Your daily news service from ports around the world.
In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
- Norway, all ports – Pilot transportation strike warning
- Philippines, all ports – Tropical Storm “Dindo”
- Australia, Gladstone – SMIT Towage industrial action update (27 June 2012)
- Australia, Port Kembla – Coal Terminal three-day maintenance shutdown
DATE: June 27, 2012 – COUNTRY: Norway – PORT: all ports – Pilot transportation strike warning
Five technicians in Lufttransport AS, which is related to pilot transport, Marine and Teekay contracts, will be on strike from 00:01 hrs local time tomorrow (Thursday 28 June) unless an agreement is reached through negotiations.
However, personnel will still be available to perform some of the needs, especially operations that do not require technician for hoist operation (i.e landing).
Operations involving hoisting (mainly pilot operations) will be affected.
For information about operations in Norway contact GAC Norway at norway@gac.com
DATE: June 27, 2012 – COUNTRY: Philippines – PORT: all ports – Tropical Storm “Dindo”
At 4:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Storm “DINDO” was estimated based on satellite and surface data at 480 km east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes (15.1°N, 129.0°E) with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. It is forecast to move west northwest at 19 kph. Southwest monsoon affecting Visayas and Mindanao.
Forecast: Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience occasional rains becoming frequent over the western sections which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of the country will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.
Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest to south will prevail over Northern and Central Luzon, southwest to west over Southern Luzon and coming from the southwest over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough.
(For information about operations in The Philippines contact GAC Philippines at philippines@gac.com) Source: PAGASA Weather Forecast issued at 5.00am on 27 June 2012, valid from 5.00am 27 June to 5.00am 28 JUne
DATE: June 27, 2012 – COUNTRY: Australia – PORT: Gladstone – SMIT Towage industrial action update (27 June 2012)
Unions representing SMIT Marine Australia staff supplying towage services at the Port of Gladstone have issued a notification of intention to take industrial action from 1900 hours local time on Friday (29 June).
The threatened action by the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers (AIMPE) and the Australian Maritime Officers’ Union (AMOU) and the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) involves rolling 24 hour stoppages, from 1900 hours on 29 June through to 1900 hours on 6 July.
The proposed stoppages do not extend to any circumstance where the safety of port, vessel crew and marine environment may be in jeopardy.
At this stage, SMIT is advising that the industrial action is likely to result in it being unable to operate during the period between 29 June and 6 July.
SMIT is continuing to work towards an agreement with the various unions, however at this stage they are reporting that “the parties remain a long way from agreement on the issue of salary and benefits increase”.
For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
DATE: June 27, 2012 – COUNTRY: Australia – PORT: Port Kembla – Coal Terminal three-day maintenance shutdown
Port Kembla Coal Terminal has programmed a three-day maintenance shutdown from 0700 on 2 July until 1900 on 4 July.
During the shut-down, both the ship loaders and reclaimers will be services, thus there will be no ship loading operations during this period.
For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
