Your daily news service from ports around the world.
In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
- Germany, Kiel Canal – Lock chamber closed for urgent repairs
- United Kingdom, Forth Ports – Beacon light temporarily extinguished
- United Kingdom, Immingham – Berth /jetty outages
- United States, all ports – Garbage disposal – Revised MARPOL Annex V
- Qatar, all ports – Proposal to allow ships with armed personnel approved
- Hong Kong, Hong Kong – Cross Harbour Swimming Race
- Hong Kong, Hong Kong – Marine site investigation works off Tai Ho Wan
DATE: October 18, 2012 COUNTRY: Germany PORT: Kiel Canal Lock chamber closed for urgent repairs
The Kiel Canal Authority has announced that the New Big South Lock Chamber at Brunsbuttel is being taken out of service for urgent repairs with immediate effect, until about the end of December 2012.
The New Big North Lock Chamber and both small old lock chambers will remain in service.
Depending on traffic volume, delays can be expected.
(For information about operations in Germany contact the GAC UK Hub Agency Centre at hub.gb@gac.com)
Source: Sartori & Berger GmbH, Germany – GAC network agent
DATE: October 18, 2012 COUNTRY: United Kingdom PORT: Forth Ports Beacon light temporarily extinguished
The Beamer Rock West Beacon light Fl 3s visible in sector 230 o / 050 o in position Lat 56 o 00.300’ N Long 003 o 24.788’ W has been extinguished and will be replaced as soon as possible.
All mariners are requested therefore to navigate with caution in this area.
For information about operations in the UK contact GAC UK at uk@gac.com
DATE: October 18, 2012 COUNTRY: United Kingdom PORT: Immingham Berth /jetty outages
Due to an outage, it will not be possible to handle any ships at the Immingham Gas Jetty from 0800 to 1400 on Monday (22 October).
Further, to prepare for the commissioning of LPG heat exchanger X9001, Immingham Gas Jetty will be unavailable from 0800 on 31 October 2012 to 1800 on 1 November. It will not be possible to handle any ships during this outage.
Finally, all Immingham West Jetty Berths will be closed for maintenance for 36 hours from 0900 on 19 November to 2100 on 20 November 2012.
To ensure that the closed berths are clear of shipping, berthings prior to the above times will be restricted, dependent on expected cargo handling times and sailing windows.
For information about operations in the UK, contact GAC UK at uk@gac.com
DATE: October 18, 2012 COUNTRY: United States PORT: all ports Garbage disposal – Revised MARPOL Annex V
The Revised MARPOL Annex V regulating the discharge of waste from ships was adopted July 15, 2012 and will become effective January 1, 2013.
IMO has recently published the Discharge Requirements in schematic form, from which it can be seen that galley waste and operational waste, such as cargo residue that can be unloaded using commonly used methods and dunnage, as defined by regulation 1-9 can no longer be discharged anywhere at sea. It is notable that dunnage is considered operational waste.
Discharge of garbage such as food waste, domestic waste, cargo residue and operational waste into the sea will be prohibited except in very few circumstances. Since Coast Guard regulations require terminals to have the ability to receive APHIS regulated garbage within 24hous of notice, members are urged to use the IMO Standard Advance Notification in order to protect a vessel’s interests.
The content of the salient regulations are briefly outlined below.
Regulation 1.9 Definition of garbage Garbage means all kinds of food wastes, domestic wastes and operational wastes, all plastics, cargo residues, cooking oil, fishing gear, and animal carcasses generated during the normal operation of the ship and liable to be disposed of continuously etc.
Regulation 1.8 – Definition of The Wider Caribbean Region This regulations defines the Gulf of Mexico as a “Special area” with additional restrictions for garbage disposal.
Regulation 3 – General prohibition on discharge into the sea Discharge of garbage into the sea is prohibited except as provided in regulations 4, 5, 6 and 7
Regulation 4 – Discharge of garbage outside special areas Only ground food waste can be discharged while the ship is en route and not less than 3 NM from land. Only “Cargo residues that cannot be recovered using commonly available methods for unloading” may be discharged at least 12 miles from shore outside a special area.
