Your daily news service from ports around the world.
In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
* Somalia, all ports – Vessels urged to steer clear of partially sunken dhow
* India, Kandla – OIl jetty maintenance
* Australia, all ports – Severe Weather Warning
* Venezuela, all ports – Tributary Unit increased
DATE: February 18, 2013
COUNTRY: Somalia
PORT: all ports
Vessels urged to steer clear of partially sunken dhow
Mariners are hereby advised that, at time 1342Z, a partially submerged fishing dhow has been visually located via maritime patrol aircraft and verified by M/V Navigate Honor.
Position is approximately 207NM east/northeast of Mogadishu in the Somali Basin geocoords: 02-18N/048-02E. No observation of life was seen around the vessel at the time of reporting.
All flagged operators with ships in the affected area are requested to forward this advisory to their ships by the most expeditious means.
All vessels are requested to remain clear of the affected area. Ships are hereby advised to transit with caution.
Contact the following with any questions: A. MARLO: email marlo.bahrain@me.navy.mil, Phone: +973-3940-1395.
(For information about operations in the Indian Ocean contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at hub.ae@gac.com)
Source: MARLO Bahrain Notice to Mariners dated 18 February 2013
DATE: February 18, 2013
COUNTRY: India
PORT: Kandla
OIl jetty maintenance
Maintenance will be carried out at Kandla Oil Jetty No.04 for a week starting tomorrow (Tuesday, 19 February).
For information about operations in India contact GAC India at india@gac.com
DATE: February 18, 2013
COUNTRY: Australia
PORT: all ports
Severe Weather Warning
A Severe Weather Warning of heavy rainfall and dangerous surf has been issued for parts of Queensland.
At 9am AEST today (18 February), a slow moving surface trough was situated off the central coast of Queensland and a low is expected to develop along the trough off the central coast today. The low should then move in a south to southeast direction parallel to the Queensland coast before deepening further off the Fraser coast tomorrow.
Heavy rain, which may lead to flash flooding, is expected to occur about coastal and adjacent inland areas between St Lawrence and the Gold Coast during today and into Tuesday. 24 hour totals of 100mm to 200mm are likely, with isolated totals in excess of 200mm possible.
Currently, the heaviest rain is located on radar over the Capricornia coast near and south of Yeppoon, and near the Wide Bay and southern coast from Hervey Bay to Caboolture. Hervey Bay has recorded 25mm of rain in the 1 hour to 9:40am this morning. In the 24 hours to 9am Monday, Upper Bee (near Mackay) recorded 155mm, Lucinda 104mm and Mackay 102mm, and Hervey Bay and areas on the Sunshine Coast generally recorded 60 to 70mm.
These conditions are expected to contract south to coastal and adjacent inland areas from Burnett Heads to the New South Wales border overnight tonight. The heaviest rainfalls should then gradually focus offshore of the southern coast during Tuesday.
Dangerous surf conditions, with possible beach erosion, are expected to develop along the coast from Burnett Heads to the New South Wales border from Tuesday. This includes northern parts of Moreton Bay.
Locations that may be affected include Yeppoon, Gladstone, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Gympie, Fraser Island, the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Meanwhile, a Coastal Waters Wind Warning was issued at 10.50am EST today for Bowen to Double Island Point, including Hervey Bay. A high over the southern Tasman Sea is expected to move slowly east towards New Zealand. A trough lies off the east coast of Queensland. A low lies on the trough off the Central Coast and is expected to move south-southeast during the rest of today and Tuesday while deepening. The low is expected to be located offshore of the southern Queensland coast by late Tuesday and on Wednesday, and is expected to produce strong to gale force winds and rough seas and swells, depending on its proximity to the coast.
GALE WARNINGS
Gladstone to Double Island Point:
Expect E to SE winds to increase to 25 to 30 knots during today. Winds shifting SW to SE and increasing to 30 to 40 knots during Tuesday, though only over offshore waters between Gladstone and Sandy Cape. Seas increasing3 to 4 metres. E to SE swell increasing to 2 to 3 metres and breaking dangerously close inshore south of Burnett Heads on Tuesday.
Double Island Point to Point Danger:
Expect E to SE winds to increase to 25 to 33 knots from the north in the early hours of Tuesday, shifting S to SE and increasing to 30 to 40 knots during Tuesday afternoon and evening. Seas increasing to 4 to 5 metres. E to SE swell increasing to 3 to 4 metres and breaking dangerously close inshore on Tuesday.
STRONG WIND WARNING
Bowen to Gladstone:
Expect S to SE winds to reach 25 to 30 knots at times. Seas to 3 metres in open waters.
Winds are expected to decrease below 25 knots from the north during Tuesday morning.
For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
DATE: February 18, 2013
COUNTRY: Venezuela
PORT: all ports
Tributary Unit increased
As per the Venezuelan Official Gazette No.40106, the tributary unit (T.U) has been adjusted from Bs 90 to Bs 107 with effect from 6 February 2013.
Services affected for this increase of approximately 16% include:
– Inea development fund tax
– Pilotage dues
– Boat services
– Customs and Port Authorities
– Bar toll charges
– Tug boats
Other services also adjust their costs once TU is adjusted by government.
It should be noted, however, that the ROE (Rate of Exchange) was adjusted on 8 February 6.30 Bs per 1 USD.
For information about operations in Venezuela contact GAC-Vesport at gac-vensport.venezuela@gac.com
