Your daily news service from ports around the world.
In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
- Worldwide – World Holidays: 12-25 August 2012
- United States, Delaware Bay, Delaware – US ports low sulphur requirement
- Panama, Panama Canal – Government approves canal tolls increase
DATE: August 11, 2012 COUNTRY: Worldwide World Holidays: 12-25 August 2012
Public holidays around the world in the coming two weeks include the following: Wed 15 Aug – Assumption Day/Feast of the Virgin Fri 17 Aug – Indonesian Independence Day Sat 18, Sun 19 & Mon 20 Aug – Eid Al Fitr Fri 24 Aug – Ukraine Independence Day
For information about operations around the world, contact the respective GAC office. Details are available in the “Contact” section of www.gac.com
DATE: August 11, 2012 – COUNTRY: United States – PORT: Delaware Bay, Delaware – US ports low sulphur requirement
1 August 2012 started a new regulation for vessels of 400gt or more in regards to the 1% low sulphur fuel. All vessels transiting in the Sector Delaware Bay AOR will now need to have this fuel on board to transit in the area.
If the vessels have for some reason not been able to get this fuel on board they will need to organize specific information and submit it to the EPA & Coast Guard, and also notify the flag administration. The information needs to be filed no less than 96 hours prior to arrival.
The specific information is below after the EPA email address. The Port State email address will be for the Coast Guard notification. If you have any questions please contact Coast Guard at 215-271-4887.
EPA Email Address: marine-eca@epa.gov
* The vessel’s name, flag, and IMO identification number or other relevant registration number;
* A copy (or description) of the ship’s voyage plan in place at the time of entry into the North American ECA, including the vessel’s port of origin and port of destination, and the name of the first U.S. port of arrival;
* When the vessel first received notice it would be conducting a voyage involving transit in the North American ECA, and the vessel’s location when it first received such notice;
* The date and time the ship operator expects to enter and exit the North American ECA, as well as the projected days on which the ship’s main propulsion engines will be in operation;
* The sulphur content of the fuel oil that will be used when entering and operating in the North American ECA;
* A description of the actions taken to attempt to achieve compliance prior to entering the North American ECA, including a description of all attempts that were made to locate alternative sources of compliant fuel oil, and a description of the reason why compliant fuel oil was not available (e.g., compliant fuel oil was not available at ports on “intended voyage”; fuel oil supply disruptions at port; etc. As mentioned above, the United States government does not consider the cost of compliant fuel oil to be a valid basis for claiming the non-availability of compliant fuel oil). Include names and addresses of the fuel oil suppliers contacted and the dates on which the contact was made;
* In cases of fuel oil supply disruption, the name of the port at which the vessel was scheduled to receive compliant fuel oil and the name of the fuel oil supplier that is now reporting the non-availability of compliant fuel oil;
* If applicable, identify and describe any operational constraints that prevented you from using available compliant fuel oil, for example with respect to viscosity or other fuel oil parameters. Specify steps you have taken, or are taking, to resolve these operational constraints that will allow you to use all commercially available residual fuel oil blends;
* The availability of compliant fuel oil at the first port of call in the United States, and your plans to obtain that fuel oil;
* If compliant fuel oil is not available at the first port of call in the United States, the lowest sulphur content of available fuel oil, or the lowest sulphur content of available fuel oil at the next port of call in the United States;
* If the vessel has operated in the North American ECA in the prior 12 months, provide the names of all U.S. ports visited, the dates of the port calls, and whether the vessel used compliant fuel oil;
* If the vessel or owner/operator has submitted a Fuel Oil Non-Availability Report to the United States government in the previous 12 months, identify the number of Fuel Oil Non-Availability Reports previously submitted, and provide details on the dates and ports previously visited while using non-compliant fuel oil;
and
* All relevant contact information, including the ship master, ship operator, legal agent in the United States, ship owner, and any related parent companies. Also include a designated corporate official who is authorized to answer additional questions relating to claims of fuel oil unavailability and his or her full contact information.
(For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com)
Source: Port State Control, US Coast Guard
DATE: August 11, 2012 – COUNTRY: Panama – PORT: Panama Canal – Government approves canal tolls increase
The Government of Panama has approved the proposal to restructure and apply selective increases in the Panama Canal pricing system, effective from 1 October 2012 to 1 October 2013.
The Panama Canal Authority will increase the tolls for the following segments: * general cargo * dry bulk * tanker * chemical tanker * LPG * vehicle carrier and ro-ro * others
There will also be changes to tolls applicable to small vessels, based on vessels’ length, to incorporate adjustments not previously considered. The remaining segments will not be adjusted at this time, nor will the price per TEU for containers carried onboard a vessel.
For further details and information about operations in the Panama Canal, contact GAC-Wilford & McKay at gac-wilfordmckay.panama@gac.com
