has been monitoring the situation as part of its broader national cyclone response.

“The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has completed oil spill trajectory models and has provided the results to the Northern Territory government,” the spokesperson said.

South32 said in its statement on Monday that the full impact of the damage and subsequent disruption manganese production would be assessed when access to the port and other infrastructure is restored.

The Bureau of Meteorology expects ex-Tropical Cyclone Megan to bring heavy rainfall to inland parts of the NT in the coming days.