Your daily news service from ports around the world.
In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
* Worldwide – Passenger ship liability & compensation treaty
* Nigeria, all ports – Vessel attacked off Nigerian coast
* Benin, Cotonou – Port closure for Labour Day holiday
* United States, San Francisco, California – Proposed change to offshore traffic lane buoys
* Hong Kong, Hong Kong – Repair Works for Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade
* Singapore, Singapore – Reclamation of Tuas View Extension
* Bunker Update – MARKET PRICE UPDATE 25/04/13
DATE: April 25, 2013
COUNTRY: Worldwide
Passenger ship liability & compensation treaty
The Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their
Luggage by Sea, 2002, which substantially raises the limits of liability
for the death of, or personal injury to, a passenger on a ship, is set to
enter into force on 23 April 2014, after the required 10 ratifications were
reached on 23 April 2013, with the ratification of the 2002 Athens Protocol
by Belgium.
The 2002 Protocol to the Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of
Passengers and their Luggage by Sea, 1974, (PAL), revises and updates the
1974 Convention, which established a regime of liability for damage
suffered by passengers carried on a seagoing vessel. As a precondition for
joining, Parties to the 2002 Protocol are required to denounce the 1974
treaty and its earlier Protocols.
The Athens Convention declares a carrier liable for damage suffered by a
passenger resulting from death, personal injury or damage to luggage if the
incident causing the damage occurred in the course of the carriage and was
due to the fault or neglect of the carrier. Such fault or neglect is
presumed, unless the contrary is proved, Carriers can limit their liability
unless they acted with intent to cause such damage, or recklessly and with
knowledge that such damage would probably result. For the death of, or
personal injury to, a passenger, this limit of liability was set at 46, 666
Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per carriage in the 1974 convention.
The 2002 Protocol substantially raises those limits to 250, 000 SDR per
passenger on each distinct occasion unless the carrier proves that the
incident resulted from an act of war, hostilities, civil war, insurrection
or a natural phenomenon of an exceptional, inevitable and irresistible
character; or was wholly caused by an act or omission done with the intent
to cause the incident by a third party.
If the loss exceeds this limit, the carrier is further liable – up to a
limit of 400, 000 SDR per passenger on each distinct occasion – unless the
carrier proves that the incident which caused the loss occurred without the
fault or neglect of the carrier.
As far as loss of, or damage to, luggage is concerned, the carrier’s limit
of liability varies, depending on whether the loss or damage occurred in
respect of cabin luggage, of a vehicle and/or luggage carried in or on it,
or in respect of other luggage.
* The liability of the carrier for the loss of or damage to cabin luggage
is limited to 2, 250 SDR per passenger, per carriage.
* Liability of the carrier for the loss of or damage to vehicles including
all luggage carried in or on the vehicle is limited to 12, 700 SDR per
vehicle, per carriage.
* Liability of the carrier for the loss of or damage to other luggage is
limited to 3, 375 SDR per passenger, per carriage.
The carrier and the passenger may agree that the liability of the carrier
shall be subject to a deductible not exceeding 330 SDR in the case of
damage to a vehicle and not exceeding 149 SDR per passenger in the case of
loss of or damage to other luggage, such sum to be deducted from the loss
or damage.
The 2002 Athens Convention also introduces compulsory insurance, as well as
mechanisms to assist passengers in obtaining compensation, based on
well-accepted principles applied in existing liability and compensation
regimes dealing with environmental pollution. These include replacing the
fault-based liability system with a strict liability system for shipping
related incidents, backed by the requirement that the carrier take out
compulsory insurance to cover these potential claims….
….The 2002 PAL Protocol has now been ratified by 10 States: Albania,
Belgium, Belize, Denmark, Latvia, Netherlands, Palau, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Serbia and Syrian Arab Republic. It has been also ratified by the
European Union. The 1974 convention has been ratified by 35 States.
