Port Hedland

Australian defence personnel are being deployed to Port Hedland, one of the world's largest iron ore loading ports, to help contain a coronavirus outbreak on a bulk carrier that last changed crews in the major seafaring city of Manila.

Miner Fortescue warned on Thursday that a potential strike by tugboat deckhands could shut down its Australian iron ore operations, a day after BHP Billiton said any industrial action would hurt exports.

Australian defence personnel are being deployed to Port Hedland, one of the world's largest iron ore loading ports, to help contain a coronavirus outbreak on a bulk carrier that last changed crews in the major seafaring city of Manila.

Miner Fortescue warned on Thursday that a potential strike by tugboat deckhands could shut down its Australian iron ore operations, a day after BHP Billiton said any industrial action would hurt exports.