Your daily* news service from ports around the world.
In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
- United States, New Orleans, Louisiana – Preparation for Tropical Storm Isaac
- United States, Mississippi River, Louisiana – VTS measures below Huey P. Long Bridge MM 106
- United States, all ports – Tropical Storm Isaac update (27 August 2012)
- United Arab Emirates, Mina Saqr – Bahrain Outward Immigration Clearance
- Hong Kong, Hong Kong – Installation of Silt Screen at Sai Ying Pun seawall frontage
- Venezuela, Amuay Bay – Situation under control at refinery following weekend explosion
DATE: August 27, 2012 – COUNTRY: United States – PORT: New Orleans, Louisiana – Preparation for Tropical Storm Isaac
The Louisiana Maritime Association has provided the following summary of New Orleans’ preparation for the approaching Tropical Storm Isaac follows:
Port Condition: Yankee – Set at 1300 on 26 August 2012. Gale force winds are predicted at Southwest Pass in 24 hours. Vessel traffic control measures in effect.
Pilot Operations Report: BAR Pilots – Ceased operations at 9:00 pm on Sunday, August 26, 2012. Crescent Pilots – Will cease operations at 9:00 am today, Monday, August 27, 2012 NOBRA Pilots – Will cease operations at 9:00 am today, Monday, August 27, 2012 Federal Pilots – Ceased operations at 6:00 am today, Monday, August 27, 2012
USCG Navigation Restrictions: The COTP has ordered the enforcement of the Hurricane Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) beginning at 8 p.m. local time Sunday, August 26, 2012 East of the Mississippi River on the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal and the Gulf Intra Coastal Waterway to mile marker 20 east of Harvey Lock. All vessels shall make immediate preparations to evacuate the RNA if you do not have an approved waiver.
The COTP has not yet directed the enforcement of the Hurricane RNA within the Harvey and Algiers canals. However, all vessels are encouraged to establish severe weather moorings as outlined within the Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Association (GNOFBA) Good Fleeting Standards. The COTP has ordered all vessels having approved waivers to moor in accordance with those waivers.
The COTP is establishing a safety zone from mile marker 71 above head of passes to South West Pass Entrance Buoy located at mile marker 22 below head of pass. All barge fleeting companies subject to the USCG/GNOBFA MOU are to implement measures to move barges up river of mile marker 71 in advance of projected storm landfall.
All vessels entering and departing the COTP Zone New Orleans are reminded to update their Notice of Arrival with any changes to their arrival or departure information. The COTP will make notifications as soon as waterway and bridge closures become apparent.
Those vessels 500 gross tons or more and ocean going barges with supporting tugs, located below the HPL Bridge which are remaining in port are required to complete the Remaining In Port Checklist (RIPC). Upon completion of the RIPC fax or e-mail the reporting tool (attached) to the Vessel Traffic Service at (504) 365-2519 or e-mail to: sccnola@uscg.mil
For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com
DATE: August 27, 2012 – COUNTRY: United States – PORT: Mississippi River, Louisiana – VTS measures below Huey P. Long Bridge MM 106
No vessels over 500 gross tons may transit south of the Huey P. Long Bridge whose intentions are to anchor or moor in a location south of the Huey P. Long Bridge without the permission of the Captain of the Port.
This Vessel Traffic Service measure does not apply to vessels whose intentions are to get underway and subsequently clear Southwest Pass ahead of Tropical Storm Isaac.
For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com Source: U S. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Marine Safety Information Bulletin Volume XII, Issue 95 dated 26 August 2012
DATE: August 27, 2012 – COUNTRY: United States – PORT: all ports -Tropical Storm Isaac update (27 August 2012)
A tropical storm warning has been issued from Intracoastal City to Morgan City, Louisiana. A hurricane watch has been issued from Intracoastal City to Morgan City, Louisiana. A tropical storm watch has been issued from east of Sabine Pass to west of Intracoastal City, louisiana.
