Your daily news service from ports around the world.
In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
* Worldwide – IMB notes increase in piracy off West Africa
* Germany, Kiel Canal – Lock chamber repairs complete
* United Kingdom, London – Mandatory tug assistance at terminal
* Singapore, Singapore – Tuas View soil investigation works
* Bermuda, all ports – Hurricane Leslie update (7 September 2012)
* Bunker Update – GAC MARKET PRICE UPDATE 07/09/12
DATE: September 07, 2012 – COUNTRY: Worldwide – IMB notes increase in piracy off West Africa
The ICC International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB-PRC) has recorded a spike in activity off the coast of West Africa.
Since 18 August 2012, three vessels have been hijacked by pirates in this region. These recent attacks are notable as they have all been against tankers, with the purpose of stealing the valuable cargoes on board. Furthermore, the incidents reported off West Africa are characterised by the degree of violence used against crew.
On 18 August 2012, a tanker was hijacked whilst at anchorage off Lome. Another tanker was attacked nearby on 28 August 2012. On 5 September 2012, a tanker was boarded whilst at anchorage off Lagos. In the last case, the crew secured themselves in the vessel’s citadel whilst the Nigerian navy despatched a helicopter and warship to successfully rescue the vessel.
IMB Director Pottengal Mukundan commented: “The attacks off West Africa follow a different modus operandi from pirate activity in other parts of the world. In addition to armed robbery, the more serious attacks involve the hijacking of product tankers to steal a part of the cargo. All the attacks usually involve high levels of violence against the crew. After the hijacking the product is lightered on to smaller vessel to be taken and sold illegally in the region. There has long been a market for the distribution and supply of these illegal oil cargoes.”
Up to 5 September 2012, there have been 40 reported attacks on vessels in the Gulf of Guinea, with 19 vessels boarded and eight successfully hijacked. In total, 168 crew members have been taken hostage and two have lost their lives.
Mr Mukundan continued: “There continues to be a serious problem with under-reporting of attacks in this area. This may be because of a fear of reprisals or a feeling that little will change as a result. The IMB recommends that every attack is reported because it is only by bringing the scale of the crime into the open that authorities will allocate appropriate resources to deal with piracy.”
The IMB-PRC recommends vigilance to all vessels operating in this region and urges the prompt reportage of any suspicious activity.
(For information about operations around the world contact the respective GAC office. For details, go to the ‘Contacts’ section of www.gac.com)
Source: ICC International Maritime Bureau (www.icc-ccs.org) new release dated 6 September 2012
DATE: September 07, 2012 – COUNTRY: Germany – PORT: Kiel Canal – Lock chamber repairs complete
Repairs to the New Big North Lock Chamber at Brunsbuttel have been completed and both the New Big Lock Chambers and the Old Small Chambers are now back in operation.
During week 37 (10-16 September), the New Big South Lock Chamber will be taken out of operations for diving works on two days which are not yet specified. Exact dates will be announced on short notice – diving works will be carried out only during daytime.
(For information about operations in Germany contact the GAC UK Hub Agency Centre at hub.gb@gac.com)
Source: Sartori & Berger, Germany – GAC network agent
DATE: September 07, 2012 COUNTRY: United Kingdom PORT: London Mandatory tug assistance at terminal
Vopak has announced that, for a trial period starting on 1 October, the use of tugs will be required at their London Terminal. Announcement
This follows a full safety and strategic review of shipping activities in conjunction with the Port of London Authority.
Based on a review of the last couple of months’ traffic Vopak has ascertained that approximately one third of the vessels calling at the terminal fall into its tug requirements category.
From 1 October 2012, the Tug Requirements Category for all arrivals/departures will be as follows: * All vessels over 100 metres LOA with no mooring aids; and * All vessels over 128 metres LOA or 8 metres draft, whatever aids – would have tug assistance
Following a six month trial period Vopak will review and revert.
