Your daily news service from ports around the world.
In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
- Worldwide – Decrease in pirate activity
- Norway, all ports – Strike ends
- Singapore, Singapore – Construction of sea water intake structure off Tuas View
- Hong Kong, Hong Kong – Caution urged when navigating near Adamasta Rock
- Australia, Port Kembla – Port tariff increase at Port Kembla
- Chile, Antofagasta – Updated port rates 2012-2013 in effect
- Bunker Update – 06/06/12
DATE: June 06, 2012 – COUNTRY: Worldwide – Decrease in pirate activity
Global pirate activity dropped to 25 attacks over the course of May. In particular, piracy decreased off the coast of Somalia.
AKE expects incidents to be less frequent over the coming months. Weather conditions will be poor in the Indian Ocean and southern Arabia Sea amid the southern monsoon season. This is likely to last until September.
However, there will be a heightened risk of attacks around maritime chokepoints and more sheltered waters in the region. AKE therefore warns vessel operators to exercise particular caution around the southern Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Straits, southern Gulf of Aden and northern Arabian Sea.
Swarm attacks will also remain a possibility in these locations. Attacks increased in the northern Gulf of Oman last month, where swarm tactics were reported for the first time.
This type of incident involves large numbers of pirate skiffs attacking a single vessel at the same time. Such attacks can involve 8-10 or even more pirate vessels. While no vessels have been successfully hijacked as a result of these tactics to date, they tend to involve regular use of firearms by the assailants, raising the risk of harm to crewmembers caught up in the assault.
No vessels held by Somali pirates were released for ransom over the course of May. At least 269 crewmembers are currently being held hostage in the region. Many face detention periods of over 300 days, at a current average of 160 days. Current ransom amounts tend to be settled at approximately US$5 million.
(For information about operations around the world contact the respective GAC office. For details, go to the Contact section of www.gac.com)
Source: AKE Group (www.akegroup.com) news release dated 6 June 2012
DATE: June 06, 2012 – COUNTRY: Norway – PORT: all ports Strike ends
The public strike/industrial action in Norway is over and all ship traffic is now running as normal.
For information about operations in Norway contact GAC NOrway at norway@gac.com
DATE: June 06, 2012 – COUNTRY: Singapore -PORT: Singapore – Construction of sea water intake structure off Tuas View
The working period has been extended and the working details revised for the construction of a sea water intake structure off Tuas View.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.76 of 2012, the works are being conducted 24 hours daily – including Sundays & Public Holidays – until 4 December within the working area bounded by the following coordinates (WGS 84 Datum): A) 01° 18.000’N / 103° 37.190’E B) 01° 18.040’N / 103° 37.100’E C) 01° 18.290’N / 103° 37.190’E D) 01° 18.260’N / 103° 37.290’E
The construction of the sea water intake structure will entail the construction of a temporary cofferdam, installation of pipelines, the removal of existing revetment and the reinstatement works on the revetment.
Dredging work will be carried out within the working area.
A safety boat will be deployed in the vicinity of the working area to warn other craft 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 area, mariners are reminded to:
- (a) Keep well clear and not to enter the working area;
- (b) Maintain a proper lookout;
- (c) Proceed at a safe speed & navigate with caution;
- (d) Maintain a listening watch on VHF channel 22 (Jurong Control); and
- (e) Communicate with Jurong Control on VHF 22 for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
DATE: June 06, 2012 – COUNTRY: Hong Kong – PORT: Hong Kong – Caution urged when navigating near Adamasta Rock
A Chinese registered river trade cargo vessel ran aground at the Adamasta Rock while proceeding in the North Cheung Chau Traffic Separation Scheme and sustained serious hull damage.
The investigation into the accident reveals that the main factors contributing to the accident were the navigating officer: – did not carry out proper voyage planning for the safe passage of the vessel; – did not request for additional watch-keeping ratings to assist in the look-out duty while the vessel was sailing in the Traffic Separation Scheme; – had relied solely on an unreliable Electronic Charting System on board for monitoring of ship’s position during sailing; and – was distracted by reporting ship’s positions to the Marine Department and making logbook entries prior to the accident.