The hurricane watch for the Florida Panhandle from east of Destin to Indian Pass has been discontinued. The tropical storm warning has been discontinued along the east coast of Florida north of Ocean Reef and for Lake Okeechobee…
…At 500am EDT (0900 UTC) the center of Tropical Storm Isaac was located by an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft near latitude 25.2 north, longitude 84.2 west. Isaac is moving toward the west-northwest near 14mph (22 km/h) and this general motion is expected to continue today with a gradual decrease in forward speed. A turn toward the northwest is expected on Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Isaac will move over the eastern Gulf of Mexico today and approach the northern Gulf Coast in the hurricane warning area on Tuesday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 65mph (100 km/h) with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours and Isaac is expected to become a hurricane in a day or so.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 240 miles (390km) from the center…
…The combination of a storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters. The water could reach the following depths above ground if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide: * southeast Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama – 6 to 12 ft * south-central Louisiana – 3 to 6 ft * Florida Panhandle – 3 to 6 ft * Florida west coast including Apalachee Bay – 1 to 3 ft * southeast Florida coast and the Florida Keys – 1 to 2 ft
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore flow. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle and can vary greatly over short distances… …Near the Coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves…
…Tropical storm conditions are occurring over the Florida Keys and should spread northward along the Florida west coast in the tropical storm warning area today.
Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach the northern Gulf Coast in the hurricane warning area later today with hurricane conditions expected on Tuesday…
…Isaac is expected to produce additional rain accumulations of 1-3 inches over central and southern Florida, where isolated maximum storm total amounts of 15 inches are possible. Total rainfall amounts of 6-12 inches, with maximum amounts of 18 inches, are possible in southeastern Louisiana, southern Alabama, Mississippi and the western Florida Panhandle…
…Isolated tornadoes are possible from central Florida through the northeastern Gulf Coast today and tonight. The tornado threat will diminish over south Florida and the Florida Keys this morning…
…Dangerous surf and rip current conditions will continue to affect the northwestern Bahamas, the Florida Peninsula and the Florida Keys during the next day or so, and begin to affect portions of the northern Gulf Coast today…
(For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com)
Source: Extracts from National Hurricane Center, Miami Fl, Tropical Storm Isaac Advisory No.25 issued at 500am EDT on 27 August 2012
DATE: August 27, 2012 – COUNTRY: United Arab Emirates – PORT: Mina Saqr Bahrain – Outward Immigration Clearance
Bahrain Outward Immigration Clearance (BOIC) is mandatory for all vessels calling at Saqr Port from Bahrain.
Recently, there have some cases where vessels have been hindered in their calls due to non-availability of BOIC.
As per Saqr Port regulations, if immigration clearance is not completed upon vessel berthing, then the Port Authority will not permit the cargo operation and the vessel will be shifted back to anchorage until the issue is resolved, with additional expenses for marine dues.
For information about operations in Saqr contact GAC Ras Al Khaimah at rasalkhaimah@gac.com
DATE: August 27, 2012 – COUNTRY: Hong Kong – PORT: Hong Kong – Installation of Silt Screen at Sai Ying Pun seawall frontage
From 1 September 2012 and for approximately three months, a silt screen will be installed [at Seawall Frontage in Sai Ying Pun] within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WSG 84 Datum) and the adjacent shoreline: (A) 22 deg. 17.440’N / 114 deg. 08.437’E (B) 22 deg. 17.445’N / 114 deg. 08.438’E (C) 22 deg. 17.445’N / 114 deg. 08.446’E (D) 22 deg. 17.440’N / 114 deg. 08.446’E
The silt screen will extend vertically from the sea surface to the seabed. Yellow marker buoys with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the extents of the silt screen.
One motor boat will be occasionally deployed to carry out maintenance works of the silt screen within the hours from 0800 to 1800. Vessel engaged in the works 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.122 of 2012 dated 22 August 2012
DATE: August 27, 2012 – COUNTRY: Venezuela – PORT: Amuay Bay – Situation under control at refinery following weekend explosion
The situation at the PDVSA Amuay Bay Refinery, where there was a explosion on Saturday (25 August), is reported to be improving and under control.
The loading master has advised that although the fire is not yet completely out, it is on the way to being extinguished. Meanwhile, vessels are berthed and loading to continue operations to serve the local market. Bunker deliveries by supply vessel are being conducted in the anchorage area as usual.
PDVSA expects full operations at the refinery to return to normal in the next 48 hours.
For information about operations in Venezuela contact GAC-Vensport at gac-vensport.venezuela@gac.com
* late arrival on 27 August 2012