For information about operations in the UK contact GAC UK at uk@gac.com
DATE: September 07, 2012 – COUNTRY: Singapore – PORT: Singapore – Tuas View soil investigation works
The working area has been revised and the working period extended for soil investigation works off Tuas View.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.126 of 2012 dated 6 September 2012, the works will be conducted 24 hours daily – including Sundays & Public Holiday – from 7 September 2012 to 6 March 2013, at the following marine borehole co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
Marine Boreholes – Sector A BH-39A10 01° 14.281’N / 103° 38.244’E BH-39A11 01° 14.289’N / 103° 38.269’E BH-39A12 01° 14.281’N / 103° 38.295’E BH-39A13 01° 14.289’N / 103° 38.321’E BH-39A14 01° 14.281’N / 103° 38.346’E BH-39A15 01° 14.289’N / 103° 38.372’E F3-BH-05 01° 14.154’N / 103° 37.670’E F3-BH-06 01° 14.154’N / 103° 37.851’E F3-BH-07 01° 14.154’N / 103° 38.031’E F3-BH-08 01° 14.154’N / 103° 38.211’E F3-BH-09 01° 14.154’N / 103° 38.391’E F3-BH-13 01° 14.020’N / 103° 37.995’E F3-BH-22 01° 13.886’N / 103° 37.671’E BH-19C 01° 15.239’N / 103° 37.842’E BH-21E35A 01° 14.967’N / 103° 38.661’E BH-21E47A 01° 14.790’N / 103° 38.464’E BH-25C 01° 14.702’N / 103° 37.672’E BH-28C 01° 14.701’N / 103° 37.271’E
Marine Boreholes – Sector B BH-39A49 1° 14.031’N / 103° 38.990’E BH-39A50 1° 14.005’N / 103° 38.982’E BH-39A51 1° 13.980’N / 103° 38.990’E BH-39A52 1° 13.954’N / 103° 38.982’E BH-39A53 1° 13.928’N / 103° 38.990’E BH-39A54 1° 13.902’N / 103° 38.982’E BH-39A55 1° 13.876’N / 103° 38.990’E BH-39A56 1° 13.851’N / 103° 38.982’E BH-39A57 1° 13.825’N / 103° 38.990’E BH-39A58 1° 13.799’N / 103° 38.982’E BH-39A59 1° 13.775’N / 103° 38.990’E BH-39A60 1° 13.752’N / 103° 38.990’E BH-39A61 1° 13.760’N / 103° 38.961’E BH-39A62 1° 13.752’N / 103° 38.935’E BH-39A63 1° 13.760’N / 103° 38.910’E BH-39A64 1° 13.752’N / 103° 38.884’E BH-39A65 1° 13.760’N / 103° 38.858’E BH-39A66 1° 13.752’N / 103° 38.833’E BH-39A67 1° 13.760’N / 103° 38.807’E BH-39A68 1° 13.752’N / 103° 38.782’E BH-39A69 1° 13.760’N / 103° 38.756’E BH-39A70 1° 13.752’N / 103° 38.730’E BH-39A71 1° 13.760’N / 103° 38.705’E BH-39A72 1° 13.752’N / 103° 38.679’E BH-39A73 1° 13.760’N / 103° 38.654’E BH-39A74 1° 13.752’N / 103° 38.628’E BH-39A75 1° 13.760’N / 103° 38.602’E BH-39A76 1° 13.752’N / 103° 38.577’E BH-39A77 1° 13.760’N / 103° 38.551’E BH-39A78 1° 13.752’N / 103° 38.526’E BH-39A79 1° 13.760’N / 103° 38.500’E BH-39A80 1° 13.752’N / 103° 38.474’E BH-39A81 1° 13.760’N / 103° 38.449’E BH-39A82 1° 13.752’N / 103° 38.423’E BH-39A83 1° 13.760’N / 103° 38.397’E BH-39A84 1° 13.752’N / 103° 38.372’E BH-39A85 1° 13.760’N / 103° 38.346’E BH-39A86 1° 13.752’N / 103° 38.321’E BH-39A87 1° 13.760’N / 103° 38.295’E
These craft will exhibit the appropriate local and international day and night signals.
