In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
* United States, all ports-Reopening of comment period for Port Access
Route Study
* Oman, Al Qalhat (Sur)-2012 port charges increase
* Hong Kong, Hong Kong-Temporary establishment of current meters
* Australia, Port Kembla-Mid-ship gangway concrete platform out of use
* Australia, Torres Strait-Torres Strait Pilotage Fees to increase
* Panama, Panama Canal-Advance submission of shiplans & certificates
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DATE: December 12, 2011 COUNTRY: United States PORT: all ports
Reopening of comment period for Port Access Route Study
The U.S. Coast Guard is reopening the comment period to further its
outreach efforts and solicit additional comments concerning its Port Access
Route Study being conducted along the Atlantic Coast from Maine to Florida. Comments and related material must reach the Docket Management Facility on
or before January 31, 2012. You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-2011-0351 using any one of the following methods:
(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
(2) Fax: (202) 493-2251.
(3) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
(4) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is
(202) 366-9329.
For further details and information about operations in the USA contact GAC
USA at usa@gac.com
DATE: December 12, 2011 COUNTRY: Oman PORT: Al Qalhat (Sur) 2012 port charges increase
Oman LNG L.L.C. has advised that LNG port charges for Qalhat will increase
from 1 January 2012, from USD 84, 207 to USD 88, 838 per visit.
For information about operations in Oman contact GAC Oman at muscat@gac.com
DATE: December 12, 2011 COUNTRY: Hong Kong PORT: Hong Kong Temporary establishment of current meters
With effect from 10 December 2011 and for a period of approximately 15
months, a current meter will be temporarily established on the seabed in
each of the following locations:
Location (A):
22 deg. 21.814’N / 113 deg. 57.481’E
(Northwest of Tuen Mun Immigration Anchorage)
Location (B):
22 deg. 21.861’N / 113 deg. 59.129’E
(West of Pearl Island, Tuen Mun)
Location (C):
22 deg. 12.306’N / 114 deg. 02.801’E
(East of Cheung Chau)
Location (D):
22 deg. 15.367’N / 114 deg. 21.252’E
(East of South Ninepin Island)
Location (E):
22 deg. 14.715’N / 114 deg. 14.957’E
(Big Wave Bay)
Location (F):
22 deg. 17.203’N / 114 deg. 17.488’E
(Clear Water Bay)
Location (G):
22 deg. 22.118’N / 114 deg. 17.250’E
(Off Kiu Tsui, Sharp Island)
A current meter is an instrument for collecting current profile e.g. set and rate of current. It is a dome shape structure of 0.5 meter high and about 1.5 meters in diameter. Its bottom will be embedded in the seabed.
During the installation operations, the current meter will be lowered to the seabed from a work boat. It will then be secured to the seabed, remain in position for about 12 months followed by a retrieval operation. Regular diving inspections will be conducted monthly.
The installation operations will be carried out by a work boat in the above locations from 10 December 2011 to 1 March 2012. The work boat will work in one location at any one time and it will take about four days to complete the works at each location. One motor boat will assist in the works.
The hours of work will be from 0700 to 1900 hours. No works will be carried out on Sundays and public holidays. Vessels engaged in the works will not stay in the works location outside the hours of work.
A working area of approximately 35 metres around the work boat will be established.
Diving operations will be carried out from time to time during the installation operations.
Vessels engaged in the operations will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.
Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution and keep clear at slow speed, bearing in mind there are divers working in the area.
(For information about operations in Hong Kong contact GAC Hong Kong at
shipping.hongkong@gac.com)
Source: Government of Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No.145 of 2011
DATE: December 12, 2011 COUNTRY: Australia PORT: Port Kembla – Mid-ship gangway concrete platform out of use
Port Kembla Coal Terminal has advised that the Berth 102 mid-ship gangway concrete platform is showing signs of concrete cracking and has been barricaded and signposted off to prevent access.
An under-berth structural inspection has been carried out and until repairs can be carried out the platform cannot be used.
It is estimated that the platform will be out of action for four weeks.
During this time, any vessel due to berth within the next month requiring a mid-ship gangway position should communicated with the terminal as soon as possible, advising the mid-ship platform to Bridge distance in metres, so enable the terminal to determine the best berthing position.
For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at
shipping.australia@gac.com
DATE: December 12, 2011 COUNTRY: Australia PORT: Torres Strait – Torres Strait Pilotage Fees to increase
Torres Pilots have advised that due to increased costs and higher fees, there will be an increase in their published Fee Schedule, effective from 1 January 2012.
