Severe Winter Storm
January 27, 2015, United States, Boston, Massachusetts
The Captain of Port Boston has released a Port Bulletin about the forecasted major Nor’easter that could adversely impact the regional Maritime Transportation System over the next couple of days.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning and Coastal Flood Warnings for Boston and surrounding communities along the coast from Monday evening (26 January) through Wednesday morning (28 January).
The Captain of the Port (COTP) of Boston has set the following conditions in advance of the expected severe weather conditions:
1. Port status will remain open to all commercial traffic.
2. The COTP is requiring that the owners, operators, or certified agents of self-propelled oceangoing vessels over 500GT and all oceangoing barges and their supporting tugs remaining in port shall complete a Remaining in Port Checklist and submit this checklist to the COTP within 12 hours for acceptance. The COTP is requiring that all MTSA regulated facilities submit the Facility Pre-Storm Assessment Survey. These forms can be obtained on Sector Boston Homeport Page, Please submit via D01-SMB-SecBosCC@uscg.mil
For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com
Pilot station closed due to storm
January 27, 2015, United States, New York, NewYork
Due to the impending storm, the Long Island Sound Point Judith pilot station has been closed with effect from 18:00 hours local time yesterday, January 26.
It is anticipated that the station will remain closed until a tentative time of 12:00 noon on Wednesday 28 January.
Pilots will monitor conditions and advise the actual date and time the pilot station will re-open.
For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com
Winter Storm Juno
January 27, 2015, United States, New York, NewYork
The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port for Sector Northern New England has set Port Condition X-Ray for coastal Maine and New Hampshire.
Gale force winds from Winter Storm Juno are expected to impact Maine and New Hampshire from yesterday evening (Monday, January 26) through Wednesday morning, January 28.
Owners, operators, and agents for vessels over 500 gross tons and all barges and their supporting tugs desiring to remain in port, and which have not made pre-arrangements with the Captain of the Port, were instructed to arrange for safe mooring and submit a Remaining In Port Checklist to Sector Northern New England before 1400 hours yesterday (January 26). All plans for remaining in port are subject to captain of the port acceptance. An In-Port Checklist may be obtained by contacting Sector Northern New England’s Prevention Department at 207-899-6279
The Captain of the Port does not currently intend to set Port Condition Yankee or Zulu, or hold a marine transportation system recovery unit teleconference, but may do so if the storm intensifies. Any questions may be directed to the Sector Northern New England Command Center phone 207 741-5465
For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com
Offshore passes
January 27, 2015, United Arab Emirates, Port of Fujairah
The Port of Fujairah has announced that, with immediate effect, offshore passes will not be issued for persons holding Visit Visa or Visa on arrival.
All attending personal must hold a UAE residence visa, with a company, which is registered with the port of Fujairah. This applies to all attending professions (e.g. technicians, superintendents, owners representatives).
The only option for Visit or on arrival Visa holders would be to use Dubai anchorage.
For information about oeprations in Fujairah contact GAC Fujairah at fujairah@gac.com
Marine site investigation & geophysical survey
January 27, 2015, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
For approximately ten months, marine site investigation works involving drilling of boreholes and geophysical survey will be carried out (off Sha Tau Kok) within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (G) and the adjacent shoreline:
(A) 22 deg. 32.611’N / 114 deg. 13.562’E
(B) 22 deg. 32.612’N / 114 deg. 14.024’E
(C) 22 deg. 32.874’N / 114 deg. 14.211’E
(D) 22 deg. 32.671’N / 114 deg. 14.440’E
(E) 22 deg. 32.431’N / 114 deg. 13.675’E
(F) 22 deg. 32.377’N / 114 deg. 13.139’E
(G) 22 deg. 32.575’N / 114 deg. 13.093’E
The works will be carried out by a flotilla of vessels including three flat top barges and one survey boat. One tug boat and one guard boat will provide assistance.
A working area of approximately 50 metres around the barges will be established. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the barges.
The geophysical survey works will be carried out by a survey vessel travelling at a speed about 2-3 knots as well as towing a side scan sensor approximately 5 metres astern of the vessel.
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.11 of 2015
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