Your daily news service from ports around the world.
In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
- United States, Mississippi River, Louisiana – New deep draft recommendation
- Hong Kong, Hong Kong – Unloading of Precast Concrete Viaduct Segments
- Singapore, Singapore – Soil investigation off West Jurong Channel
- Ecuador, all ports – National Holiday
DATE: May 22, 2012 – COUNTRY: United States – PORT: Mississippi River, Louisiana – New deep draft recommendation
The Bar Pilots for the Port of New Orleans recommend that vessels should not have a deep draft in fresh water in excess of 46 feet when transiting the area of the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River from the Southwest Pass Sea Buoy (Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy “SW”) to Mile 1.5 above Head of Passes in the Mississippi River.
This draft recommendation, which may be increased or decreased at any time as conditions warrant, became effective at 1030 hours CST on May 21, 2012 and replaced the draft recommendation that was effected on 3 May.
For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com
DATE: May 22, 2012 – COUNTRY: Hong Kong – PORT: Hong Kong – Unloading of Precast Concrete Viaduct Segments
With immediate effect and for a period of approximately 18 months, unloading of precast concrete viaduct segments from a barge by shore cranes will be carried out from time to time [at Lee Nam Road Seafront, Ap Lei Chau] within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following coordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (D) and the adjacent shoreline:
- (A) 22º 14.310’N / 114º 09.120’E
- (B) 22º 14.291’N / 114º 09.092’E
- (C) 22º 14.241’N / 114º 09.131’E
- (D) 22º 14.261’N / 114º 09.159’E
The precast concrete viaduct segments will be used for the construction of railway viaduct in the area. Such viaduct segments will be delivered to the above mentioned works area by the barge, then unloaded onto the Lee Nam Road seafront for land transportation to the nearby South Island Line railway construction sites.
The hours of work will be from 0700 to 2300 hours daily.
Vessels engaged in the operations will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.
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.67 of 2012
DATE: May 22, 2012 – COUNTRY: Singapore – PORT: Singapore – Soil investigation off West Jurong Channel
investigation works are being carried out off West Jurong Channel from 21 May to 11 June 2012.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s Port Marine Notice No.69 of 2012, the works are being conducted between 0630 and 1830 hours daily – including Sundays & Public Holidays – at the following marine borehole co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum): MBH-11) 1° 16.522’N / 103° 39.446’E MBH-12) 1° 16.500’N / 103° 39.481’E MBH-13) 1° 16.487’N / 103° 39.521’E MBH-14) 1° 16.506’N / 103° 39.537’E MBH-15) 1° 16.850’N / 103° 39.031’E MBH-16) 1° 16.738’N / 103° 39.284’E
Soil investigation works will be carried out by means of borehole drilling using jack up barge “Gulbis”. The work barge, with tug boats in attendance, will have a circular safety working zone of 50 meters radius centered at the barge.
Tugboats will be used for shifting the barges from one borehole location to another. The shifting of the barges will be carried out during daylight hours only.
A safety boat will be deployed in the vicinity of the working area to warn other craft of the project work.
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 safety zone of the barges; (b) Maintain a proper lookout; (c) Proceed at a safe speed and navigate with caution; (d) Maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 22 (Jurong Control); and (e) Communicate with Jurong Control on VHF Channel 22 for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
DATE: May 22, 2012 – COUNTRY: Ecuador – PORT: all ports – National Holiday
Most public services in Ecuador will be closed on May 25, which is a National Holiday in Ecuador. Ports and terminals, however, will work normally.
Our office will be closed, but a skeleton staff will attend to port operations, and e-mails will be checked on a regular basis.
For further details or information about operations in Ecuador, contact GAC-Ultramar Ecuador at gac-ultramarnetwork.ecuador@gac.com
