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HOT Port news from GAC

by admin

Your daily news service from ports around the world.

In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:

  • Angola, Soyo – Dredging operations
  • Angola, all ports – Public holidays for elections
  • United States, Lake Charles, Louisiana – Port Condition Whiskey set
  • United States, New Orleans, Louisiana – Port condition as Tropical Storm Isaac approaches
  • United States, all ports – Tropical Storm Isaac update (28 August 2012)
  • Venezuela, Amuay Bay – Fire at refinery: update 28 August 2012
  • Mexico, Coatzacoalcos – Port closure postponed
  • Bunker Update – GAC MARKET PRICE UPDATE 28/08/12

DATE: August 28, 2012 COUNTRY: Angola PORT: Soyo Dredging operations 

From 27 August to 2 September, dredging operations are being carried out in Soyo, as follows:

THSD Volvox Olympia: Dredging Entrance of the Channel.

Crane Barge Johanna I: Operations in front of 1A-1W area.

SMIT barge 10 & 14: Anchoring in front of 1A-1W area.

Shoalbuster ITC Mistral: Maintenance Environmental Buoys.

Survey Boat Myna: Survey the shipping channel and the Congo river.

Survey vessel Myna, Shoalbuster ITC Mistral and Crew/Survey vessel JON 622 working and assisting Angola LNG activities in the working area, not affecting any shipping traffic.

For information about operations in Angola contact GAC Angola at angola@gac.com

DATE: August 28, 2012 COUNTRY: Angola PORT: all ports Public holidays for elections

This Thursday and Friday (30 & 31 August) will be a public holiday in Angola due to upcoming elections.

For information about operations in Angola contact GAC Angola at angola@gac.com

DATE: August 28, 2012 COUNTRY: United States PORT: Lake Charles, Louisiana Port Condition Whiskey set

Isaac is expected to become a hurricane this morning and expected to make landfall on the Louisiana coast this evening or tomorrow morning.

The Captain of the Port [COTP] has set port condition Whiskey for Lake Charles.

Sea conditions are expected to deteriorate and may interfere with pilot operations in the effected areas.

Hurricane warning: Morgan City, LA to Alabama-Florida border  incl. New Orleans area.

Hurricane watch: Intracoastal city to Morgan city, LA.

Tropical storm: warning Alabama-Florida border to the Aucilla River. Morgan City, LA. To Cameron.

Tropical storm: watch Highland, TX  to Cameron, LA.

Port status: Brownsville: Normal Corpus Christi: Normal Point Comfort: Normal Freeport: Normal Galveston: Normal Texas City: Normal Houston: Normal Port Arthur: Normal Beaumont: Normal Lake Charles: Whiskey

Coast Guard Recommended Actions for Commercial, Oceangoing Vessels and Barges Over 200 GT

CONDITION WHISKEY (Alert – 72 Hrs) Make all preparations to get underway. Set navigation and radio watch. “Dead” ships, vessels, or barges unable to put to sea must contact Coast Guard. Information should be submitted prior to setting Condition X-Ray.

CONDITION X-Ray (Readiness – 48 Hrs) All vessels should prepare to complete cargo operations and depart port within 24 hours, or when Condition Yankee is set. Vessels and barges unable to depart must contact Coast Guard before setting Condition Yankee.

CONDITION YANKEE (Warning – 24 Hrs) Port is closed to incoming traffic without specific written approval of COTP.  All cargo operations should be secured.  All vessels are encouraged to put to sea.

CONDITION ZULU (Danger – 12 Hrs) Port is closed. No terminal, facility, or vessel operations are permitted.

(For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com)

Source: West Gulf Maritime Association Tropical Storm Isaac Update 1 issued at 07.29 on 28 August 2012

DATE: August 28, 2012 COUNTRY: United States PORT: New Orleans, Louisiana Port condition as Tropical Storm Isaac approaches

Port Condition Zulu – Set at 1300 on 26 August 2012. Gale force winds are predicted at Southwest Pass in 12 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 – Ceased operations at 9:00 am Monday, August 27, 2012 * NOBRA Pilots – Ceased operations at 9:00 am Monday, August 27, 2012 * Federal Pilots – Ceased operations at 6:00 am Monday, August 27, 2012

USCG Navigation Restrictions: No vessel 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. The COTP will no longer allow vessels to anchor in the South West Pass Anchorage until tropical storm force winds associated with Tropical Storm Isaac have abated.  Vessels anchoring in this area will be ordered out of the anchorage by the COTP.

The COTP New Orleans has established a modified Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) within the Harvey and Algiers Canals. This RNA is identified from the Lapalco Bridge south, to the confluence of the Harvey and Algiers Canal, and the Algiers Lock West to the confluence of the Algiers and Harvey Canals.

All vessels that have approved waivers shall moor their vessels in accordance with those approved plans. All vessels not having approved waivers should determine if they can safely evacuate the RNA and make immediate preparations to do so. All vessels departing the RNA and transiting west along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW), cannot shelter East of MM 13 West of Harvey Locks. At this time no vessels are allowed to seek shelter within the designated RNA.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is primarily locking vessels one way east into the Mississippi River. Vessels who desire to transit through the RNA enroute to a safe destination outside the RNA, shall coordinate those lock requests directly with the USACE.

The Coast Guard will identify any vessels that propose a significant risk and issue individual COTP orders for immediate evacuations.

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)

Source: Louisiana Maritime Association Tropical Storm Isaac Morning Report issued 28 August 2012

DATE: August 28, 2012 COUNTRY: United States PORT: all ports Tropical Storm Isaac update (28 August 2012) 

A hurricane warning is in effect for east of Morgan City Louisiana to the Alabama-Florida border including Metropolitan New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas.

