Your daily news service from ports around the world.
In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
* Thailand, Map Ta Phut tank terminal – OIl spill update (2 August 2013)
* Hong Kong, Hong Kong – Marine Site Investigation off Tit Cham Chau
* Australia, Port Kembla – Pilot availability
* Turkey, all ports – Panama-flagged vessels calling at Turkish ports
DATE: August 02, 2013
COUNTRY: Thailand
PORT: Map Ta Phut tank terminal
OIl spill update (2 August 2013)
Port and shipping operations at Map Ta Phut are continuing as normal, except at the PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (PTTGC) Single Point Mooring (SPM), following the oil spill on Saturday (27 July).
According to the latest PTTGC press release, the incident was caused by the leak of the 16-inch diameter pipe at the Single Point Mooring 20 km southeast of the Map Ta Phut seaport while the crude oil was transferred to the refinery.
On the night of 31 July, the Company’s staff and troops of the Royal Thai Navy had performed an overnight slick-removing operation in the south of Prao Bay, resulting the almost complete removal of the slick within the area.
On August 1, volunteers from various groups and navy crews continued to work to remove the oil slick and recover the environment. Along the beach, absorbent booms have been remotely placed for better oil absorbency, preventing the spreading of the oil off the Bay. Further, the vacuum truck
collected the oil slick from Prao Bay for further elimination. A ship has been deployed to spray an oil-spill dispersant and to use equipment to block and collect the oil slick. The operation deploys 6 PTTGC ships and 2 alliance ships from Thai Oil Public Company Limited, placing absorbent
booms at 2 locations. Surveillance boats are patrolling 24 hours.
For further details go to
http://www.pttgcgroup.com/
For information about operations in Thailand contact GAC Thailand at
shipping.thailand@gac.com
DATE: August 02, 2013
COUNTRY: Hong Kong
PORT: Hong Kong
Marine Site Investigation off Tit Cham Chau
For approximately three months, marine site investigation works involving drilling of boreholes will be carried out [off Tit Cham Chau] within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (D) and the adjacent shoreline:
(A) 22 deg. 16.038’N / 114 deg. 16.799’E
(B) 22 deg. 15.974’N / 114 deg. 16.913’E
(C) 22 deg. 15.693’N / 114 deg. 16.707’E
(D) 22 deg. 15.742’N / 114 deg. 16.621’E
The works will be carried out by one flat top barge. One tug will provide assistance.
A working area of approximately 50 metres around the barge will be established. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the barge.
The hours of work will be from 0700 to 1900 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.91 of 2013 dated 1 August 2013
DATE: August 02, 2013
COUNTRY: Australia
PORT: Port Kembla
Pilot availability
Port Kembla Port Authority has provided the following update on the availability of pilots at the port:
Two of the trainee Pilots have completed their training programs and are licensed to Level 4 ‘Unlimited’ status, and can now pilot any size vessel.
An update for the weekend as follows:
a. Pilotage services over the weekend will be provided by an unlimited level pilot for dayshift Fri-Sun and a pilot licensed to Restricted Level 3 (229m vessels, Car Carriers to 200m) for nightshift Fri-Sun.
b. Services over the weekend will be augmented by a Check Pilot for the period 1200-2359 and for training supervision as available
Pilotage services for next week (commencing 0600 Mon 5 August 2013) be provided by:
a. An unlimited level pilot for Dayshift Mon-Thu, then Night-shift Fri-Sun.
b. A pilot licensed to Level 3 (275m vessels, Car Carriers/ Ro-Ros to 245m) for Night-shift Mon-Wed, then Dayshift Fri-Sun
c. An unlimited level pilot for nightshift on Thu 8 Aug 13
The Port Authority will continue to work in minimising disruption to port users during this period.
For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
DATE: August 02, 2013
COUNTRY: Turkey
PORT: all ports
Panama-flagged vessels calling at Turkish ports
The Consulate General of Panama in Istanbul has advised that the authorities of Panama Ship Registry received many complaints on forged documents.
To minimize these complaints, they have developed a new application with the purpose of preventing Panama-flagged vessels with unverified certificates calling at Turkish Ports.
For further details and information about operations in Turkey contact GAC
Turkey at turkey@gac.com
