(Refiles to correct link to interactive map)
By Mark Tay
SINGAPORE, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Loading of cargoes from Australia's North West Shelf (NWS) liquefied natural gas (LNG) and condensate project has been halted due to adverse weather, traders with direct knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday.
It remains unclear when cargo loadings at the port of Dampier will resume, said one person familiar with the matter who is facing loading delays for a cargo of NWS condensate.
In an emailed statement, Pilbara Ports Authority - which manages ports in the area - said LNG cargo loadings are likely to have stopped "as at the ports of Ashburton and Dampier, the ports and anchorages continue to remain clear of vessels".
The NWS project is operated by Australian firm Woodside Petroleum WPL.AX .
Woodside declined to comment on its loading operations, but said the company "is taking the necessary precautions to safeguard our people and assets".
The loading delays are unlikely to have an immediate impact in LNG or condensate prices as adverse weather along the Australian coast is common in January and February, traders said.
The impact of such loading delays are minimal as producers can claim force majeure, a Singapore-based LNG trader said. "Also, demand is now quite weak," the trader said.
NSW joint venture partners include BHP Billiton BHP.AX BLT.L , BP BP.L , Chevron Corp (NYSE:CVX) CVX.N , Japan's Mitsubishi Corp 8058.T and Mitsui & Co 8031.T , and Royal Dutch Shell RDSa.L .
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ INTERACTIVE MAP: Adverse weather around Port of Dampier
reuters://REALTIME/verb=Interactive%20Map/context=%3CNavigation%3E%3CEntities%3E%3CEntity%20type= 'archive'%3E%3CIMap%3EGwMAAB+LCAAAAAAABACdU01PwzAM/StVD9xYaLchAW 1RgSEQG0xr+bwg03pbtDQJSTpp/HrcijEmkBBcEsV+7/k5caJL6dBA4fgSR6C9JR rLlYz9wE8iCrRLDmaG7kmpKulFbDuwyZ9iI+U9EDc86IR7e8FBvxv43mPs74b9Tr cX9PfDXtf3WBINYUWFPnYvX2mM/VuLZsito8KXJWnxKSdMg2YtbBs95K81ThvjSo 4FSGc3wh+QsTLuBI2bp7KYKwMz/AbJQS7Q3KG1KL4LZEjXgfcIbo6GbJ3WxpCxBI SI2Prwo7sMHArBHaaynEAJf2PnRmlegMjpYRb2X9SRKpuONlRHiaoN/qLQPMNVJY h6hrYwXDtFiDNutYDVNVSYpO20eBklKlL7morOucAx3VdS6NqIQ8ZAa9spdIdpxa UrwLwoyWaoKtCWLSpxzMt4Tn7ItES7A5U+UrXTtXvWRk1JLc4vbkbZzfVkcJsPJl mLqGtijdOHfJLuBmG31wbdWzyoqUtkQyVLJSP2aYZMfull3TVbTyFrB51tf4XkHS PrSBAbAwAA%3C/IMap%3E%3C/Entity%3E%3C/Entities%3E%3C/Navigation% 3E Map of adverse weather around Port of Dampier
http://reut.rs/2kleyJB
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>