Your daily news service from ports around the world.
In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
- Worldwide – Piracy doubles off West Africa
- South Africa, all ports – Unions plan day of action
- Singapore, Singapore – Dredging off Pasir Panjang Terminal
- Hong Kong, Hong Kong – Reconstruction & seawall construction works
DATE: March 06, 2012 COUNTRY: Worldwide Piracy doubles off West Africa -Pirate attacks doubled off the coast of West Africa in February.
According to maritime risk company AKE there were at least eight incidents reported and while this may not appear to be a large number it is relatively high for the region, and part of a growing trend.
AKE also warned in its latest monthly piracy report that pirate tactics are becoming even more violent in the region. Two crew members were killed and three abducted and held onshore over the course of February.
Rory Lamrock, AKE’s maritime specialist warns that the number of attacks is likely to rise further, while incidents are taking place further out to sea.
“Attacks are expected to increase in frequency off Nigeria and Benin in particular. Incidents should also be anticipated as far as 120 nautical miles from the Nigerian coast” according to Lamrock.
“Reports suggest criminals may be hijacking local fishing vessels to launch attacks further out to sea, where naval or coast guard capacity is particularly weak.”
(For information about operations worldwide contact the respective GAC office. Details may be found in the ‘Contact’ section of www.gac.com)
Source: AKE Group (ww.akegroup.com) news release dated 6 March 2012
DATE: March 06, 2012 – COUNTRY: South Africa – PORT: all ports -Unions plan day of action
Cosatu (the Congress of South African Trade Unions) will embark on mass action from 0000 to 2400 hours tomorrow (7 March) against the ‘casualisation’ of labour, attempts to restrict the right to strike and the imposition of e-tolling.
The action will take the form of rallies, demonstrations, picketing and plackards in all major towns and cities.
At this stage, it is unknown what impact there will be on operations at South Africa’s ports. The country’s port authority, Transnet, has stated that every effort will be made to ensure that the impact on operations at various terminals will be kept to a minimum.
For information about operations in South Africa contact GAC South Africa at southafrica@gac.com
DATE: March 06, 2012 – COUNTRY: Singapore – PORT: Singapore – Dredging off Pasir Panjang Terminal
The working period has been revised for dredging works being carried out off Pasir Panjang Terminal.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Signapore’s Port Marine Notice No.30 of 2012, the work will be conducted from 6 March to 5 September 2012, within the working areas bounded by the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
Working Area “Sector 1” 1) 01° 16.554’N / 103° 46.609’E 13) 01° 16.531’N / 103° 46.648’E 2) 01° 16.471’N / 103° 46.748’E 4) 01° 16.389’N / 103° 46.512’E 6) 01° 16.389’N / 103° 46.512’E
Working Area “Sector 2” 5) 01° 16.306’N / 103° 46.650’E 4) 01° 16.389’N / 103° 46.512’E 8) 01° 16.221’N / 103° 46.412’E 9) 01° 16.137’N / 103° 46.550’E
Working Area “Sector 3” 2) 01° 16.471’N / 103° 46.748’E 5) 01° 16.306’N / 103° 46.650’E 9) 01° 16.137’N / 103° 46.550’E 10) 01° 16.096’N / 103° 46.621’E 3) 01° 16.340’N / 103° 46.765’E
Working Area “Sector 4” 3) 01° 16.340’N / 103° 46.765’E 6) 01° 16.255’N / 103° 46.777’E 7) 01° 16.227’N / 103° 46.823’E 11) 01° 16.042’N / 103° 46.713’E 10) 01° 16.096’N / 103° 46.621’E
Working Area “Sector 5” 12) 01° 16.620’N / 103° 46.648’E 1) 01° 16.554’N / 103° 46.609’E 13) 01° 16.531’N / 103° 46.648’E
WORKING HOURS: Sector 1, 2 and 5 One dredger, hopper barge and tugs will be working in one sector (i.e. Sector 1, 2, 3 or 5) at one sector at any one time. Sector 4 Dredging works will be carried out 24 hours daily including Sundays and Public Holidays in sector 4.