Regulation 6 – Discharge of garbage within special areas Only ground food waste can be discharged while the ship is en route and not less than 12 NM from land. Only “Cargo residues that cannot be recovered using commonly available methods for unloading” may be discharged at least 12 miles from shore outside a special area and subject to additional restrictions outlined in 6.2.1-.4
Regulation 8.1 Each Party undertakes to ensure the provision of adequate facilities at ports and terminals for the reception of garbage without causing undue delay to ships, and according to the needs of the ships using them.
Code of federal Regulations – 33 CFR 158.400-420 The United States is a party to MARPOL and the requirements related to garbage can be found at 19 CFR 158.400-420. For daily operational purposes these regulations require that each day port or terminal is in operation, the person in charge of a port or terminal must provide, or ensure the availability of, a reception facility that is capable of receiving all garbage that the master or person who is in charge of a ship desires to discharge and is capable of receiving APHIS regulated garbage within 24 hours after notice is given if it handles ships in foreign commerce.
(For information about operations in the UDSA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com)
Source: West Gulf Maritime Association (www.wgma.org) notice
DATE: October 18, 2012 COUNTRY: Qatar PORT: all ports Proposal to allow ships with armed personnel approved
Qatar’s weekly Cabinet meeting has approved a proposal by the Interior Ministry allowing ships with armed security men on board to enter into Qatari territorial waters.
The official notification of the same is expected within the coming week or so.
For information about operations in Qatar contact GAC Qatar at qatar@gac.com
DATE: October 18, 2012 COUNTRY: Hong Kong PORT: Hong Kong Cross Harbour Swimming Race
A swimming race across the Eastern Harbour from Lei Yue Mun, Kowloon to Quarry Bay, Hong Kong Island will take place from 0830 hours to 1015 hours on Sunday 21 October 2012. About 1, 800 swimmers, under the escort of guard boats, are expected to participate in the race.
The race consists of two routes as follows: (i) Race Route (1) – start in an area off Sam Ka Tsuen Typhoon Shelter, cross the Eastern Fairway and finish in an area off the landing steps at Sai Wan Ho. (ii) Race Route (2) – start in an area off Sam Ka Tsuen Typhoon Shelter, cross the Eastern Fairway, thence follow a round track along the shore and finish in an area off the Quarry Bay Park.
Launches of the Marine Department and Marine Police will be stationed or patrolling in the Eastern Harbour and Tathong Channel before and during the event.
Masters, coxswains and persons-in-charge of all vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution and give a wide berth to the swimmers, and follow the directions given by officers on the Marine Department and Marine Police launches regulating marine traffic in the vicinity.
As the marine traffic in the Eastern Harbour will be affected during the race, vessel operators are advised to adjust their sailing schedule in order to avoid obstructing the race.
In case of inclement weather, the race will be postponed to Sunday 4 November 2012 with the same time sequence as mentioned above.
(For information about operations in Hong Kong contact GAC Hong Kong at shipping.hongkong@gac.com)
Source: Government of Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No.146 of 2012 dated 17 October 2012
DATE: October 18, 2012 COUNTRY: Hong Kong PORT: Hong Kong Marine site investigation works off Tai Ho Wan
For approximately 3 months, marine site investigation works involving drilling of boreholes will be carried out [off Tai Ho Wan, Lantau Island] in the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS84 Datum) from (A) to (F) and the adjacent shoreline:
- (A) 22 deg. 17.980’N / 113 deg. 58.094’E
- (B) 22 deg. 18.197’N / 113 deg. 58.137’E
- (C) 22 deg. 18.537’N / 113 deg. 57.578’E
- (D) 22 deg. 18.590’N / 113 deg. 57.641’E
- (E) 22 deg. 18.164’N / 113 deg. 58.353’E
- (F) 22 deg. 18.163’N / 113 deg. 58.524’E
Two jack-up platforms will carry out the works. Two tugs will provide assistance. The number of vessels engaged in the works will change from time to time to suit operational requirements.
A working area of approximately 25 metres around each jack-up platform will be established. Yellow flashing lights will be installed at the four corners of each jack-up platform to indicate the position of the platform.
The hours of works will be from 0700 to 1900 hours. No works will be carried out on Sundays and public holidays. Vessels employed for the works will stay in the works area outside the hours of works.
Vessels engaged in the operations will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.
Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution.
(For information about operations in Hong Kong contact GAC Hong Kong at shipping.hongkong@gac.com)
Source: Government of Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No.147 of 2012 dated 17 October 2012
