DATE: December 09, 2011
COUNTRY: South Africa – 
PORT: Cape Town
Situation at Quay 501 – Update: 9 December
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Transnet has advised that the fire on the vessel berthed at Quay 501 in Cape Town’s Ben Schoeman Dock is now under control.
Fire staff are sweeping the vessel in a bid to declare it safe. The vessel is in a stable condition. Pumping is continuing in three areas and items on the deck are being cleared.
Ammonia specialists are inspecting the tanks and the integrity of the pipes. Monitoring of air quality is continuing until ammonia is removed from the team, and a team is on stand-by for ammonia emergency clear-up.
Movement of people in the area is strictly controlled with only emergency personnel allowed into the immediate area.
For further details and information about operations in South Africa contact GAC South Africa at shipping.capetown@gac.com
DATE: December 09, 2011
COUNTRY: Singapore – PORT: Singapore
Replacement of sea barrier off NPCC Camp, Pulau Ubin
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From 14 December 2011 to 13 May 2012, work will be conducted to replace the sea barrier off the NPCC Camp at Pulau Ubin.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.165 of 2011, the works will be carried out 24 hours daily – excluding Sundays & Public Holidays – off Nenas Channel and its vicinity, within the areas bounded by the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
1) 01° 25.208’N / 103° 58.018’E
2) 01° 25.208’N / 103° 58.108’E
3) 01° 25.163’N / 103° 58.108’E
4) 01° 25.163’N / 103° 58.018’E
The replacement works will involve the removal of the old HDPE drums and the installation of marker buoys with sinkers and HDPE drums linked up with stainless steel chain.
Safety boats will be deployed in the vicinity to warn other craft to keep clear of the working area.
Craft involved in the works will exhibit the appropriate local and international day and night signals.
When in the vicinity of the working area, mariners are reminded to:
(a) Keep well clear and not to enter the working area;
(b) Maintain a proper lookout;
(c) Proceed at a safe speed & navigate with caution;
(d) Maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 21 (Sembawang Control); and
(e) Communicate with Sembawang Control on VHF Channel 21 for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore contact GAC Singapore at
singapore@gac.com
DATE: December 09, 2011
COUNTRY: Australia – PORT: Melbourne
Hovell Pile – Secondary Channel established
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Mariners are advised that a Secondary Channel with least depth of 13.1 metres has been established to the north east of Hovell Pile light for the transit of vessels with a draught less than 11.6 metres.
The 400 metre wide Secondary Channel is located due west of the defined channel, with the south western edge marked by Beacon No. 22 with light characteristics Fl(3)R.10s 8 M, in Latitude 38°19.64 S and Longitude 144°54.21 E (WGS 84).
Deep draught vessels of 11.6 metres and over must navigate in the defined deep water channel as marked on chart AUS 158, where the maintained depth is 16.0 metres.
Vessels of less than 11.6 metres draught can navigate in the 400 m wide Secondary Channel.
(For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com)
Source: Victorian Notice to Mariners No.143(T) – 2011 dated 8 December 2011
DATE: December 09, 2011
COUNTRY: Brazil – PORT: Santos
Administrative staff to down tools
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Administrative employees of Santos Dock Company have decided to halt their activities for an indeterminate period from Monday 12 December.
The stoppage is related to a dispute over the company’s compliance with part of the collective agreement with the union.
The employees’ earlier stoppage – for 24 hours on 21 September – affected inward/outward bound vessels. Monday’s stoppage is expected to have the same impact on operations at the port.
For information about operations in Brazil contact GAC Brazil at shipping.brazil@gac.com