(For information about operations around the world contact the respective
GAC office. Details may be found in the ‘Contacts’ section of www.gac.com)
Source: Extract from International Maritime Organisation (www.imo.org) news
release dated 25 April 2013
DATE: April 25, 2013
COUNTRY: Nigeria
PORT: all ports
Vessel attacked off Nigerian coast
A maritime security alert has been issued for the Gulf of Guinea after
Liberia-flagged container ship Hansa Marburg was reportedly attacked 108NM
south of Bonny, Nigeria.
Four crew members (two Russian and two Filipino nationals) were reportedly
kidnapped during the attack. The attack occurred in position 02:35N –
006:52E on 23 April. No further details were available at the time of
writing.
The attack is the third long-range incident off Nigeria in ten days, after
Greek tanker Cap Theodora was unsuccessfully attacked twice on 16 and 23
April approximately 47NM south of the position.
Both attacks were reportedly launched from a previously-hijacked fishing
trawler.
Vessels should be aware that the risk of attack for the purposes of
robbery, kidnap for ransom, or hijack will continue up to 150NM off the
Nigerian coast for the foreseeable future. Vessel hardening and defensive
measures should be in place to mitigate the risk of attack.
(To learn more about services to protect ships, cargoes and crew from
maritime security threats, contact GAC Maritime Security Services, Powered
by AKE, at ake@gac.com
For information about operations in Nigeria contact GAC Nigeria at
nigeria@gac.com)
Source: AKE Maritime Security Alert dated 25 April 2013
DATE: April 25, 2013
COUNTRY: Benin
PORT: Cotonou
Port closure for Labour Day holiday
The port of Cotonou will close from 20:00 hours on 30 April until 080:00
hours on 2 May at 0800 for the Labour Day public holiday in Benin and Togo.
The containers terminal at Lome port will also be closed.
Operations at Lome container terminals that have started on 30 April will
be stopped on 1 May at 1000 AM and resume on 2nd May 2013.
For information about operations in Benin and Togo, please contact GAC-OMA
Benin at gac-oma.benin@gac.com
DATE: April 25, 2013
COUNTRY: United States
PORT: San Francisco, California
Proposed change to offshore traffic lane buoys
The U.S. Coast Guard is proposing to discontinue San Francisco South
Traffic Lane Lighted Bell Buoy, San Francisco North Traffic Lane Lighted
Bell Buoy, and San Francisco West Traffic Lane Lighted Gong Buoy W (LLNR
345, 375 and 350).
Direct any questions, comments, or feedback no later than May 29th, 2013 to
LT Melissa Smith at 510-437-5984 or Melissa.A.Smith@uscg.mil.
(For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at
usa@gac.com)
Source: Coast Guard District Eleven Local Notice to Mariners Extract
(Redacted) 16/2013 Proposed Change Notice
DATE: April 25, 2013
COUNTRY: Hong Kong
PORT: Hong Kong
Repair Works for Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade
For approximately 9 months, repair works for a section of the Tsim Sha Tsui
Promenade will be carried out within the area bounded by straight lines
joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (E) and the
adjacent shoreline:
(A) 22 deg. 17.628’N / 114 deg. 10.533’E
(B) 22 deg. 17.620’N / 114 deg. 10.534’E
(C) 22 deg. 17.572’N / 114 deg. 10.492’E
(D) 22 deg. 17.564’N / 114 deg. 10.393’E
(E) 22 deg. 17.594’N / 114 deg. 10.355’E
The works will be carried out from a platform erected under the promenade.
Six working boats will provide assistance. The number of vessels engaged in
the works will change from time to time to suit operational requirements.
The hours of work will be from 0800 to 1800 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 work.
