Twenty-five ships are at risk of being battered by tropical cyclone Ita as the category 5 storm bears down on the Queensland coast, according to an Australian shipping news outlet.
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But the Australian Maritime Safety Authority has dismissed suggestions a Panamanian flagged oil tanker was in "grave danger" from the storm.
Lloyds List reported the tanker Wawasan Topaz, which was about 100 kilometres off the Innisfail coast on Thursday night, could be affected by the storm if it moves south.
Lloyds List said the vessel was “engaged in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse” with the cyclone.
“Ita is moving marginally slower at 10 knots while the tanker is moving southeast at 11.8kn,” it reported.
“While the centre of Ita is moving on a course marginally away from the tanker, the tropical cyclone measures approximately 640nm [1180km] in diameter.”
In a statement issued on Friday morning, AMSA said it was unconcerned about the Wawasan Topaz.
"AMSA notes that the Wawasan Topaz’s last known position is well away from the cyclone area," it said in the statement.
"At this stage AMSA has no immediate concerns for the vessels safety.
"In addition, AMSA is monitoring the vessel traffic in the area and is not currently tracking any vessels in the cyclones immediate danger zone."
Cyclone Ita was 190 kilometres northeast of Cooktown - about 345 kilometres north of Cairns - at 11am on Friday.
The Bureau of Meteorology said winds in the eye of the cyclone could be up to 300 km/h, with gales extending 200 kilometres from the storm centre.
The cyclone is expected to make landfall between Cape Melville and Cooktown as early as Friday night.
