Your daily news service from ports around the world.
In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
* Hong Kong, all ports – Safe navigation in poor visibility
* Australia, Torres Strait – New pilot fees schedule
* Panama, Panama Canal – Commitment to Expansion Program
* Bunker Update – MARKET PRICE UPDATE 07/01/2014
DATE: January 07, 2014
COUNTRY: Hong Kong
PORT: all ports
Safe navigation in poor visibility
Masters, coxswains and persons-in-charge of vessels are hereby reminded to
strictly comply with the International Regulations for Preventing
Collisions at Sea, 1972 when navigating within Hong Kong waters, especially
in poor visibility.
All vessels navigating in Hong Kong waters shall do so at a safe speed not
exceeding the applicable speed restrictions. Extreme caution should be
exercised when navigating in fog, heavy rain or restricted visibility.
Appropriate sound signals shall be made in accordance with the
International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972.
The importance of Rules 5 (Look-out), 6 (Safe speed), 7 (Risk of
collision), 8 (Action to avoid collision) and 19 (Conduct of vessels in
restricted visibility) of the International Regulations for Preventing
Collisions at Sea, 1972 should be borne in mind at all times when
navigating with the aid of radar in restricted visibility.
It should be noted that when radar is used without the benefit of adequate
plotting facilities, the traffic information obtained thereof is rather
scanty and should be construed accordingly.
When the visibility in any part of Hong Kong waters or its approaches is
reduced to less than two nautical miles, for example by fog or mist, the
Vessel Traffic Centre (Call-sign “MARDEP”) will broadcast visibility
reports on the major traffic routes and other water areas on V.H.F.
Channels 12, 14 and 67. These will be broadcast on each hour until such
time the visibility has improved to more than two nautical miles.
Masters of vessels issued with miscellaneous permits to proceed at a speed
exceeding the maximum permitted speed stipulated under the Shipping and
Port Control Regulations and the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels)
(General) Regulation, formerly known as ‘Speed Restriction Exemption
Permits’, should strictly observe the condition specified on the permits
regarding their validity when the prevailing visibility is less than one
nautical mile.
In the event of an accident, this should be reported immediately to the
Vessel Traffic Centre, either on V.H.F. (channel 12, 14 or 67) or by
telephone (no. 2233 7801 or 2233 7802).
8. This Notice supersedes Marine Department Notice No. 172 of 2012.
(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.2 of 2014
DATE: January 07, 2014
COUNTRY: Australia
PORT: Torres Strait
New pilot fees schedule
Torres Pilots Pty Ltd have announced that a new fee schedule will come into
effect at the port from 1 February 2014.
For details of the new fees, and information about operations at Australia
ports, contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
DATE: January 07, 2014
COUNTRY: Panama
PORT: Panama Canal
Commitment to Expansion Program
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) reaffirms its commitment to the
international maritime community and its customers to successfully complete
the Expansion Program, thereby fulfilling its objective in offering a new
era o opportunities to world maritime commerce.
To date, the Expansion Program has an overall completion rate of 72% and
the new locks project, which is one component of the Expansion Program, is
65% complete. The project is expected to be open to commercial transits by
mid-2015.
In recent statements to the press, the contractor of the new locks, Grupo
Unidos por el Canal, S.A. (GUPCSA), has expressed its intention to
negotiate outside the terms of the contract, demanding additional funds,
due to alleged cost overruns. The ACP trusts that the contractor will
comply with the terms and conditions agreed upon and that they file any
claims through the three-step process explicitly establioshed within the
contract. The ACP maintains the position that GUPCSA honors the contract
that was agreed upon.
We would liek to reassure our customers that the contract was well drafted
and includes guarantees for the completion of the new locks, even if the
ACP is ultimately required to assume control of the project and deliver it
within the shortest possible timeframe.
Our customers are our number one priority and we will seek to resolve this
conflict in the best possible manner within the legal framework of the
contract to ensure that the constructions continues and that the Expansion
Program is completed.
Rest assured that the above mentioned situation with the contractors in one
of the Canal Expansion projects has no impact upon our current Canal
operations.
(For information about operations in Panama contact GAC-Wilford & McKay at
gac-wilfordmckay.panama@gac.com)
Source: Panama Canal Authority Advisory to Shipping No.A-02-2013
DATE: January 07, 2014
Bunker Update:
MARKET PRICE UPDATE 07/01/2014
GAC Bunker Fuels Ltd Pricing Alert
MARKET PRICE UPDATE 07/01/2014
180 CST 380 CST MGO MDO Aberdeen 0 0 995.00 0 Aden 725.00 0 1, 110.00 0 Alexandria 750.00 0 1, 175.00 0 Amsterdam 588.00 565.00 886.00 0 Antwerp 597.00 570.00 884.00 0 Aqaba 0 705.00 1, 055.00 0 Bahrain 0 0 1, 039.00 0 Barrow 0 0 1, 010.00 0 Bergen 686.00 656.00 985.00 0 Busan 678.00 652.00 950.00 940.00 Cape Town 635.00 0 964.00 0 Colombo 665.00 660.00 1, 030.00 0 Dubai 635.00 620.00 890.00 0 Durban 613.00 0 1, 054.00 0 Falmouth 672.00 625.00 989.00 0 Fawley 0 0 984.00 0 Felixstowe 0 0 1, 058.00 0 Fujairah 615.00 605.00 995.00 0 Gibraltar 668.00 626.00 971.00 0 Grangemouth 0 0 1, 018.00 0 Harwich 0 0 1, 045.00 0 Hong Kong 638.00 630.00 943.50 0 Houston 650.00 595.00 975.00 0 Immingham 0 0 985.00 0 Invergordon 0 0 1, 010.00 0 Istanbul 651.00 618.00 990.00 0 Jeddah 680.00 660.00 1, 065.00 0 Kaohsiung 670.00 660.00 1, 035.00 1, 020.00 Kuwait 615.00 605.00 995.00 0 Leith 0 0 1, 026.00 0 Lerwick 0 0 625.00 0 Malta 708.00 678.00 951.00 0 Mersey 0 0 1, 001.00 0 Milford Haven 0 0 1, 027.00 0 Mumbai 638.00 628.00 1, 180.00 0 New York & New Jersey 650.00 595.00 970.00 0 Panama 675.00 615.00 1, 015.00 0 Piraeus 680.00 651.00 960.50 0 Plymouth 0 0 1, 035.00 0 Port Louis 720.00 0 1, 072.00 0 Port Said 750.00 665.00 1, 070.00 0 Qatar 0 0 960.00 0 Richards Bay 623.00 0 1, 064.00 0 Rio de Janeiro 620.00 596.00 1, 020.00 0 Rotterdam 603.00 572.00 899.00 0 Salalah 722.00 672.00 1, 130.00 0 Shanghai 667.00 652.00 1, 045.00 0 Sharjah 635.00 620.00 890.00 0 Singapore 617.00 606.00 935.00 0 St Petersburg 473.00 453.00 0 0 Stavanger 0 0 992.00 0 Suez 685.00 660.00 1, 065.00 0 Walvis Bay 670.00 0 1, 049.00 0 West Africa OFFSHORE 0 659.00 1, 012.00 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.
GAC is the world’s leading provider of services and solutions for the
global Shipping, Logistics and Marine industries.
“Jo”