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.51 of 2013
DATE: April 25, 2013
COUNTRY: Singapore
PORT: Singapore
Reclamation of Tuas View Extension
The working period for Tuas View Extension reclamation works has been
extended. The works will now be conducted from 28 April to 27 October.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s Port Marine
Notive No.54 of 2013, the works will be carried out 24 hours daily –
including Sundays & Public Holidays – within a working area bounded by the
following coordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
A) 01° 16.762’N / 103° 38.512’E
B) 01° 16.603’N / 103° 38.496’E
(HVB-03/ Yellow Pillar/Fl Y 6s)
C) 01° 16.313’N / 103° 38.475’E
(TS-01/ Yellow Pillar/Fl Y 4s)
D) 01° 16.062’N / 103° 38.455’E
E) 01° 15.851’N / 103° 38.412’E
F) 01° 15.570’N / 103° 37.820’E
(HVB-05/ Yellow Pillar/Fl Y 4s)
G) 01° 15.280’N / 103° 37.230’E
(HVB-06/ Yellow Pillar/Fl Y 2s)
H) 01° 15.060’N / 103° 36.760’E
I) 01° 15.180’N / 103° 36.760’E
J) 01° 15.180’N / 103° 36.720’E
K) 01° 15.230’N / 103° 36.720’E
L) 01° 15.230’N / 103° 36.340’E
M) 01° 16.011’N / 103° 36.342’E
N) 01° 16.345’N / 103° 36.463’E
(HVB-09/ Green Conical/Fl G 4s)
O) 01° 16.683’N / 103° 36.588’E
P) 01° 16.821’N / 103° 36.638’E
Q) 01° 16.369’N / 103° 36.194’E
(HVB-11/ Yellow Trestle/Fl Y 2s)
The approved craft will be involved in the construction of a seawall. The
craft will also be deployed to carry out piling, dredging and reclamation
works in 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 area, mariners are reminded to:
(a) keep well clear and not to enter the working area;
(b) maintain a proper look-out;
(c) proceed at a safe speed;
(d) maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 22;
and
(e) communicate with Jurong Control on VHF Channel 22 for any assistance,
if required.
For information about operations in Singapore contact GAC Singapore at
singapore@gac.com
DATE: April 25, 2013
Bunker Update:
MARKET PRICE UPDATE 25/04/13
GAC Bunker Fuels Ltd Pricing Alert
MARKET PRICE UPDATE 25/04/13
180 CST 380 CST MGO MDO
Aberdeen 0 0 865.00 0
Aden 730.00 0 1, 090.00 0
Alexandria 725.00 700.00 1, 200.00 0
Amsterdam 596.00 571.00 826.00 0
Antwerp 601.00 574.00 834.00 0
Aqaba 0 728.00 1, 030.00 0
Bahrain 0 0 980.00 0
Bergen 655.00 635.00 870.00 0
Busan 661.00 636.00 890.00 880.00
Cape Town 0 0 964.00 0
Colombo 695.00 675.00 1, 060.00 0
Dubai 630.00 614.00 820.00 0
Durban 653.00 0 1, 086.00 0
Falmouth 0 605.00 970.00 0
Fujairah 686.00 617.00 1, 015.00 0
Gibraltar 649.50 623.50 900.50 0
Hong Kong 627.00 617.75 905.50 0
Houston 668.00 578.00 937.00 0
Istanbul 640.50 612.50 922.50 0
Jeddah 695.00 675.00 1, 080.00 0
Kaohsiung 656.00 652.00 924.00 909.00
Kuwait 623.00 616.00 1, 014.00 0
Leith 0 0 909.00 0
Lerwick 0 0 878.00 0
Malta 669.50 643.50 875.50 0
Mumbai 666.00 659.00 1, 029.50 0
New York & New Jersey 615.00 585.00 955.00 0
Panama 679.00 597.00 992.00 0
Piraeus 664.50 639.50 881.50 0
Port Louis 734.00 0 1, 043.00 0
Port Said 725.00 710.00 1, 175.00 0
Qatar 0 0 895.00 0
Richards Bay 660.00 0 1, 105.00 0
Rio de Janeiro 609.50 586.00 990.00 0
Rotterdam 604.00 579.00 834.00 0
Salalah 710.00 665.00 1, 100.00 0
Shanghai 661.50 641.00 1, 080.00 0
Sharjah 630.00 614.00 820.00 0
Singapore 631.00 624.00 853.00 0
St Petersburg 570.50 550.50 0 0
Stavanger 0 0 865.00 0
Suez 720.00 692.00 1, 080.00 0
Walvis Bay 725.00 0 1, 020.00 0
West Africa OFFSHORE – FROM ABIDJAN TO LUANDA 0 685.00 1, 073.00 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.
