Your daily news service from ports around the world.
In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
- Germany, Kiel Canal – Lock chambers back in service
- United States, Sabine, Texas – Channel closure due to fog
- United States, all ports – California No Discharge Zone to come into effect
- Chile, Valparaiso – Increase of maximum draft
DATE: February 23, 2012 – COUNTRY: Germany – PORT: Kiel Canal- Lock chambers back in service
The Kiel Canal Authority has announced that both New Big Lock Chambers at Kiel-Holtenau are now back in service.
(For information about operations in Germany contact the GAC UK Hub Agency Centre at hub.gb@gac.com)
Source: Sartori & Berger – GAC network agent
DATE: February 23, 2012 – COUNTRY: United States – PORT: Sabine, Texas – Channel closure due to fog
The Sabine pilots suspended services in the Sabine/Neches Channel at 2045 hours local time last night, due to dense fog.
The services remains suspended as at the time of writing.
For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com
DATE: February 23, 2012 – COUNTRY: United States -PORT: all ports California – No Discharge Zone to come into effect
Beginning in March 2012, the following vessels will be prohibited from discharging all sewage, whether treated or not, while in California marine waters:
- Large Passenger Vessels over 300 gross tons or more that have berths or overnight accommodations for passengers
- Large Oceangoing Vessels over 300 gross tons, including private, commercial, government, or military vessels equipped with a holding tank with remaining capacity at time of entry or containing any sewage generated prior to entry to California marine waters.
In response to an application from the State of California, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established this regulation under our Clean Water Act Section 312(f)(4)(A) authorities. EPA estimates the Rule will prohibit the discharge of over 22 million of the 25 million gallons of treated sewage that large vessels could otherwise legally discharge into California State marine waters each year. Even treated sewage can contain pathogens, nutrients and other contaminants that affect human and environmental health, and economic productivity. Prohibiting large vessel sewage discharges provides additional protection of California’s marine water quality.
California Marine Waters are defined as the territorial sea measured from the baseline as determined in accordance with the Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone and extending seaward a distance of three miles, and all enclosed bays and estuaries subject to tidal influences from the Oregon border (41.999325 North Latitude, 124.212110 West Longitude, decimal degrees, NAD 1983) to the Mexican border (32.471231 North Latitude, 117.137814 West Longitude, decimal degrees, NAD 1983)….
….Holding Tanks include any tank specifically designed, constructed, and fitted for the retention of treated or untreated sewage that has been designated and approved by the ship’s flag Administration on the ship’s stability plan; a designated ballast tank is not a holding tank for this purpose.
Gross Tons are measured under the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, measurement system in 46 U.S.C. § 14302, or the regulatory measurement system of 46 U.S.C. § 14502 for vessels not measured under § 14302.
Other California NDZs for ten bays and marinas remain in effect for all vessels.
This No Discharge Zone overlaps with portions of the four NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries, adjacent to the California coast, and is consistent with the existing prohibitions on vessel sewage from large passenger and large oceangoing vessels within the Sanctuaries….
….Enforcement of the No Discharge Zone: The U.S. Coast Guard will inspect vessels for compliance with the no discharge zone pursuant to section 312(k) of the Clean Water Act. In order to verify compliance, the U.S. Coast Guard will use existing vessel examination and inspection authorities. The compliance examinations and inspections may include review of inspection records, visual inspections, evaluation of holding tank limits and review of any sewage logs, if applicable. The State can also enforce the NDZ.
(For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com)
Source: Extract from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov) press release
DATE: February 23, 2012 – COUNTRY: Chile – PORT: Valparaiso – Increase of maximum draft
Terminal Pacifico Sur (TPS) at Valparaiso has advised that the maximum draft at Piers 1, 2 & 3 has increased from 11.4 metres to 13.2 metres.
For information about operations in Chile contact GAC-Ultramar Network at gac-ultramarnetwork.chile@gac.com