Dredging works will be carried out by the grab dredgers, “Ebisu”/”Musashi”, held in position by 2 spuds as anchors. The dredgers, with hopper barges in attendance, will have a circular safety working zone of 50-metre radius centred at the dredgers. Dredged materials will be transported to the designated dumping ground by the hopper barges assisted by pusher tugs.
During the operation, the dredger and hopper barge will be attended by tug boats when required. The tug boats will be used to shift the crane barge and hopper barge, away from the fairway for vessels to berth or unberth.
Safety boats will be deployed in the vicinity to warn the 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 areas, mariners are reminded to: (a) Keep well clear of the safety working zone of the dredgers; (b) Maintain a proper lookout; (c) Proceed at a safe speed and navigate with caution; (d) Maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 25 (Pasir Panjang Control); and (e) Communicate with Pasir Panjang Control on VHF Channel 25 for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
DATE: March 06, 2012 – COUNTRY: Hong Kong – PORT: Hong Kong – Reconstruction & seawall construction works
For approximately 12 months, reclamation and seawall construction works will be carried out [East of the Hong Kong International Airport] in the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) and the adjacent shoreline:
(A) 22º 18.913’N / 113º 56.598’E
(B) 22º 18.946’N / 113º 56.785’E
(C) 22º 19.104’N / 113º 56.840’E
(D) 22º 19.234’N / 113º 56.886’E
(E) 22º 19.368’N / 113º 56.933’E
(F) 22º 19.443’N / 113º 57.142’E
(G) 22º 19.352’N / 113º 57.475’E
(H) 22º 19.574’N / 113º 57.545’E
(I) 22º 19.468’N / 113º 57.932’E
(J) 22º 18.677’N / 113º 57.682’E
(K) 22º 18.542’N / 113º 57.536’E
(L) 22º 18.549’N / 113º 57.239’E
(M) 22º 18.708’N / 113º 56.876’E
(N) 22º 18.639’N / 113º 56.663’E
(O) 22º 18.677’N / 113º 56.419’E
Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the boundary of the works area at co-ordinates (A) to (O).
Silt curtains, extending from the sea surface to the seabed, will be established around the boundary of the works area. The silt curtain is a large piece of netting used to contain mud and sediments. Yellow markers fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the extent of the silt curtains.
The works will be carried out from a flotilla of vessels including barges, dumb steel lighters, grab dredgers, tugs, sand barges and construction vessels at various stages. The number of vessels engaged in the works will change from time to time to suit operational requirements.
A working area of approximately 50 metres will be established around each working vessel. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the working vessels.
The hours of works will be round-the-clock. The vessels employed for the works will stay in the works area outside the hours of works.
Vessels engaged in the operations will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.
A 160-metre wide specified channel is established between the Hong Kong International Airport and the works area. It allows vessels with valid permits approaching to and from the Sky Pier basin to trespass upon the southeast corner of the Airport Approach Area No.3. The specified channel is marked by lateral light buoys and their particulars are as follows:
Name : BCF 1 Position (WGS 84 Datum) : (P) 22º 19.614’N / 113º 56.929’E Shape : Pillar Colour : Green Light Characteristics : Fl G. 6s Top Mark : Single Green Cone Radar Reflector : Fitted
Name : BCF 3 Position (WGS 84 Datum) : (Q) 22º 19.357’N / 113º 56.832’E Shape : Pillar Colour : Green Light Characteristics : Fl(2) G. 10s Top Mark : Single Green Cone Radar Reflector : Fitted
Name : BCF 5 Position (WGS 84 Datum) : (R) 22º 19.187’N / 113º 56.773’E Shape : Pillar Colour : Green Light Characteristics : Fl G. 2s Top Mark : Single Green Cone Radar Reflector : Fitted
Name : BCF 2 Position (WGS 84 Datum) : (S) 22º 19.482’N / 113º 56.977’E Shape : Pillar Colour : Red Light Characteristics : Fl R. 6s Top Mark : Single Red Can Radar Reflector : Fitted
Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution.
(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.31 of 2012
