Hot Port News from GAC

Your daily news service from ports around the world.

In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
* United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Safety zone for fireworks display
* Australia, all ports – Cyclone Update – Dampier & Port Hedland
* Australia, Newcastle – Revision to the Newcastle Vessel Arrival System (VAS)
* Australia, all ports – Australian coal terminals maintenance shutdown
* Australia, Abbot Point – Increase to Towage Tariff at Abbot Point

DATE: December 31, 2013
COUNTRY: United States
PORT: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Safety zone for fireworks display

The U.S. coast guard is establishing a safety zone for a fireworks display
that will be taking place on New Year Eve from 1730 to 1900 and from 2330
to 0100 in the vicinity of Penns landing on the Delaware river in
Philadelphia, PA.

The zone spans from the Pennsylvania shore to the New Jersey shore and is
bounded in the south by a line from position 39-36.31N, 075-08.28W to
39-56.29N, 075-07.56W and bounded to the north by the Ben Franklin Bridge.

Mariners will not be allowed to transit during the times when the fireworks
are being discharged. The safety vessel on scene can be contacted on VHF
Channel 16.

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

DATE: December 31, 2013
COUNTRY: Australia
PORT: all ports
Cyclone Update – Dampier & Port Hedland

Tropical Cyclone Christine crossed the Pilbara Coast over night and has now
been downgraded to a Category 2 system.

At this stage the port of Dampier, Port Walcott and Port Hedland remain
closed.  There is no information at this time as to damage to port
facilities or as to when they may re-open.  Once the threat has fully
passed the local authorities will carry out an inspection of the facilities
and determine when it will be safe for them to re-open.  We will advise
further on this as soon as more information is known.

There is no indication at this stage of any effect to inland mines or rail
/ road networks.  Follow up rain from the cyclone may have a bearing on
this over the next few days.  We will monitor this and report on any
relevant events.

Our local offices also remain closed until such time as the threat has
fully passed and power and communications have been restored (if required).

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

DATE: December 31, 2013
COUNTRY: Australia
PORT: Newcastle
Revision to the Newcastle Vessel Arrival System (VAS)

The Newcastle Port Corporation (NPC)  has implemented a variation to the
issuing of NAT’s for some vessel’s.

If when the NAT would normally have been issued  at 7 days from Newcastle,
the Master’s ETA is within 48 hours of the estimated time of loading as
advised by the relevant terminal, the vessel will not be issued an NAT at
this time.

The vessel will be required to make its best speed to 10nm from Newcastle
where the NAT will be assigned at this time.

This variation is in line with Rule 4.6 which states;

4.6 If in relation to a vessel that has complied with Rule 3, NPC fails to:

(a)    Notify a vessel of its 7 day Notified Arrival Time and its ETL in
accordance with Rule 4.1; or

(b)   Establish a vessel’s Priority in the queue in accordance with rule
4.3.(unless one of the Rules in Part 7 applies)

Then the affected vessel may arrive at 10nm off the Port and notify NPC of
its arrival as soon as possible. Having so notified NPC as its arrival time
such a vessel with be allocated a position in the queue based in the actual
time of its arrival at 10 nm off the Port and Rule 7 will not be applied to
that vessel for arriving at this point.

This variation has been implemented due to the low queue environment that
presently exists and due to observations that some vessels who would be
loading on arrival have slowed and have not been available to load as
initially scheduled.

For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at
shipping.australia@gac.com
Source: The Newcastle Port Corporation

DATE: December 31, 2013
COUNTRY: Australia
PORT: all ports
Australian coal terminals maintenance shutdown

Please be advised that Abbot Point will be shut down for maintenance on
these dates below:

-From 0700 hours to 1900 hours on 1 Jan 2014
-From 0700 hours on 2 Jan 2014, to 1900 hours on 3rd Jan 2014.

Gladstone Terminal’s scheduled maintenance will be on:

-14 Jan 2014 – 16 Jan 2014 at Shiploader 2
-4 Feb 2014- 7 Feb 2014 at Shiploader 3
-18 Feb 2014 – 20 Feb 2014 at Shiploader 1

Barney Point Coal Terminal’s scheduled maintenance will be from 11 Feb 2014
to 13 Feb 2014.

During these periods, there will be no ship loading operation.

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

DATE: December 31, 2013
COUNTRY: Australia
PORT: Abbot Point
Increase to Towage Tariff at Abbot Point

Bowen Towage Company, the provider of towage services at Aboot Point, has
advised the following changes in towage tariff:

-Effective from 1 December 2013 – the Volume Based Surcharge (VBS) will be
re-introduced at the rate of 25%. This rate will be reviewed on a 6 monthly
basis.

-Effective from 1 January 2014 – the towage tariff will increase by 9.6%

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

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