To avoid recurrence of similar accidents, masters and officers of all vessels are reminded to take following precautionary measures:
- to carry out proper voyage planning for the safe passage of a vessel before sailing, and to ensure proper charts, nautical publications and all available information are used, and paying particular precaution while transiting the area;
- to provide additional watch-keeping ratings to assist in look-out duty having regard to the prevailing circumstances; and
- to instruct all navigating officers to make proper use of paper and electronic charts, GPS and radars for monitoring the ship’s position.
(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.74 of 2012
DATE: June 06, 2012 – COUNTRY: Australia – PORT: Port Kembla – Port tariff increase at Port Kembla
Port Kembla Port Corporate (PKPC) will increase its port charges by 5%, with effect from 1 July 2012.
Costs being increased will be for all services, e.g. pilotage, tonnage (Navigation Services), site occupancy (berth hire), berth utilization and cargo wharfage.
The new tonnage (navigation services) & pilotage costs are as follows:-
Tonnage (Navigation Service) charge for vessel operations at Coal & BlueScope Steel Berths is $0.7261 per GT.
Tonnage (Navigation Service) charge for all other berths is $0.4367 per GT for vessels up to 50, 000 GT and over 50, 000 GT is $21, 835 plus $1.0502/GT in excess of 50, 000mt.
Pilotage charge for one movement as follows:- – 0 to 25, 000 : @ $0.0966 – 25, 001 to 50, 000: @ $2, 415.00 plus $0.03238 in excess of 25, 000 GT – 50, 001 to 78, 000: @ $3, 260.00 plus $0.0075 in excess of 50, 000 GT – >78, 000 : @ 3, 470.60 (maximum charge)
For further details and information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
DATE: June 06, 2012 – COUNTRY: Chile – PORT: Antofagasta Updated port rates 2012-2013 in effect
The following updated port rates for 2012-2013 at Antofagasta Terminal (EPA), are effective from 1 June 2012 to 31 May 2013:
– Port Standard TUP (Port Utilization Fee): USD 0.35 x GRT – Special TUP (Port Utilization Fee) : USD 0.10 x GRT
– Vessel Wharfage : USD 1.80 x LOA x hour – Dry Bulk Cargo Wharfage : USD 3.40 x MT – General Cargo Wharfage : USD 3.40 x MT – Bolivian FIO Cargo Wharfage: USD 0.85 x MT
For further details and information about operations in Chile contact GAC Ultramar Network at gac-ultramarnetwork.chile@gac.com
DATE: June 06, 2012 – Bunker Update: 06/06/12
Middle East
- Qatar IFO380: 0 IFO180: 0 MDO: 0 MGO: 915
- Salalah IFO380: 645 IFO180: 685 MDO: 0 MGO: 1190
Indian Subcontinent
- Mumbai IFO380: 604.5 IFO180: 622.5 MDO: 0 MGO: 1001.5
Egypt & Mediterranean
- Istanbul IFO380: 649.5 IFO180: 670.5 MDO: 0 MGO: 948.5
- Malta LS IFO380: 699.5 IFO180: 731.5 MDO: 0 MGO: 0
Europe & Africa
- Durban IFO380: 0 IFO180: 685.5 MDO: 1104.5 MGO: 0
Americas
- Rio de Janeiro IFO380: 639.5 IFO180: 663 MDO: 0 MGO: 935
Asia Pacific
- Busan IFO380: 670 IFO180: 680 MDO: 1030 MGO: 980
- Hong Kong IFO380: 600.5 IFO180: 614.5 MDO: 1034 MGO: 858.5
- Kaohsiung IFO380: 682 IFO180: 697 MDO: 1040 MGO: 953
- Shanghai IFO380: 606.5 IFO180: 622.5 MDO: 0 MGO: 1031
- Singapore IFO380: 585.5 IFO180: 601.5 MDO: 1020 MGO: 884.5
For any questions relating to the above or any otherbunkering matters, contact GAC Bunker Fuels on Tel +44-20-8749 7355 (24 hours) or by e-mail: bunker.gb@gac.com bunker.ae@gac.com bunker.sa@gac.com bunker.sg@gac.com bunker.eg@gac.com
