Your daily news service from ports around the world.
In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
* United States, all ports – Asian Gypsy Moth
* Singapore, Pasir Panjang – Revised details for dredging off Terminal
* Turkey, Turkish Straits – Bad weather halts pilotage services
* Brazil, all ports – Dock workers postpone nationwide strike
DATE: March 15, 2013
COUNTRY: United States
PORT: all ports
Asian Gypsy Moth
Asian gypsy moth (AGM) is a serious pest that can be carried on the superstructure of ships and cargo. AGM populations are prevalent in some seaport areas in Far East Russia, Japan, Korea, and Northern China. If introduced, AGM would pose a significant risk to the North American plant resource base, businesses that rely on plant resources, and to market access.
Vessels must arrive to North American ports with required pre-departure certification and free of AGM. It is vital that the maritime industry and the United States and Canadian authorities collaborate on measures to minimize the risk of AGM incursion. Although the agricultural agencies of the U.S. and Canada are independent and have variances in their laws, AGM risk mitigation and exclusion efforts are a joint effort and considered a high priority.
In 2012, United States and Canadian authorities intercepted a large number of vessels with AGM egg masses on the superstructures of ships and cargo. Many vessels arriving to North America with AGM life stages present resulted in those vessels being ordered into international waters to mitigate risk of introduction. In all cases of vessels arriving without the
required AGM certification, or upon detection of AGM, significant delays in cargo loading or discharging activities as well as in routine clearance can occur, resulting in loss of revenue to the shipping line and associatedparties. When these events occur, the vessels are unable to conduct cargo operations, miss cargo charters, and experience significant schedule
delays.
In 2012, it was reported that high numbers of AGM adults were flying in some port areas at the time of pre-departure inspections. Inspection certificates indicated large numbers of egg masses had been removed and some ship crews reported removing hundreds of egg masses post-certification. Upon arrival in North America, there were detections on vessels that had obtained pre-departure certification.
In some cases, certification was found to have been issued many days prior to ship departure from an area regulated for AGM, allowing for re-infestation. Therefore, it is important that inspection and certification be conducted as close to time of departure as feasible. It is also of vital importance that a ship;s crew ensures freedom from AGM by conducting inspection of the ship superstructure while en route to North America and removing and destroying all life stages of AGM detected….
For vessels which have called on areas regulated for AGM during the specified periods, as outlined below, the following measures are required:
RUSSIAN FAR EAST: Nakhodka, Ol’ga, Plastun, Pos’yet, Russkiy Island, Slavyanka, Vanino, Vladivostok, Vostochny, Zarubino, Kozmino
– Specified period: July 1 to September 30
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA: All ports in northern China, including all ports north of Shanghai
– Specified period: June 1 to September 30
REPUBLIC OF KORES: All ports
– Specified period: June 1 to September 30
JAPAN – Northern Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima
– Specified period: July 1 to September 30
JAPAN – Western Akita, Yamagata, Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa
– Specified period: June 25 to September 15
JAPAN – Eastern Fukui, Ibaraki, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie
– Specified period: June 20 to August 20
JAPAN – Southern Wakayama, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Kagawa, Tokushima, Ehime, Kochi, Fukuoka, Oita, Saga, Nagasaki, Miyazaki, Kumamoto, Kagoshima
– Specified period: June 1 to August 10
JAPAN – Far Southern Okinawa
– Specified period: May 25 to June 30
1. Vessels must be inspected and obtain pre-departure certification from a recognized certification body located in a regulated area and forward a copy of the certificate, stating that the vessel is free of Asian gypsy moth life stages, to their U.S or Canadian agents. The inspections should be performed as close to departure time from the regulated port as
possible.
2. Vessels must arrive to North American ports free from AGM. To avoid facing inspection delays, re-routing and other potential impacts associated with mitigating the risk of entry of AGM to North America, shipping lines should perform intensive vessel self-inspections to look for, remove (scrape off) and properly dispose of or destroy all egg masses and other
life stages of AGM prior to entering U.S. and Canadian ports.
3. Vessels must provide two year port of call data, at least 96 hours prior to arrival at a North American port, to the Canadian or U.S. agent. The agent will ensure that this information is provided to U.S. and Canadian
officials.
It is the responsibility of the shipping lines to meet all requirements for entry to the U.S. and Canada for freedom from AGM and other pest concerns.
The risk for introduction of AGM into North America from Far East Russia, Japan, Korea, and Northern China is considered to be high for 2013. We strongly urge maritime interests to take all possible precautions.
Although the U.S. and Canada are in full agreement on the requirement for AGM pre-departure certification and vessels arriving free from all AGM life forms (egg masses, pupae, adults), due to sovereign regulations and policies, there remain differences in port-of-entry processes between the two countries. Please contact local inspection authorities in the port of
entry if you have any questions regarding AGM import requirements or clearance procedures.
(For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com. For elsewhere in the Americas contact the GAC USA Hub Agency Centre at hub.us@gac.com)
Source: United States Department of Agriculture / Canadian Food Inspection Agency notice March 2013
DATE: March 15, 2013
COUNTRY: Singapore
PORT: Pasir Panjang
Revised details for dredging off Terminal
The working area and period fort dredging works off Pasir Panjang Terminal have been revised. The works will now be conducted from 18 to 23 March.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s Port Marine Notice No.29 of 2013, the works will be carried out 24 hours daily – including Sundays and Public Holidays – within the working areas bounded by the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
WORKING AREA “Sector 10”
A) 01° 16.472’N / 103° 46.466’E
B) 01° 16.347’N / 103° 46.674’E
C) 01° 16.207’N / 103° 46.592’E
D) 01° 16.332’N / 103° 46.383’E
WORKING AREA “Sector 11”
A) 01° 16.378’N / 103° 46.598’E
B) 01° 16.336’N / 103° 46.668’E
C) 01° 16.138’N / 103° 46.550’E
D) 01° 16.180’N / 103° 46.480’E
Dredging works will be carried out by the Cutter Suction Dredger, “No.3 Suez”, held in position by 2 anchors. Her anchors will extended to 150m from the dredger and will be not extend beyond sector 10 & 11 working areas. Dredged materials will be transported to the designated dumping ground by the hopper barges assisted by pusher tugs.
During the operation, the dredger and hopper barge will be attended by tug boats when required. The tug boats will be used to shift the crane barge and hopper barge, away from the fairway for vessels to berth or unberth.
Safety boats will be deployed in the vicinity to warn the other craft to keep clear of the working area.
Craft involved in the works will exhibit the appropriate local and international day and night signals.
When in the vicinity of the working areas, mariners are reminded to:
(a) keep well clear of 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 25 (Pasir Panjang Control);
and
(e) communicate with Pasir Panjang Control on VHF Channel 25 for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
DATE: March 15, 2013
COUNTRY: Turkey
PORT: Turkish Straits
Bad weather halts pilotage services
Pilotage services in the Turkish Straits were suspended this morning (15 March) due to bad weather conditions.
The service in the Cannakale Strait was interrupted between 22:35 local time last night (14 March) and 09:00 today.
In the Istanbul Strait the service was suspended from 05:30 to 07:30 hours this morning.
For information about operations in the Turkish Straits contact GAC Istanbul at turkey@gac.com
DATE: March 15, 2013
COUNTRY: Brazil
PORT: all ports
Dock workers postpone nationwide strike
Brazilian dock workers have postponed a 24-hour nationwide strike planned for 19 March, to allow more time to negotiate with the government.
However, the union have not ruled out future strikes, with action on 26 March a possibility.
For information about operations in Brazil contact GAC Brazil at shipping.brazil@gac.com