Fees will increase by an average of 2.5-3.5% in all compulsory areas.
Discounted fees for contracted ship operators/owners will remain unchanged unless otherwise advised.
The below fee schedule (in Australian Dollars) will apply to all uncontracted client vessels boarded on or after 1 January 2012.
INNER ROUTE
============
Goods Island to Cairns Berth / Cape Flattery (draft <8.0m)
– NET: 7, 290 – GST: 729 – TOTAL: 8, 019
Goods Island to Cairns Fairway (draft <8.0m)
– NET: 8, 710 – GST: 871 – TOTAL: 9, 581
Booby Island to Cairns Berth / Cape Flattery (draft >8.0m)
– NET: 8, 290 – GST: 829 – TOTAL: 9, 119
Booby Island to Cairns Fairway (draft >8.0m)
– NET: 9, 690 – GST: 969 – TOTAL: 10, 659
(Pilotage in non-compulsory areas south of Cairns by arrangement; including ports of: Mourilyan, Lucinda, Townsville, Abbot Point, Mackay, Hay Point, Dalrymple Bay, Port Alma and Gladstone)
GREAT NORTH EAST CHANNEL
==========================
Goods Island to Dalrymple Island (draft <8.0m)
– NET: 7, 970 – GST: 797 – TOTAL: 8, 767
Booby Island to Dalrymple Island (draft >8.0m)
– NET: 8, 980 – GST: 898 – TOTAL: 9, 878
Goods Island / Booby Island to Umuda and return (inc berth/unberth)
– NET: 14, 200 – GST: 1, 420 – TOTAL: 15, 620
HYDROGRAPHERS PASSAGE
========================
Pilotage Blossom Bank to / from Hay Point or DBCT
– NET: 2, 690 – GST: 269 – TOTAL: 2, 959
Helicopter Transfer to / from vessel (charged at cost) 6, 410 641 7, 051
– NET: 6, 410 – GST: 641 – TOTAL: 7, 051
Inbound pilotages:
Inner Anchorage Helicopter Transfer from vessel (charged at cost)
– NET: 990 – GST: 99 – TOTAL: 1, 089
Outer Anchorage Helicopter Transfer from vessel (charged at cost) 1, 320 132
1, 452
– NET: 1, 320 – GST: 132 – TOTAL: 1, 452
Compliant with CASA commercial flight regulations
TIME FEES AND LANDING CHARGES
===============================
A time fee will be charged PER HOUR where the pilot is delayed on board a
vessel at an anchorage or port (except Hay Point).
– NET: 70 – GST: 7 – TOTAL: 77
A time fee will be charged PER HOUR where pilotage of vessel exceeds 40hrs
to transit the Inner Route or exceeds 12hrs to transit the Great North East
Channel.
– NET: 70 – GST: 7 – TOTAL: 77
Landing will be arranged in consultation with the vessel’s agent if the vessel is not BOA and charged at cost.
FUEL LEVY
==========
Due to the high cost of fuel required for the long pilot transfers.
– NET: 210 – GST: 21 – TOTAL: 231
For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at
shipping.australia@gac.com
DATE: December 12, 2011 COUNTRY: Panama PORT: Panama Canal
Advance submission of ship plans & certificates
—————
The Panama Canal Authority reminds all customers that vessels transiting the Panama Canal for the first time must submit drawings and certificates in advance, in order to verify compliance with ACP Vessel Requirements.
These vessels shall present the following documents:
– Copy of the International Tonnage Certificate (1969) and/or PC/UMS
Documentation of Total Volume
– Breakdown of the total volume (calculations sheets)
– Ship Particulars
– Pilot Card
– International Load Line Certificate
– Suez Tonnage Certificate (if available)
– Classification Certificate.
These vessels shall also present the following plans and documents:
– General Arrangement Plan
– Capacity Plan with deadweight scale
– Lines Plan (or offset table, if Lines plan not available)
– Midship Section Plan (or Shell Expansion and bilge radius information, if
Midship Plan not available)
– Cargo Securing Manual (if vessel is designed to carry containers, the
containers section shall be provided)
– Visibility Plan (diagram)
– Container stowage Plan (if applicable)
Advance copies of plans/drawings and certificates may be forwarded in AutoCAD format or PDF files (preferably original files from the shipyard) to ACP-Shipplans@pancanal.com.
For vessels transiting the Panama Canal for the first time that do not have plans available in PDF format, the current procedure for delivering the plans and other documents remains valid.
(For information about operations in Panama contact GAC-Wilford & McKay at
gac-wilfordmckay.panama@gac.com )
