Your daily news service from ports around the world.
In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
* South Africa, Cape Town – Tug & tow operation
* United States, Mobile, Alabama – Traffic limited in ship channel after grounding
* Indonesia, all ports – General Election
* Australia, all ports – Proposed overhaul of coastal shipping regime
* Australia, Port Hedland – Possible tug strike
* Argentina, all ports – Nationwide strike announced
DATE: April 08, 2014
COUNTRY: South Africa
PORT: Cape Town
Tug & tow operation
On 9 April, shipping movements [in Cape Town] will be affected due to the
following job: tug and tow @1530: The Go Altar which will be going to
Eastern MOL 1.
(For information about operations in Cape Town contact GAC South Africa at
shipping.capetown@gac.com)
Source: Transnet Memorandum dated 8 April 2014
DATE: April 08, 2014
COUNTRY: United States
PORT: Mobile, Alabama
Traffic limited in ship channel after grounding
The U.S. Coast Guard has restricted traffic in the Mobile Ship Channel
following the grounding of a vessel between buoys 36 & 38 yesterday (7
April).
After the container ship ran aground outside the channel, reportedly as a
result of a steering failure, a Safety Marine Information Broadcast was
issued restricting vessels with a draft of more than 30 feet from
transiting. All vessels allowed to transit are on a one-at-a-time basis.
There are no reports of pollution or injuries. The cause of the incident is
under investigation.
For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com
DATE: April 08, 2014
COUNTRY: Indonesia
PORT: all ports
General Election
Indonesia’s General Election will take place tomorrow (Wednesday 9 April),
and the day will effectively be a public holiday for most Government
institutions and sub-contractors.
Terminals and port activities, however, will not be affected and will be
working as normal. Andhika GAC Indonesia staff will also be working as
normal.
For information about operations at Indonesian ports conmtact Andhika GAC
Indonesia at shipping.indonesia@gac.com
DATE: April 08, 2014
COUNTRY: Australia
PORT: all ports
Proposed overhaul of coastal shipping regime
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and
Regional Development, the Hon Warren Truss MP, has today (8 April)
announced the release of an options paper on approaches to regulating
coastal shipping.
The Department is currently seeking views from interested parties about
approaches to the regulation of coastal trading.
Further details can be found via the following link.
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/maritime/business/coastal_trading/review/index.aspx
For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at
shipping.australia@gac.com
DATE: April 08, 2014
COUNTRY: Australia
PORT: Port Hedland
Possible tug strike
The risk of strike action at Port Hedland has escalated, after two more
unions representing tugboat workers sought permission to ballot workers
which possibly could lead to industrial action.
Last week, the Maritime Workers’ Union representing tug deckhands won
permission from the Fair Work Commission to ballot workers over possible
industrial action, and unions representing engineers on tugboats (AIMPE)
and tug Masters (Aust Maritime Officers Union) are now seeking permission
to do the same.
The three unions are in dispute with the tug operator over a new workplace
deal.
The tug deckhands already have permission for a ballot, and have started a
five week voting period after ballots were posted out on Friday. (4 April).
The dispute could affect iron ore miners that ship product via Port Hedland
including BHP Billiton, Fortescue Metals and Atlas Iron, as well as imports
of construction equipment for new mine projects and port expansion.
For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at
shipping.australia@gac.com
DATE: April 08, 2014
COUNTRY: Argentina
PORT: all ports
Nationwide strike announced
A nationwide strike has been announced in Argentina for Thursday (10Â April).
As a result, no launch and mooring/unmooring services at San Lorenzo and
Rosario Ports on the day of the strike.
For information about operations in the Americas, contact the GAC Houston
Hub Agency Centre at hub.us@gac.com
GAC is the world’s leading provider of services and solutions for the
global Shipping, Logistics and Marine industries.
“Jo”
