HOT Port news from GAC

Your daily* news service from ports around the world.

In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:

• * Angola, Soyo – Extension of  tempory change to Pululu Channel buoyage system
• * India, all ports – Anchoring of vessels in Gulf of Kutch
• * Australia, Mackay – Mackay pilotage area – amended port navigation depths

DATE: August 05, 2012 – COUNTRY: Angola – PORT: Soyo – Extension of  tempory change to Pululu Channel buoyage system

Kwanda Port has advised that the temporary change to the buoyage system in the Pululu System at the Port of Soyo has been extended by two days (from four to six days starting from 30 July 2012).

Two buoys have been moved to facilitate Pululu channel dredging work:

Movement 1 Buoy KB1 repositioned (turning basin). New position in long. and lat.: 12º 19’21.6″E, 6º 06’42.0″S. The distance to the new position will be 117m.

Movement 2 Buoy 9 repositioned (turning basin). New position in long. and lat.: 12º 19’36″E, 6º 06’24″S. The distance to the new position will be 308m.

For information about operations in Angola contact GAC Angola at angola@gac.com Source: Kwanda Port Safety Notice No. 09/12 dated 3 August 2012

DATE: August 05, 2012 – COUNTRY: India – PORT: all ports – Anchoring of vessels in Gulf of Kutch

In recent past, some of the vessels visiting ports in Gulf of Kutch were observed to be anchored outside port limits but within the Gulf of Kutch. These vessels were anchored in Gulf of Kutch awaiting instructions for next port of call from the charterer. On investigation by Coast Guard units, it was highlighted by these vessels that they had intimated VTS or taken their clearance while anchoring in Gulf of Kutch.

It is clarified that the Gulf of Kutch forms internal waters and anchoring therein, outside the port limits, is only permitted for purpose of ordinary navigation or as rendered necessary by force majeure or distress or for the purpose of rendering assistance to persons or ships in distress.

It is therefore requested that no clearance be given to any vessel to anchor or drift in the Gulf of Kutch outside the respective port unless in accordance with UNCLOS as clarified in paragraph 2 above. The vessels requesting permission to anchor whilst awaiting instructions for next port of call be instructed to anchor west of straight base line joining coordinates 23 deg. 11’03” North, 068 deg. 36’33” East (near Bari Bari) and 22 deg. 18’36” North, 068 deg. 55’58″East (near Kachchigarh).

It is further requested that any vessel found anchored or adrift in Gulf of Kutch without VTS permission be also intimated to Coast Guard.

(For information about operations in India contact GAC India at india@gac.com)

Source: Ni.1 Indian Coast Guard Dist (Gujarat) notice dated 2 August 2012

DATE: August 05, 2012 – COUNTRY: Australia – PORT: Mackay – Mackay pilotage area – amended port navigation depths

The design and actual port navigation depths below port datum (Lowest Astronomical Tide) at Mackay pilotage area have been amended from 3 August 2012 as follows:

Entrance Channel – Design depth: 8.5m – Actual depth: 8.2m

Swing Basin – Design depth: 8.5m – Actual depth: 8.5m

Berth No.1 – Design depth: 10.6m – Actual depth:  9.7m

Berth No.3 – Design depth: 13.0m – Actual depth: 12.7m

Berth 3 & 4 Composite – Actual depth: 12.4m

Berth No.4 – Design depth: 10.6m – Actual depth: 10.5m

Berth No.5 – Design depth: 12.5m – Actual depth: 12.2m

CAUTION: Lesser depths may occur in berth pockets but are not considered to have an impact on shipping.

Dredging of the channel and berth pockets is expected to commence tomorrow (6 August). The dredging will not effect shipping movements.

The Port Authority and Harbour Master’s office will not be able to issue max berthing drafts for POB times until early next week once information has been placed in the computer system.

It is understood that the revised channel and berth depths will be issued in 4-6 weeks once dredging has been completed and Hydro surveyed.

The UKC alongside still remains 0.60m at all times. Therefore the berth depth is currently 9.70m LAT minus UKC 0.60m

For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com

* although the report is dated 05 Augist 2012, due to ISP problem it arrived overnight at 03:45 hrs of the 06 Aug 2012.