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HOT Port news from GAC

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Your daily news service from ports around the world.

In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:

  • Worldwide – IMO Secretary-General urges decisive action
  • Nigeria, all ports – Introductory Sea Protection Levy
  • Singapore, Singapore – Dredging at Mencast Foreshore
  • Australia, Port Kembla – Three-day maintenance shutdown at coal terminal
  • Chile, all ports – Chilean National Holiday (Fiestas Patrias)

DATE: September 13, 2012 COUNTRY: Worldwide IMO Secretary-General urges decisive action

IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu has called on governments and the shipping industry to take prompt and decisive action on a number of key issues.

In a keynote address to the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Conference in London (12 September 2012), Mr. Sekimizu told shipowners that they had the power to encourage their flag States to ratify the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (Ballast Water Management Convention) as soon as possible, as well as to implement its provisions with immediate effect.

He pointed to the good number of ballast water treatment technologies now approved and available, together with the fixed deadlines for their application contained in the Convention, as convincing reasons why the industry should not wait any longer to implement its provisions.

Warning of the negative consequences of further delay in bringing the convention into force,   Mr. Sekimizu said; “The problems associated with ballast water are inherently connected to the expansion of world trade. This is an issue from which the shipping industry cannot escape.”

The recent ratification of the Ballast Water Management Convention by Denmark (on 11 September 2012) brought the number of States to have ratified the Convention to 36, which exceeds the number stipulated in its entry-into-force criteria. However, around six per cent of the world’s merchant shipping tonnage is still needed to fulfill the other entry–into-force criterion of 35% tonnage representation.

Turning to the matter of the Costa Concordia accident earlier this year, in which 32 people lost their lives, Mr. Sekimizu said the incident had focused the attention of the general public on the safety of large passenger ships, and that the stakes were high for the impending discussion on the matter at the November meeting of IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee.

“I cannot overstress how important it is, ” he said “that we receive the findings from the investigation as soon as possible, so that IMO can learn the lessons and take decisive steps to improve the safety of large cruise ships.”

Referring to operational measures already being implemented by the cruise industry in this regard, he added “Our regulatory system should also be strengthened to formalise the actions it takes and support its efforts.”

The Costa Concordia foundered off the coast of Italy in January this year. Mr. Sekimizu called on IMO Member States to consider effective measures to reduce the risk of groundings, to avoid any recurrence in the future.

In a wide-ranging speech, the Secretary-General also called for the shipping industry to show leadership by implementing straight away the energy efficiency measures already adopted by IMO, without waiting for their formal entry into force. He added that he hoped the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee would make progress on the matter of market-based measures for further greenhouse gas reduction at its next meeting, in October this year.

Mr. Sekimizu also took the opportunity to assure the industry of IMO’s continuing commitment to work towards the resolution of the piracy crisis, and to outline his own vision for sustainable maritime development in the light of the Rio+20 Conference on sustainable development held in June this year.

(For information about operations worldwide contact the respective GAC office. Details can be found in the ‘Contact’ section of www.gac.com)

Source: International Maritime Organisation (www.imo.org) Briefing No.34 dated 12 September 2012

DATE: September 13, 2012 COUNTRY: Nigeria PORT: all ports Introductory Sea Protection Levy 

NIMASA [the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency] recently introduced a sea protection levy…  …You are by this notice, informed of an introductory sea protection levy as follows:

For Foreign Vessels: 100-1, 000 GT: $ 0.1/GT per gross tonne per call 1, 001-10, 000 GT: $ 0.15/GT per gross tonne per call 10, 001-100, 000 GT: $ 0.2/GT per gross tonne per call 100, 001 GT and above: $ 0.3/GT (this is per voyage)

For Nigerian Flagged Vessels: 100-1, 000 GT: Naira 500.00 per gross tonne per call 1, 001-10, 000 GT: Naira 350.00 per gross tonne per call 10, 001-100, 000 GT: Naira 300.00 per gross tonne per call 100, 001 GT and above: Naira 250.00 per gross tonne call

You are required to forward particulars of your vessel to the Marine Environment Management Department on submission of your cargo manifest…

…This notice takes immediate effect.

(For information about operations in Nigeria contact GAC Nigeria at nigeria@gac.com)

Source: Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency notification dated 12 September 2012

DATE: September 13, 2012 COUNTRY: Singapore PORT: Singapore Dredging at Mencast Foreshore

The working period for dredging at Mencast Foreshore off Sungai Jurong has been extended. It will now be conducted from 16 September to 30 November 2012.

According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s Port Marine Notice No.128 of 2012, the works will be carried out 24 hours daily – including Sundays & Public Holidays – within the working area bounded by the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum): A)  1° 18.271’N / 103° 43.724’E B)  1° 18.253’N / 103° 43.694’E C)  1° 18.348’N / 103° 43.665’E D)  1° 18.341’N / 103° 43.724’E

Dredging works will be carried out by a dredger held in position with anchors. The dredger, with hopper barges in attendance, will have a circular safety working zone of 50-metre radius centred at the dredger.

Dredged materials will be transported to the designated dumping ground by hopper barges assisted by pusher tugs.

Tug boats will be used to shift the dredger, when required to clear the fairway for vessels.

A safety boat will be deployed in the vicinity to warn the other craft of the project work off the working area. Contact with the safety boats can be made via VHF Channel 22.

Craft involved in the works will exhibit the appropriate local and international day and night signals.

When in the vicinity of the working area, mariners are reminded to: (a) keep well clear and not to enter the working area; (b) maintain a proper lookout; (c) proceed at a safe speed and navigate with caution; (d) maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 22 (Jurong Control); and (e) Communicate with 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 13, 2012 COUNTRY: Australia PORT: Port Kembla Three-day maintenance shutdown at coal terminal

The Port Kembla Coal Terminal has programmed a three-day maintenance shutdown from 0700 on Tuesday 18 September until 1900 on Thursday 20 September, servicing both the ship loaders and reclaimers.

There will be no ship loading operations during this period.

For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com

DATE: September 13, 2012 COUNTRY: Chile PORT: all ports Chilean National Holiday (Fiestas Patrias)

The head office of GAC-Ultramar Network will be closed from 1300 hours on Friday 14 September until 19 September due to the Chilean National Holiday (Fiestas Patrias).

A skeleton staff will be available by mobile phone and will check e-mails in a regular basis.

For information about operations in Chile contact GAC-Ultramar Network at gac-ultramarnetwork.chile@gac.com

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