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Hot Port News from GAC

by admin

Your daily news service from ports around the world.

In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
* United Kingdom, Aberdeen – Test bores
* United States, all ports – Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus
(MERS-CoV)
* India, Chennai – Port Security Level raised
* Singapore, Singapore – Autonomous system experiments
* Australia, Melbourne – Towage and minimum tug requirements provision
* Panama, Panama Canal – Extension of culvert outage at Miraflores Locks

DATE: July 19, 2013
COUNTRY: United Kingdom
PORT: Aberdeen
Test bores

The jack up drilling barges “Haven Seaway” and “Sea Jack 1” are conducting
test bores within Nigg Bay south of Aberdeen Harbour until 31 October.

Shipping is advised to give both barges a wide berth.

For information about operations in the UK contact GAC UK at uk@gac.com

DATE: July 19, 2013
COUNTRY: United States
PORT: all ports
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

Masters of ships destined for U.S. ports are required to immediately report
any ill person among passengers or crew to the quarantine station with
jurisdiction at which the ship will arrive.

Over the past ten months, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been
notified of 82 laboratory-confirmed cases of the Middle East Respiratory
Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Of these 82 cases, 45 resulted in death.
This viral respiratory illness originated in the Arabian Peninsula in 2012
and spread globally. Infected persons display severe pneumonia-like
symptoms including acute respiratory infection, fever, cough, and shortness
of breath.

The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) has issued an Advisory
(No.2013-04) which states that crew members or passengers should be
considered ‘suspicious’ if they have the following:

* Acute respiratory infection, which may include fever greater than 38 deg.
C (100.4 deg. F), cough and shortness or breath;
AND
* History of travel form the Arabian Peninsula or neighbouring countries
within 14 days;

OR

* Persons who develop severe acute lower respiratory illness who are close
contacts of an ill symptomatic traveler who developed fever and acute
respiratory illness within 14 days after travel from the Arabian Peninsula
or neighbouring countries. Close contact is defined as providing care for
the ill traveler (e.g., a healthcare worker or family member), or having
similar close physical contact; or having stayed at the same place (e.g.
lived with, visited) as the traveler while the traveler was ill.

Suspicious ill crew members and passengers should be isolated in a private
cabin until they are evaluated by a doctor to prevent transmission to
others. Contact with other passengers and crew should be minimized. If
masks are available, the ill crew member or passenger should wear a mask
while not in isolation to prevent further spread. Cabin mates and other
close contacts of ill persons should be actively monitored for fever and
respiratory symptoms for 14 days after the last known exposure.

Health care providers should follow the U.S. Centers for Diseases Control
(CDC) infection control recommendations for the severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, which can be found at
http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/downloads/isolation2007.pdf

U.S. Foreign Quarantine Regulations, 42 CFR part 71.21, require the master
of a ship destined for a U.S. port to immediately report the onboard
occurrence of any death or any ill person among passengers or crew to the
quarantine station with jurisdiction over the port at which the ship will
arrive. Reporting guidance can be found at
http://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/travel-industry/cruise/notification-public-health-authorities-ill-passengers-crew-destined-united-states.html

Information regarding cdc quarantine stations can be found at
http://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/quarantinestations.html

Taking these everyday actions can help prevent the spread of germs and
protect against colds, flu, and other illnesses:
– wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not
available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
– avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.
– avoid close contact with sick people.

CDC information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/ and a
Travel Notice is available at
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/coronavirus-arabian-peninsula.
However, the CDC, WHO, and U.S. Department of State do not recommend any
travel or trade restrictions at this time.

Additional information is available at
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/coronavirus_infections/en/

For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com

DATE: July 19, 2013
COUNTRY: India
PORT: Chennai
Port Security Level raised

Chennai Port Trust has advised that the Security Level of the entire port
(anchorage and inner harbour) has been raised to MARSEC Level II.

For information about operations in India contact GAC India at
india@gac.com

DATE: July 19, 2013
COUNTRY: Singapore
PORT: Singapore
Autonomous system experiments

From 1 to 18 August 2013, autonomous system experiments will be carried
out in the East Johor Strait.

