Transiting vessels urged to exercise caution
COUNTRY: Worldwide
Following news that a cargo ship was yesterday (28 April) intercepted by an Iranian Revolutionary Guard naval patrol in the Strait of Hormuz, GAC is recommending vessel owners to stay in close contact with already established security centres whilst in the area.
Even though the Strait of Hormuz is in Iranian territorial waters, “innocent passage” is applied and vessels are authorised to transit so long as they abide by all the rules of the sea, as it is an internationally recognised shipping lane.
The U.S. Navy is reported to have sent a maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft to observe and monitor the situation. No military action expected at this point.
No changes have been made to the recommendations for transiting the area in light of the incident, though vigilance and caution is advised.
GAC Dubai can assist with the embarkation and disembarkation of security guards off Dubai and Mina Saqr – for details contact GAC Dubai at shipping.dubai@gac.com / +971 4 8059363 (24×7).
For further details or information about operations in the Middle East, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at hub.ae@gac.com
Channel closures planned for River Fest
April 29, 2015, United States, Port Neches, Texas
Due to the 2015 Port Neches River Fest, channel closures are planned with nothing to pass through the Safety Zone just above Huntsman, up to Port Neches Park from 1400 to 1800 hours on 1 May, 0830-2130 on 2 May, and 0830-1800 hours on 3 May.
This affects the following areas: Port Neches, Nederland, and Beaumont. It does not affect Sabine Pass, Port Arthur, and Orange.
For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com
New maximum draft restriction due to shoaling
April 29, 2015, United States, Mobile, Alabama
The Mobile District Army Corps of Engineers released the latest soundings of the Upper Mobile River and show that there is shoaling in the channel from Three Mile Creek turning basin and southward several hundred feet.
Because of the existing conditions, a maximum draft of 38 feet will be imposed for ships entering or departing Three Mile Creek Turning Basin or using that portion of the Mobile River north of the Grain elevator at the Alabama State Port Authority.
The Army Corps of Engineers is presently making plans to deploy a dredge to that location in the next few weeks. For vessels that are currently loaded with a draft that exceeds 38 feet and desiring to transit that location, please contact this office. Please check with the bar pilots as to any further restrictions prior to sailing a ship in that location.
You can find the surveys at:
navigation.sam.usace.army.mil/surveys/detail.asp
This notice is cancelled September 1, 2015.
(For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com)
Source: Alabama State Port Authority Harbormaster Notice to Shipping No.04-15
Water Safety Day at Repulse Bay and South Bay
April 29, 2015, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Water Safety Day will be conducted from 0830 hours to 1230 hours on 1 May 2015 (Friday) at Repulse Bay and South Bay. About 2, 500 swimmers are expected to participate in a 3000-metre swimming session.
The event will take place at Repulse Bay and South Bay with the seaward boundaries delineated by straight lines joining the following positions:
(A) the west end of Tau Chau
(B) the east end of Middle Island
Masters, coxswains and persons-in-charge of vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution and keep well clear from the above area.
(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 N0.62 of 2015
Construction of Boundary Crossing Facilities
April 29, 2015, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
From 1 May and for approximately 20 months, marine works involving reclamation, seawall construction, diving operations, sand filling and delivery of precast units and construction materials will be carried out [east of Hong Kong International Airport] within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (N) and the adjacent shoreline:
(A) 22 deg. 18.907’N / 113 deg. 56.582’E
(B) 22 deg. 18.936’N / 113 deg. 56.734’E
(C) 22 deg. 19.163’N / 113 deg. 56.839’E
(D) 22 deg. 19.344’N / 113 deg. 56.862’E
(E) 22 deg. 19.435’N / 113 deg. 56.951’E
(F) 22 deg. 19.740’N / 113 deg. 57.248’E
(G) 22 deg. 19.675’N / 113 deg. 57.486’E
(H) 22 deg. 19.547’N / 113 deg. 57.953’E
(I) 22 deg. 18.758’N / 113 deg. 57.768’E
(J) 22 deg. 18.498’N / 113 deg. 57.489’E
(K) 22 deg. 18.549’N / 113 deg. 57.239’E
(L) 22 deg. 18.708’N / 113 deg. 56.876’E
(M) 22 deg. 18.639’N / 113 deg. 56.663’E
(N) 22 deg. 18.672’N / 113 deg. 56.453’E
Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the boundary of the works area at co-ordinates from (B) to (M).
