HOT PORT NEWS from GAC
Your daily news service from ports around the world.
In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about: * Worldwide – Hurricane Kirk moves over open Atlantic * Angola, all ports – Caution urged for elections * United States, all ports – Tropical Storm Isaac update (31 August) * Leeward Islands, all ports – Tropical Storm forecast to become a hurricane * Brazil, all ports – Some public workers to resume work, port authority staff continue strike * Chile, Antofagasta – Stevedores’ strike confirmed ***********************************************************
DATE: August 31, 2012 COUNTRY: Worldwide Hurricane Kirk moves over open Atlantic ————— At 500am AST (0900 UTC) the eye of Hurricane Kirk was located near latitude 30.1 north, longitude 50.9 west. Kirk is moving toward the north-northwest near 12mph (19 km/h). A turn to the north and then northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected later today. The forecast track keeps Kirk over the open waters of the North Atlantic during the next two days.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 105mph (165 km/h) with higher gusts. Kirk is a category two hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely today but a gradual weakening should begin on Saturday.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30km) from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km)…
(For information about operations in the Americas contact the GAC USA Hub Agency Centre at hub.us@gac.com)
Source: Extracts from National Hurricane Center, Miami Fl, Hurricane Kirk Advisory No.11 issued at 500am AST on 31 August 2012
DATE: August 31, 2012 COUNTRY: Angola PORT: all ports Caution urged for elections ————— The French Embassy in Luanda is urging people to exercise caution in light of today’s elections.
The Embassy advises French citizens in the city to observe the following until the results of today’s elections are announced:
– Keep outings in town to a minimum on Saturday (1 September)
– Avoid areas where gatherings are usually held (for Luanda: Largo do 1° de Maio, Largo Maianga, council of National Election Commission – CNE Mainga)
– Keep informed of latest developments
– Observe the usual recommendations of vigilance and caution for travel (avoid crowds, etc.)
For information about operations in Angola contact GAC Angola at angola@gac.com
DATE: August 31, 2012 COUNTRY: United States PORT: all ports Tropical Storm Isaac update (31 August) ————— The West Gulf Maritime Association has issued a summary of port conditions along the Gulf Coast in light of the passing of Tropical Storm Isaac.
In its Tropical Storm Isaac Update 6 issued yesterday (30 August), if states:
QUOTE… Sabine Pilots resumed outbound service this morning and expect sea conditions will allow boardings of inbound service this afternoon.
Lake Charles pilots have resumed service.
Low water Advisory: Upper Texas coastal waters from High Island to the Matagorda ship Channel out 60 nautical miles including Galveston and Matagorda bays.
Moderate to strong offshore winds will also cause water levels to fall across northern and western parts of Galveston Bay including the Houston Ship Channel. Tide levels in these locations are currently running 1-1.5 feet below normal. Expect these levels to fall even further with sustained offshore winds. Levels may fall as low as 2 feet below normal Thursday across northern parts of the bay and 0.5-1.5 feet elsewhere.
STATUS OF PORTS: – Brownsville: Normal – Corpus Christi: Normal – Point Comfort: Normal – Freeport: Normal – Galveston: Normal – Texas City: Normal – Houston: Normal – Port Arthur: Outbound pilotage resumed. Inbound pilotage expected to resume this afternoon. – Beaumont: Outbound pilotage resumed. Inbound pilotage expected to resume this afternoon. – Lake Charles: Normal ….UNQUOTE.
For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com
DATE: August 31, 2012 COUNTRY: Leeward Islands PORT: all ports Tropical Storm forecast to become a hurricane ————— At 500am AST (0900 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Leslie was located near latitude 15.2 north, longitude 47.8 west. Leslie is moving toward the west-northwest near 16mph (26 km/h) and this general motion with a slight decrease in forward speed is expected during the next couple of days. On the forecast track, Leslie is expected to stay northeast of the Leeward Islands.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65mph (100 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours and Leslie could become a hurricane later today or tonight.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from the center…
(For information about operations in the Americas contact the GAC USA Hub Agency Centre at hub.us@gac.com)
Source: Extracts from National Hurricane Center, Miami Fl, Tropical Storm Leslie Advisory No.4 issued at 500am AST on 31 August 2012
DATE: August 31, 2012 COUNTRY: Brazil PORT: all ports Some public workers to resume work, port authority staff continue strike ————— Some sectors of the Brazilian civil service currently on strike have accepted to resume their duties by Monday (3 September), following the government’s offer to pay an increase of 15.8% over the next three years.
However, workers in some other important sectors – including port authorities (Federal Police & Health Authority) employees – have not agreed to the offer. Media reports indicate that these striking workers have no intention to resume unless federal government agrees to meet their wage increase demands.
Meanwhile, berthing delays are being experienced in some important ports. In Rio de Janeiro, health authorities are refusing to issue ‘free pratique’ certificates, causing a considerable delay in port operations.
For information about operations in Brazil contact GAC Brazil at shipping.brazil@gac.com
DATE: August 31, 2012 COUNTRY: Chile PORT: Antofagasta Stevedores’ strike confirmed ————— The stevedores’ strike at Antofagasta Terminal Internacional (ATI) has been confirmed, starting 0800 hours local time yesterday (30 August) for a period of 15 days.
About 80 striking workers are meeting at the main entrance, seeking support from the community.
As a result, access to the terminal is closed to ATI personnel, machinery, trucks, etc.
For information about operations in Chile contact GAC-Ultramar Network at gac-ultramarnetwork.chile@gac.com