A hurricane watch is in effect for Intracoastal City to Morgan City Louisiana.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Alabama-Florida border to the Aucilla River and Morgan City to Cameron Louisiana

A tropical storm watch is in effect for east of High Island Texas to just west of Cameron Louisiana….

….At 700am CDT (1200 UTC) the center of Tropical Storm Isaac was located near latitude 27.8 north, longitude 88.2 west. Isaac is moving toward the northwest near 7mph (11 km/h) and this general motion is expected to continue for the next day or two with some fluctuations in forward speed. On the forecast track, the center will be near or over the Louisiana coast tonight or early wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 70mph (110 km/h) with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast and Isaac is likely to become a hurricane later today. Additional strengthening is forecast until the center moves inland.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles (335 km) 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 and Mississippi: 6-12 ft * Alabama: 4-8 ft * south-central Louisiana: 3-6 ft * Florida Panhandle: 3-6 ft * Florida west coast including Apalachee Bay: 1-3 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds. 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 expected to reach the northern Gulf coast in the hurricane warning area this morning with hurricane conditions expected by this afternoon.

Tropical storm conditions are expected to spread northward into the Florida Big Bend area and the Florida Panhandle in the tropical storm warning area this morning.

Tropical storm conditions are expected within the tropical storm warning area in Louisiana by tonight. Tropical storm conditions are possible on the coast of southwestern Louisiana and the upper Texas coast by tonight or early Wednesday.

Isaac is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 7-14 inches with possible isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches in southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama and the extreme western Florida Panhandle. These rains could result in significant lowland flooding.

Tornadoes may occur along the northern Gulf Coast today.

Dangerous surf and rip current conditions will continue to affect the Florida coastline and portions of the northern Gulf Coast for the next day or so.

(For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com)

Source: National Hurricane Center, Miami Fl, Tropical Storm Isaac Intermediate Advisory No.29a issued at 700am CDT on 28 August 2012

DATE: August 28, 2012 COUNTRY: Venezuela PORT: Amuay Bay Fire at refinery: update 28 August 2012

The fire at two tanks at the PDVSA Amuay Bay Refinery have been extinguished and the third is expected to be extinguished today (28 August).

According to the latest statement from the President of PDVSA indicates that refinery operations could resume by the end of this week.

For information about operations in Venezuela contact GAC-Vensport at gac-vensport.venezuela@gac.com

DATE: August 28, 2012 COUNTRY: Mexico PORT: Coatzacoalcos Port closure postponed

The planned port closure of Coatzacoalcos and Pajaritos scheduled from today (28 August) until Saturday 1  September has been postponed until 12-16 September.

Tunnel constructors advise that the first stage is postponed due technical issues until 12-15 September. The ports will therefore be closed from 0600 on 12 September until 0600 on 16 September.

For information about operations in Mexico contact GAC-Tomas Ruiz at gac-tomasruiz.mexico@gac.com

DATE: August 28, 2012 Bunker Update: GAC MARKET PRICE UPDATE 28/08/12

GAC Bunker Fuels Ltd Pricing Alert  GAC MARKET PRICE UPDATE 28/08/12

180 CST   380 CST   MGO       MDO

Aden                   745.00    0         1, 225.00  0

Alexandria             727.00    710.00    1, 170.00  0

Aqaba                  0         810.00    1, 120.00  0

Bahrain                0         0         1, 115.00  0

Busan                  703.00    690.00    1, 017.00  1, 007.00

Cape Town              717.00    0         1, 046.00  0

Colombo                760.00    740.00    1, 045.00  0

Dubai                  720.00    700.00    960.00    0

Durban                 710.00    0         0         1, 120.00

Falmouth               792.50    765.50    1, 029.50  0

Fujairah               705.00    688.00    1, 040.00  0

Gibraltar              765.50    730.50    1, 018.50  0

Hong Kong              711.00    703.00    1, 019.00  1, 016.00

Houston                755.00    655.00    1, 045.00  0

Istanbul               710.50    683.50    1, 033.50  0

Jeddah                 710.00    695.00    1, 100.00  0

Kaohsiung              732.00    720.00    1, 045.00  1, 030.00

Kuwait                 708.00    690.00    1, 040.00  0

Malta                  781.50    753.50    1, 006.50  0

Mumbai                 713.00    698.50    1, 130.00  0

New York & New Jersey  706.00    676.00    1, 020.00  0

Panama                 700.00    670.00    1, 050.00  0

Port Said              712.00    704.00    1, 070.00  0

Qatar                  0         0         920.00    0

Rio de Janeiro         710.00    685.00    1, 035.00  0

Rotterdam              747.50    725.50    0         0

Salalah                755.00    715.00    1, 085.00  0

Shanghai               698.00    685.00    1, 074.00  0

Sharjah                720.00    700.00    960.00    0

Singapore              700.00    686.00    1, 032.00  1, 027.00

St Petersburg          559.50    549.50    0         0

Suez                   705.00    678.00    1, 070.00  0

 

Present in seven locations worldwide, GAC Bunker Fuels, part of the GAC group, is a global broker and trader of marine fuels and lubricants.

The prices listed are for indication purposes only, and local offices should be approached directly for firm prices.

Middle East & Africa: bunker.ae@gac.com Europe:bunker.gb@gac.com Egypt & Mediterranean: bunker.eg@gac.com Americas: bunker.us@gac.com Asia Pacific:          bunker.sg@gac.com Indian Subcontinent:   bunker.sl@gac.com

Contact Martyn McMahon on +971 566032534 or Martyn.mcmahon@gac.com quoting HPN for more information or with your bunker enquiry.

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