Your daily news service from ports around the world.
In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
- United States, New York, NewYork – Reduction of Brooklyn Bridge vertical & horizontal clearance
- United States, New Orleans, Louisiana – Recommended maximum draft increased
- Australia, all ports – Severe weather warning
- Australia, Abbot Point – Terminal operations suspended due to heavy rain
- Australia, Port Kembla – Revised operational guidelines
DATE: March 20, 2012 – COUNTRY: United States – PORT: New York, NewYork Reduction of Brooklyn Bridge vertical & horizontal clearance
The 6 foot vertical clearance reduction on the Brooklyn side of the bridge advertised in the Local Notice to Mariners remains in effect. Mariners are reminded that the vertical clearance under the Brooklyn Bridge is 110 feet when the moving platforms (travelers) are in use.
The previously reported 20 foot vertical clearance reduction on the Brooklyn side of the channel has been resolved.
The previously requested 25 yard safety radius directly below the scaffolding from the centerline of the bridge to the Brooklyn tower side is no longer in effect.
VTSNY will continually assess conditions and make further changes to navigation restrictions as necessary. Updates will be disseminated via safety broadcast, or publication online at http://homeport.uscg.mil/newyork > Waterways Management.
(For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com)
Source: U.S. Coast Guard New York Advisory Notice (CGAN 2012-019) dated 19 March 2012
DATE: March 20, 2012 – COUNTRY: United States – PORT: New Orleans, Louisiana Recommended maximum draft increased
After reviewing the surveys and channel conditions in the vicinity of Cubit’s Gap, the Crescent River Port Pilots have increased the recommended maximum draft in their operating territory to 45′, effective immediately.
For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com
DATE: March 20, 2012 -COUNTRY: Australia -PORT: all ports – Severe weather warning
Heavy rain and damaging winds are affecting operations in Queensland, including the Hay Point and Dalrymple Bay areas.
According to the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology Queensland Severe Weather Warning issued at 10.55 hours today (20 March), a monsoon trough has extended across north Queensland from the southern Gulf of Carpentaria to the North Tropical Coast and Tablelands district. A tropical low was situated approximately 80 km north-northeast of Julia Creek and moving in a south-southeasterly direction at 20 km per hour. The low is expected to continue moving in a south-southeasterly direction today.
Heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and worsening of the existing flood situation is expected across the Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders, North Tropical Coast and Tablelands, Herbert and Lower Burdekin, Central West, Central Highlands and Coalfields, Central Coast and Whitsundays, eastern parts of the Gulf Country, southern parts of the Peninsula and far eastern parts of the Northwest districts today.
Scattered 24 hour totals in excess of 200mm are likely. Damaging winds, with peak gusts of around 110 km/hr are possible within 250km of the low centre, mainly on the eastern and southern sides, and extending even further east towards the tropical and central Queensland coasts.
In the Hay Point region, the coal mining sector is also being affected, and is expected to continue to be affected at least until the end of week. Coal mines in the region are understood to be experiencing production issues due to the heavy rain, which will affect shipping at Hay Point/Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminals in the coming days or weeks. The transportation of coal by rail from the mine sites to port stockpiles is also expected to be affected.
For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
DATE: March 20, 2012 -COUNTRY: Australia – PORT: Abbot Point – Terminal operations suspended due to heavy rain
Due to very heavy rain, all operations at the Abbot Point terminal have been suspended until further notice.
The roads in and out of the terminal will be closed this afternoon (20 March) and staff have been evacuated from the terminal.
For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
DATE: March 20, 2012 – COUNTRY: Australia – PORT: Port Kembla – Revised operational guidelines –
Port Kembla Coal Terminal (PKCT) has announced the following amendments to their Operations Guidelines to assist vessels to speed up turn-around and avoid delays:
16. STOWAGE 16.3 The Maximum Allowable Hatch passes is one full hatch pour (single pour) followed by two pours per remaining hatches in addition to two final trim passes. Trim passes will not load less than 100 tonnes per hold.
16.4 The Shipper will engage a Marine Surveyor to review the stowage plan to ensure the optimised ‘Cargo Stowage Plan’ is developed.
20.1 Vessel Loading Performance (VLR): To support VLR, the following additional guidelines are recommended:
- a) The Shipper, at their cost, will engage a Marine Surveyor to attend the loading of each vessel and to provide assistance to the Master from the commencement of the loading pass immediately prior to the interim draft survey through to the completion of the loading of the vessel.
- b) The interim draft survey should be less than 20 minutes
For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
