Weather rains out cruise and flight arrivals

INCLEMENT weather turned away hundreds of tourists, Zululanders and businessmen hoping to come Richards Bay on this week’s grey Monday.

Both an SA Express and SA Airlink morning flights were cancelled owing to the heavy clouds hanging low over the Richards Bay airport landing strip, making visibility for safe landings impossible.

But Richards Bay SA Express Station Manager Erica Bates was hopeful to give later flights from Johannesburg the green light after clouds started clearing.

‘Although two flights had been cancelled, the airport will remain open and I’m positive the next flight at 2.20pm will go ahead.

‘This is the first time in six months we’ve had to cancel a flight owing to extreme weather conditions,’ Bates said.

Italian cruise liner Costa neoRiviera was also unable to enter the Port of Richards Bay with no helicopter pilotage services available at the harbour.

The 216-metre long vessel, with the capacity to carry 1 600 passengers and 470 crew members, arrived outside the port entrance at 7am.

However, at noon, it was still anchored at sea owing to the port’s pilot boat not being willing to proceed beyond the breakwater and traverse four-metre swells.

Costa neoRiviera was expected to be sent to the Port of Durban with widespread criticism from the shipping fraternity believing the decision reflects badly on the region’s efforts to attract tourists.