According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s Port Marine
Notice No.97 of 2013, the works will be conducted between 0800 and 1800
hours daily – including Saturdays & Sundays – off Pulau Serangoon, Pulau
Punggol Timor, Pulau Seletar and their vicinity, within the working areas
bounded by the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum):

Working Area “1”
1) 01° 24.003’N / 103° 56.269’E
2) 01° 23.175’N / 103° 57.300’E
3) 01° 23.087’N / 103° 57.125’E
4) 01° 23.767’N / 103° 56.181’E

Working Area “2”
5) 01° 25.131’N / 103° 55.186’E
6) 01° 24.302’N / 103° 56.041’E
7) 01° 24.203’N / 103° 55.946’E
8) 01° 25.024’N / 103° 55.053’E

Working Area “3”
9)  01° 26.045’N / 103° 52.906’E
10) 01° 25.439’N / 103° 53.958’E
11) 01° 25.266’N / 103° 53.859’E
12) 01° 25.889’N / 103° 52.829’E

Working Area “4”
13) 01° 27.224’N / 103° 51.774’E
14) 01° 26.103’N / 103° 51.537’E
15) 01° 25.936’N / 103° 52.322’E
16) 01° 27.075’N / 103° 51.581’E

Working Area “5”
1) 01° 28.260’N / 103° 47.983’E
2) 01° 28.140’N / 103° 48.058’E
3) 01° 28.027’N / 103° 47.879’E
4) 01° 28.147’N / 103° 47.804’E

The experiments and collection of data will be carried out by deploying
autonomous underwater vehicles in the working areas.

During the experiments, the autonomous underwater vehicles will be closely
followed by the safety boats.

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 and not to enter the working areas;
(b) maintain a proper lookout;
(c) proceed at a safe speed & navigate with caution;
(d) maintain a listening watch on VHF channel 21 (Sembawang Control);
and
(e) communicate with Sembawang Control on VHF 21 for assistance, if
required.

For information about operations in Singapore contact GAC Singapore at
singapore@gac.com

DATE: July 19, 2013
COUNTRY: Australia
PORT: Melbourne
Towage and minimum tug requirements provision

The attention of Masters, their Agents and Pilots is drawn to the Port’s
towage and minimum requirements, as detailed in section 2.9.2 of the Port
Operations Handbook and Harbour Master’s Directions.

In particular, the second dot point reads:

“Outbound vessels/vessels arriving from an anchorage: If the master wishes
to order towage in excess of the minimum tig requirements as per the
Harbour Master’s Direction, he must advise Melbourne VTS of his
requirements at least 2 hours prior to the vessel’s departure from the
berth/anchorage.”

Melbourne VTS must be advised of tug requirements at least 2 hours prior to
the vessel’s departure from berth or anchorage.

Masters, their Agents and Pilots must comply with the above towage
requirement.

(For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at
shipping.australia@gac.com)

Source: Portt of Melbourne Port Information Notice No.02/2013 dated 19 July
2013

DATE: July 19, 2013
COUNTRY: Panama
PORT: Panama Canal
Extension of culvert outage at Miraflores Locks

The ongoing centerwall culvert outage at Miraflores Locks is being extended
until 1600 hours Tueaday, July 20, 2013. Consequently, the outage
previously announced for August 10 through 28 is hereby cancelled.

The decision to make this change was based on the low arrivals during the
month of July, as well as the low number of vessels presently awaiting
transit. This change should reduce the number of days required to conduct
the repairs originally scheduled for August….

….As a result, and in accordance with the rules governing the Transit
Reservation System, Conditions 1.a will remain in effect from July 22, 2013
through July 30, 2013.

Applications for reserved transits while the above-mentioned condition is
in effect will be received beginning at 0900 hours July 19, 2013. The
Just-In-Time transit slots available for supers will be reduced to one per
direction during this period, and the JIT slots available for regular
vessels transiting without restrictions will also remain at one per
direction. The booking slot available through the Auction Process, as well
as the slots available for regular vessels less than 300 feet in LOA, will
continue to be offered during this period.

(For information about operations in the Panama Canal contact GAC-Wilford &
McKay at gac-wilfordmckay.panama@gac.com)

Source: Panama Canal Authority Advisory to Shipping No.A-19-2013 dated 19
July 2013

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