The ship was one of two carrying a total 100,000 tonnes of wheat supplied by Australia for the humanitarian aid effort in Iraq.

But the parliamentary secretary for aid, Chris Gallus, said there were still fears deepwater berths at Umm Qasr could be mined, despite the efforts of Australian navy divers.

She said following an urgent request from the United Nation's World Food Program (WFP) one ship had been diverted to Kuwait to allow the delivery of the grain to Iraq by road.

"We were asked by the WFP to take one of the ships to Kuwait City, which we now have," she told the Australian Associated Press.

"It's two-and-a-half days steaming, so it should be there by the weekend," she said.

The second ship was currently anchored off the coast of Oman, waiting for confirmation that Umm Qasr is clear of mines.

A small British ship, the Sir Galahad, delivered 800 tonnes of food, medicines and blankets through Umm Qasr late last week.

But US ships carrying another 400,000 tonnes of wheat are not due to arrive in the region for another month.

SPACE.WIRE