Silt curtains, extending from the sea surface to the seabed, will be established around the boundary of the works area. The silt curtain is a large piece of netting used to contain mud and sediments. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the extent of the silt curtains.
The works will be carried out by a flotilla of vessels including trailer suction hopper dredgers, barges, derrick lighters, grab dredgers, tugs and construction vessels at various stages. The number of vessels engaged in the works will change from time to time to suit operational requirements.
A working area of approximately 50 metres will be established around each working vessel. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the working vessels.
The hours of work will be round-the-clock.
Vessels engaged in the operations will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.
A specified channel with a width of minimum 120 metres will be established between the Hong Kong International Airport and the works area. It will allow vessels with valid permits approaching to and from the SkyPier basin to trepass upon the southeast corner of the Airport Approach Area No.3. The specified channel will be temporarily marked by lateral light buoys and their particulars are as follows:
BCF 1
Position (WGS 84 Datum): 22 deg. 19.819’N/113 deg. 56.855’E
Shape: Pillar
Colour: Green
Light Characteristics: Fl. G. 6s
Top Mark: Single Green Cone
Radar Reflector: Fitted
BCF 3
Position (WGS 84 Datum): 22 deg. 19.340’N/113 deg. 56.785’E
Shape: Pillar
Colour: Green
Light Characteristics: Fl (2) G. 10s
Top Mark: Single Green Cone
Radar Reflector: Fitted
BCF 5
Position (WGS 84 Datum): 22 deg. 19.187’N/113 deg. 56.773’E
Shape: Pillar
Colour: Green
Light Characteristics: Fl. G. 2s
Top Mark: Single Green Cone
Radar Reflector: Fitted
BCF 2
Position (WGS 84 Datum): 22 deg. 19.482’N/113 deg. 56.977’E
Shape: Pillar
Colour: Red
Light Characteristics: Fl. R. 6s
Top Mark: Single Red Can
Radar Reflector: Fitted
Two yellow marker buoys will be temporarily established near the “Weather 4” buoy to mark the eastern edge of the Airport Approach Area No.3 and their particulars are as follows:
RW15
Position (WGS 84 Datum): 22 deg. 19.636’N/113 deg. 56.921’E
Shape: Pillar
Colour: Yellow
Light Characteristics: Fl. Y
Top Mark: Single Yellow Cross
RW16
Position (WGS 84 Datum): 22 deg. 19.614’N/113 deg. 56.929’E
Shape: Pillar
Colour: Yellow
Light Characteristics: Fl. Y
Top Mark: Single Yellow Cross
To verify the water depth, regular hydrographic survey will be carried out by a work boat once a month in the SkyPier basin and the specified channel.
Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution and keep clear at slow speed, bearing in mind there are divers working in the area.
(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.59 of 2015
Port dredging update
April 29, 2015, Australia, Newcastle
Surveys of the known flood siltation areas of the channel [at Newcastle] commenced yesterday with the Horseshoe area and the Kooragang Swing Basin complete. Surveys of other areas of the channel will continue throughout this week.
The Harbour Master has promulgated the Horseshoe Area at 14.6m. At this point the other areas surveyed were no higher than 15.0m. However we will continue to monitor these areas as the flood siltation continuous to proceed down the river. It is expected that this will take some weeks.
The dredge has been working on the Horseshoe since last Wednesday and was joined yesterday with the deployment of the sweep bar.
The current plan is to progressively graduate the Horseshoe area back to 15.0m similar to the other areas of the channel with the goal of an intermediate step to 14.8m by the end of the week. This will allow a progressive increase to loading capacity of larger deep draft vessels.
As a comparison the 2013 floods deposited over 450, 000 cubic meters of siltation in the channel
alone. The Horseshoe area was reduced to 14.3m. Other areas of the channel were reduced to 14.4m and 14.6m. Within 6 days the Horseshoe area was back to 14.6m. Within a further 3 days this area was back to 15.0m. In all, the whole length of the channel from the entrance to the south arm were back to 15.0m within 3-4 weeks.
