Cruise ship passenger drill requirements from 1 January
COUNTRY: Worldwide
New requirements for musters of newly embarked passengers prior to or immediately upon departure come into force on 1 January 2015.
The amended regulation III/19 in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea was adopted in 2013 in the wake of the Costa Concordia incident, to ensure that passengers undergo safety drills, including mustering at the lifeboat stations, before the ship departs or immediately on departure.
Previously, the requirement was for the muster of passengers to take place within 24 hours of their embarkation.
An amendment to SOLAS regulation III/19, on emergency training and drills, makes mandatory the carrying out of enclosed-space entry and rescue drills, which will require crew members with enclosed-space entry or rescue responsibilities to participate in an enclosed-space entry and rescue drill at least once every two months.
The International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft (HSC Code), the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODU Code) and the Code of Safety for Dynamically Supported Craft (DSC Code) have been similarly amended.
The aim of the amendments is to try and reduce the fatalities which might occur if crew enter enclosed spaces without adequate training or protection….
(For information about operations worldwide contact the respective GAC office. Details may be found in the GAC Worldwide section of www.gac.com)
Source: International Maritime Organisation (www.imo.org) press briefing No.45 of 2014
Port reopened
December 30, 2014, United States, Freeport, Texas
The Port of Freeport was reopened for traffic at 1500 hours local time yesterday (29 December), after being closed in the early hours of the morning due to fog.
For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com
Maintenance dredging at Sungei Changi
December 30, 2014, Singapore, Singapore
From 5 January to 5 June 2015, maintenance dredging work will be carried out at Sungei Changi.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.159 of 2014, the works will be conducted 24 hours daily – including Sundays & Public Holidays – within the working area bounded by the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
1) 01 deg. 23.629’N / 103 deg. 59.074’E
2) 01 deg. 23.640’N / 103 deg. 59.086’E
3) 01 deg. 23.595’N / 103 deg. 59.123’E
4) 01 deg. 23.574’N / 103 deg. 59.160’E
5) 01 deg. 23.553’N / 103 deg. 59.180’E
6) 01 deg. 23.539’N / 103 deg. 59.226’E
7) 01 deg. 23.530’N / 103 deg. 59.240’E
8) 01 deg. 23.512’N / 103 deg. 59.252’E
9) 01 deg. 23.467’N / 103 deg. 59.299’E
10) 01 deg. 23.459’N / 103 deg. 59.298’E
11) 01 deg. 23.457’N / 103 deg. 59.295’E
12) 01 deg. 23.452’N / 103 deg. 59.293’E
13) 01 deg. 23.450’N / 103 deg. 59.287’E
14) 01 deg. 23.453’N / 103 deg. 59.281’E
15) 01 deg. 23.469’N / 103 deg. 59.274’E
16) 01 deg. 23.500’N / 103 deg. 59.241’E
17) 01 deg. 23.501’N / 103 deg. 59.229’E
18) 01 deg. 23.505’N / 103 deg. 59.228’E
19) 01 deg. 23.508’N / 103 deg. 59.224’E
20) 01 deg. 23.509’N / 103 deg. 59.214’E
21) 01 deg. 23.513’N / 103 deg. 59.207’E
22) 01 deg. 23.520’N / 103 deg. 59.208’E
23) 01 deg. 23.525’N / 103 deg. 59.214’E
24) 01 deg. 23.540’N / 103 deg. 59.170’E
25) 01 deg. 23.562’N / 103 deg. 59.148’E
26) 01 deg. 23.582’N / 103 deg. 59.118’E
Dredging work will be carried out by excavator on flat top barges. The dredged materials will be loaded onto hopper barge and transported to designated dumping ground by pusher tug.
A circular safety zone of 50 metres radius centered at the dredger will be established.
Craft involved in the work will exhibit the appropriate local and international day and night signals.
When in the vicinity of the working area, mariners are reminded to:
a) Keep well clear and not to enter the working area;
b) Maintain a proper lookout;
c) Proceed at a safe speed and navigate with caution;
d) Maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 21 (Sembawang Control);
and
e) Communicate with Sembawang Control on VHF Channel 21 for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
GAC is a global provider of integrated shipping, logistics and marine services dedicated to helping customers achieve their strategic goals at the highest levels of quality, safety and compliance.
“Jo”
