Your daily news service from ports around the world.
In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
* United States, all ports – Termination of 2 MHz distress watchkeeping
service
* Oman, Salalah Port – Section of distressed vessel sited
* Singapore, Singapore – Dumping of excavated materials
* Singapore, all ports – Haze Alert – 24-hour PSI level 101-200 (20 June 2013)
* Australia, Newcastle – New towage provider to start operations
DATE: June 20, 2013
COUNTRY: United States
PORT: all ports
Termination of 2 MHz distress watchkeeping service
Effective 1 August, 2013, the U. S. Coast Guard will terminate its radio
guard of the international voice distress, safety and calling frequency
2182 kHz and the international digital selective calling (DSC) distress and
safety frequency 2187.5 kHz.
Additionally, marine information and weather broadcasts transmitted on 2670
kHz will terminate concurrently.
The Coast Guard will continue to maintain a continuous watch on VHF FM
channel 16 (156.8 MHz) and on existing voice and DSC frequencies in the
4/6/8/12 MHz bands as described in the Coast Guard Navigation Center
website http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?
(For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at
usa@gac.com)
Source: U.S. Coast Marine Washington D, C. Safety Alert No.06-13
DATE: June 20, 2013
COUNTRY: Oman
PORT: Salalah Port
Section of distressed vessel sited
The U.S. Navy Maritime Liaison Office (MARLO), Bahrain has issued an update
with further information about the distressed vessel MOL Comfort that was
reported to have suffered hull damage and be sinking approximately 430 NM
southeast of Salalah, Oman on Monday 17 June.
In its latest Maritime Advisory to Shipping on the subject, MARLO states
that at 1500 hours yesterday (19 June), a sighting of the astern section of
MOL Comfort was reported at IVO GEOCOORDS: 13-01.1N 061-30.6E; movement of
section – 068 degrees; speed: 1.9 knots; wind: southwesterly at 35 knots;
sea: very rough.
No floating containers or debris was reported visually or on radar.
All vessels are advised to transit the area with extreme caution.
For information about operations in and off Salalah, Oman, contact GAC Oman
at salalah@gac.com
DATE: June 20, 2013
COUNTRY: Singapore
PORT: Singapore
Dumping of excavated materials
The working area and period for the dumping of excavated materials off Tuas
View Extension have been revised.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine
Notice No.83 of 2013 dated
20 June, the works will conducted 24 hours daily – including Sundays &
Public Holidays – from 20 June to 19 December within the working area
bounded by the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
1. 1 deg. 15.030’N / 103 deg. 37.080’E
2. 1 deg. 15.060’N / 103 deg. 37.141’E
3. 1 deg. 15.060’N / 103 deg. 37.524’E
(HS-TVE-01 / Fl.Y.3s (sync))
4. 1 deg. 15.019’N / 103 deg. 37.524’E
5. 1 deg. 15.019’N / 103 deg. 37.874’E
(HS-TVE-05 / Fl.Y.3s (sync))
6. 1 deg. 15.019’N / 103 deg. 38.243’E
7. 1 deg. 14.965’N / 103 deg. 38.243’E
8. 1 deg. 14.965’N / 103 deg. 37.874’E
(HS-TVE-04 / Fl.Y.3s (sync))
9. 1 deg. 14.965’N / 103 deg. 37.524’E
10. 1 deg. 14.894’N / 103 deg. 37.524’E
(HS-TVE-02 / Fl.Y.3s (sync))
11. 1 deg. 14.894’N / 103 deg. 37.124’E
(HS-TVE-03 / Fl.Y.3s (sync))
Dumping of excavated materials will be carried out by hopper barges within
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) maintain a proper look-out;
(b) keep well clear and not to enter the working area;
(c) maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 22 (Jurong Control);
and
(d) 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: June 20, 2013
COUNTRY: Singapore
PORT: all ports
Haze Alert – 24-hour PSI level 101-200 (20 June 2013)
It has been reported that the average 24-hour PSI level [in Singapore] is
between 101 and 200. This PSI level range is considered as unhealthy.
Shipping & Harbour Craft communities, shipowners, shipping agents, terminal
operators and marine service providers are advised to monitor the PSI
level through media.
Employers are advised to monitor their outdoor workers and provide them
with suitable respirators when they are engaged in outdoor activities in
the port waters.
(For information about operations in Singapore contact GAC Singapore at
sngapore@gac.com)
Source: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.82
of 2013 dated 20 June 2013
DATE: June 20, 2013
COUNTRY: Australia
PORT: Newcastle
New towage provider to start operations
From 22 July, a second towage operator will start offering services at the
port of Newcastle, which is currently serviced by just one provider.
PB Towage will start offering their service with four tugs based in
Newcastle. The port is already served by Svitzer.
For further details, and information about operations in Australia contact
GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