We have deployed similar resourcing to 2013 and commenced remediation dredging earlier to
quickly deal with this flood event. The main difference from 2013 is that we are starting from the best possible asset position with the full length of channel promulgated at full design depth of 15.2m prior to the flood.
We continue to work with the Harbour Master on the dredging priorities for navigational safety and will keep you updated as the survey and dredging plan progresses.
(For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com)
Source: Port of Newcastle Dredging Update 28 April 2015
Arrangements ahead of holiday
April 29, 2015, Panama, all ports
All banks and government and private institutions in Panama will be closed the national Labor Day holiday on Friday May 1.
As this will directly affect crew Visas at Immigration, delivery of spares, couriers and Cash To Master, vessel owners are urged to ensure all arrangements are made in advance before 30 April.
For information about operations in Panama contact GAC-Wilford & McKay at gac-wilfordmckay.panama@gac.com
GAC Bunker Fuels Ltd Pricing Alert
Market Price Update 29/04/2015
| COUNTRY | 180 CST | 380 CST | MGO | MDO |  |
|
|
Aberdeen | 0 | 0 | 363.00 | 0 | |
|
Aden | 420.00 | 400.00 | 880.00 | 0 | |
|
Alexandria | 0 | 645.00 | 885.00 | 0 | |
|
Antwerp | 364.00 | 339.00 | 575.00 | 0 | |
|
Aqaba | 0 | 525.00 | 800.00 | 0 | |
|
Bahrain | 0 | 0 | 685.00 | 0 | |
|
Bergen | 0 | 0 | 607.00 | 0 | |
|
Busan | 404.00 | 388.00 | 584.00 | 574.00 | |
|
Cape Town | 450.00 | 0 | 670.00 | 0 | |
|
Colombo | 420.00 | 415.00 | 670.00 | 0 | |
|
Dubai/Sharjah/Rak | 395.00 | 375.00 | 590.00 | 0 | |
|
Durban | 411.00 | 0 | 732.00 | 0 | |
|
Falmouth | 383.00 | 396.00 | 675.00 | 0 | |
|
Fujairah | 378.00 | 358.00 | 730.00 | 0 | |
|
Gibraltar | 401.00 | 388.00 | 612.00 | 0 | |
|
Hambantota | 430.00 | 428.00 | 710.00 | 0 | |
|
Houston | 394.00 | 338.00 | 637.00 | 0 | |
|
Istanbul | 400.00 | 380.00 | 628.00 | 0 | |
|
Jeddah | 400.00 | 385.00 | 830.00 | 0 | |
|
Kuwait | 0 | 385.00 | 1, 100.00 | 0 | |
|
Labuan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
Las Palmas | 395.00 | 378.00 | 905.00 | 0 | |
|
Malta | 367.00 | 352.00 | 592.00 | 0 | |
|
Mumbai | 650.00 | 380.00 | 705.00 | 0 | |
|
New York/New Jersey | 412.00 | 357.00 | 641.00 | 0 | |
|
Panama | 401.00 | 360.00 | 641.00 | 0 | |
|
Piraeus | 418.00 | 398.00 | 597.00 | 0 | |
|
Port Louis | 0 | 468.00 | 653.00 | 0 | |
|
Port Said | 0 | 0 | 1, 100.00 | 0 | |
|
Qatar | 0 | 0 | 620.00 | 0 | |
|
Richards Bay | 434.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
Rio de Janeiro | 379.00 | 355.00 | 735.00 | 0 | |
|
Rotterdam | 354.00 | 333.00 | 567.00 | 0 | |
|
Salalah | 520.00 | 470.00 | 1, 000.00 | 0 | |
|
Santos | 382.00 | 360.00 | 761.00 | 0 | |
|
Seychelles | 0 | 0 | 715.00 | 0 | |
|
Shanghai | 432.00 | 384.00 | 714.00 | 0 | |
|
Singapore | 355.00 | 365.00 | 565.00 | 0 | |
|
St Petersburg | 272.00 | 247.00 | 509.00 | 0 | |
|
Suez | 550.00 | 380.00 | 885.00 | 0 | |
|
West Africa – Abidjan | 495.00 | 399.00 | 734.00 | 0 | |
|
West Africa – Lome | 0 | 410.00 | 680.00 | 0 | |
|
West Africa – Luanda | 450.00 | 420.00 | 670.00 | 0 |
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”