Soil investigation works will be carried out by means of borehole drilling using jack-up barges. A jack-up barge will be working on only one borehole at one sector at any one time. The jack-up barge, with tug boats in attendance, will have a circular safety working zone of 50 metres radius centered at the barge. Tugboats will be used for shifting the barge from one borehole location to another.
Safety boats will be deployed in the vicinity of the working area to warn other craft of the project work.
When in the vicinity of the working areas, mariners are reminded to: (a) Keep well clear and not to enter the working areas; (b) Maintain a proper lookout; (c) Proceed at a safe speed and navigate with caution; (d) Maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 22 (West Jurong Control); and (e) Communicate with West Jurong Control on VHF Channel 22 for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
DATE: September 07, 2012 – COUNTRY: Bermuda – PORT: all ports Hurricane Leslie update (7 September 2012)
A tropical storm watch is in effect for Bermuda…
…At 500am AST (0900 UTC) the center of Hurricane Leslie was located near latitude 26.7 north, longitude 62.2 west. Leslie is drifting toward the north near 1mph (2 km/h). Leslie is expected to drift slowly toward the north or north-northwest today, followed by a slightly faster motion toward the north tonight and Saturday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 75mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts. Leslie is a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Little change in strength is expected in the next 24 hours, with some gradual strengthening possible Saturday and Saturday night…
…Leslie is a large tropical cyclone. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55km) from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 185 miles (295km)…
…Swells generated by Leslie will continue to affect Bermuda, the U.S. east coast from central Florida northward, the northern Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands for the next several days. These swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions…
…Tropical storm conditions are possible on Bermuda by early Sunday.
(For information about operations in the Americas contact the GAC US Hub Agency Centre at hub.us@gac.com)
Source: National Hurricane Center, Miami Flo, Hurricane Leslie Advisory No.32 issued at 500am AST on 7 September 2012
DATE: September 07, 2012 Bunker Update: GAC MARKET PRICE UPDATE 07/09/12 —
GAC Bunker Fuels Ltd Pricing Alert GAC MARKET PRICE UPDATE 07/09/12
180 CST 380 CST MGO MDO
Aden 755.00 0 1, 225.00 0
Alexandria 720.00 705.00 1, 170.00 0
Aqaba 0 753.00 1, 056.00 0
Bahrain 0 0 1, 115.00 0
Busan 720.00 705.00 1, 022.50 1, 012.50
Cape Town 746.00 0 1, 056.00 0
Colombo 790.00 770.00 1, 095.00 0
Dubai 710.00 700.00 1, 050.00 0
Durban 700.50 0 0 1, 110.50
Falmouth 789.50 762.50 1, 028.50 0
Fujairah 715.00 690.00 1, 050.00 0
Gibraltar 775.50 743.50 1, 031.50 0
Hong Kong 703.00 691.50 1, 007.50 1, 004.50
Houston 685.00 655.00 1, 050.00 0
Istanbul 709.50 686.50 1, 034.50 0
Jeddah 700.00 685.00 1, 075.00 0
Kaohsiung 735.00 723.00 1, 056.00 1, 041.00
Kuwait 698.50 681.00 0 1, 012.50
Malta 779.50 761.50 1, 007.50 0
Mumbai 717.00 699.50 1, 110.50 0
New York & New Jersey 685.00 655.00 995.00 0
Panama 702.00 662.00 1, 040.00 0
Port Said 715.00 705.00 1, 050.00 0
Qatar 0 0 915.00 0
Rio de Janeiro 704.00 680.50 1, 040.00 0
Rotterdam 757.50 727.50 0 0
Salalah 752.00 722.00 1, 115.00 0
Shanghai 715.00 698.50 1, 075.50 0
Sharjah 710.00 700.00 1, 050.00 0
Singapore 702.00 686.50 1, 005.50 1, 000.50
St Petersburg 553.50 543.50 0 0
Suez 714.00 688.00 1, 050.00 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.
