Your daily news service from ports around the world.
In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
- Togo, all ports – Tanker hijacked off coast of Togo
- United States, all ports – Hurricane Isaac update (29 August)
- Indonesia, all ports – Indonesia ratifies IMO instruments
- Chile, Antofagasta – Stevedores’ strike to close terminal
DATE: August 29, 2012 – COUNTRY: Togo – PORT: all ports – Tanker hijacked off coast of Togo
A maritime security alert has been issued after pirates hijacked a Greek-owned and Isle of Man flagged oil tanker off the coast of Togo on 28 August.
A Togolese patrol boat exchanged gunfire with the hostage-takers before they escaped with the vessel, which had 24 crew members on board. It is unclear if any casualties were incurred during the stand-off.
Most hijackings in the region involve a detention period of between 4-8 days. Pirates are more likely to steal cargo and crew belongings before abandoning a vessel rather than negotiating the payment of a ransom for its release.
Vessel operators are advised to continue exercising caution in the area, particularly onboard vessels at anchor. Organisations should also note that many attacks go unreported in the Gulf of Guinea and official statistics do not necessarily reflect the realities of the maritime security environment in the region.
(For information about operations in Togo contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at hub.ae@gac.com
For more about protective solutions, contact GAC Protective Solutions, Powered by AKE at ake@gac.com)
Source: GAC Protective Solutions / AKE Ltd Maritime Security Alert dated 28 August 2012
DATE: August 29, 2012 – COUNTRY: United States – PORT: all ports – Hurricane Isaac update (29 August)
A hurricane warning is in effect for east of Morgan City Louisiana to the Mississippi-Alabama 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 Mississippi-Alabama border to Destin Florida, Morgan City to Sabine Pass Texas. A tropical storm watch is in effect for east of High Island Texas to just west of Sabine Pass…
…At 400am CDT (0900 UTC) the center of Hurricane Isaac was located near latitude 29.2 north, longitude 90.5 west. Isaac is moving toward the west-northwest near 8mph (13 km/h). A general northwestward motion at a slower forward speed is expected today and tonight, followed by a turn toward the north-northwest by Thursday night or early Friday. On the forecast track, the center of Isaac will move over Louisiana today and tomorrow and over southern Arkansas early Friday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 80mph (130 km/h) with higher gusts. Isaac is a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Weakening is forecast as Isaac moves over land during the next 48 hours.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95km) from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280km). A sustained wind of 51 mph with a gust to 66 mph was reported within the past hour at Lakefront Airport in New Orleans. A sustained wind of 51 mph with a gust to 70 mph was reported within the past hour at Boothville Louisiana…
…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: * Mississippi and southeastern Louisiana: 6-12 ft * Alabama: 3-6 ft * south-central Louisiana: 3-6 ft * Florida Panhandle and Apalachee Bay: 2-4 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 will continue across the warning area this morning and hurricane conditions will continue to spread onshore across southeastern Louisiana.
Winds affecting the upper floors of high-rise buildings will be significantly stronger than those near ground level. At about the 30th story, winds would likely be one Saffir-Simpson category stronger than at the surface.
Isaac is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 7-14 inches with possible isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches over much of Louisiana, southern Mississippi and southwest Alabama through Friday morning. These rains could result in significant lowland flooding. Rains are expected to increase northward into Arkansas on Thursday with amounts of 3-6 inches expected over southern Arkansas by Friday morning.
Isolated tornadoes are possible along the central Gulf Coast region and parts of the lower Mississippi River valley through wednesday.
Dangerous surf and rip current conditions will continue to affect the west coast of Florida and 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, Hurricane Isaac Advisory No.33 issued at 400am CDT on 29 August 2012
DATE: August 29, 2012 – COUNTRY: Indonesia – PORT: all ports – Indonesia ratifies IMO instruments
The Republic of Indonesia has formally acceded to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL Convention), Annexes III, IV, V and VI, and the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR Convention)….
….Indonesia’s tally of fully ratified IMO Conventions will total 25 once the latest instruments come into force for the country, on 24 November 2012 (three months after the date of deposit).
(For information about operations in Indonesia contact PT Andhika GAC at shipping.indonesia@gac.com)
Source: International Maritime Organisation (www.imo.org) breifing dated 28 August 2012
DATE: August 29, 2012 – COUNTRY: Chile – PORT: Antofagasta – Stevedores’ strike to close terminal
The Stevedore Union of Antofagasta Terminal Internacional (ATI) will begin an indefinite strike at 2300 hours local time tomorrow (30 August).
As a result, all access to the port will be closed and all loading/discharge operations will be suspended until further notice.
For further information about operations in Chile contact GAC-Ultramar Network at gac-ultramarnetwork.chile@gac.
