Concerns ahead of anticipated bad weather
June 15, 2015, United States, Houston, Texas
CROFT FILTERS DEVELOPS SOLUTION FOR WOOLWICH FERRIES
Leading filter manufacturer, Croft Filters, has provided marine services company, Briggs Marine, with a number of filters for its Woolwich ferries.
North-West based Croft was approached by Briggs Marine, operators of the River Thames passengers and vehicles ferries, to design and manufacture a bespoke filtration solution that would prevent impurities from the river water, used to cool the engines, entering the ship’s mechanics.
Following an in-depth consultation, Croft’s in-house engineers quickly developed a suitable solution – custom made double bathtub strainers with easy-to-clean elements. The design increased the open area of the component and water flow across it, enabling the ferries to filter the river water and cool the engines more quickly and efficiently than before.
On Croft’s recommendation, stainless steel was used to create the filters to prevent corrosion, due to the high-intensity, salt water they would be used in.
Nigel Bullen, technical manager for the Woolwich Ferries, commented: “Operating a busy public ferry service meant we could not afford to lose a vessel to any downtime, so we turned to Croft for its filtration specialism.
“Croft proposed a new and improved design and promptly manufactured and delivered the filters, much to our delight, meaning we could replace the existing components quickly and easily.”
Neil Burns, director at Croft Filters, added: “Briggs Marine required a high-quality filter to guarantee its busy ferries continue to run smoothly at all times. To ensure we delivered a solution that would meet its exact needs, we developed the bespoke bathtub filters. These highly efficient components met the standards required by both Briggs and the marine industry.”Concerns ahead of anticipated bad weather
June 15, 2015, United States, Houston, Texas
The Port of Houston Authority has raised concerns with the shipping community in light of the tropical system in the Gulf of Mexico and heavy rain forecast over the next 2-3 days.
Captains should be reminded that they MUST mind the mooring lines at all times. The Houston Ship Channel is part of Buffalo Bayou, the watershed for which goes all the way to Katy, and includes runoff from other Houston bayous, such as Brays Bayou. The channel levels can rise very swiftly during periods of heavy rain, which could lead to a serious situation for vessels on the channel.
Permission to immobilize engines for repair or maintenance on ships at one of the berths in the Turning Basin Terminal is revoked until the threat of bad weather has passed. Captains should immediately make the engines ready for possible movement if necessary.
Houston Pilots have advised that, due to impending bad weather, the last sailings today (15 June) are expected to be at 1400 hours local time.
For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com
Port Condition X-Ray set
June 15, 2015, United States, Houston, Texas
Due to the forecast of tropical cyclone activity that could impact ports within Sector Houston-Galveston’s area of responsibility, the Captain of the Port has directed the immediate attainment of Port Condition X-RAY.
Because there is significant uncertainty in the forecast, and because the strengthening of the storm is possible, all port entities should review the appropriate Heavy Weather Plans and prepare for setting Port Condition Yankee. Additional Heavy Weather can be fund within Chapter 3 of the Sector Houston-Galveston Heavy Weather Plan, which is located on HOMEPORT.
(For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com)
Source: U.S. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston Marine Safety Information Bulletin 12-15
Increased maximum vessel size at sugar berth
June 15, 2015, Australia, Bundaberg
Following recent simulations of vessels berthing at the Bundaberg Sugar Wharf, the Regional Harbour Master has increased the maximum vessel size to 190m x 32m subject to the following parameters:
Vessels 180-190m x 32m
– RHM approval required (manoeuvring characteristics, vessel details to be provided)
– minimum UKC 1.2m
– wind 20 kts or 10 kts northerly quadrant
– daylight only
– two tugs for arrival and departure (tugs 30 bp or greater, ASD or tractor)
Vessels >190m not accepted.
For further details or information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
Closure for bridge works
June 15, 2015, Turkey, Turkish Straits
The Bosphorus will be closed to traffic from 06:00 to 17:00 hours local time on Wednesday 17 June, due to works on the 3. bridge (Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge).
For information about operations in the Turkish Straits contact GAC Istanbul at turkey@gac.com
2015 Safe Boarding Week
June 15, 2015, Panama, Panama Canal
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) considers proper boarding facilities to be an absolute necessity to ensure the safety of their personnel, as well as others using these facilities while transiting in Canal waters. In order to promote awareness and compliance with Canal requirements by vessels in Canal waters, the ACP will hold its annual “Safe Boarding Week” from July 6-10, 2015. During this period, the ACP will emphasize and encourage safe boarding practices on all vessels arriving at the waterway.
“Safe Boarding Week” activities will involve inspections of boarding facilities by teams representing personnel who normally board vessels, such as Canal Port Captains, Pilots, Transit Vessel Inspectors, Chemists, Emergency Response personnel, Admeasurers, Deckhands, as well as ship’s agents.
This year, the ACP will continue promoting preventive measures to be taken in order to avoid the tripping hazard created by the retrieving line attached to the pilot ladder, as well as the excess portion of the pilot ladders, which is very often laid out on deck. The ACP suggests the use of a box-like structure to be placed over the excess portion of the ladder that may be encountered at the embarkation point on deck. This will provide for a flat, non-slippery surface as persons transfer from the ladder to the deck of the vessel. The structure may be permanent or may be constructed so that it is lightweight and portable allowing for it to be used only as the situation warrants.
Vessels at both Cristobal and Balboa anchorages will be boarded to inspect their boarding facility arrangements. Vessels’ Masters will be provided with the results of the inspection. Those vessels deserving special recognition for excellence will be presented with plaques that will be delivered immediately following the inspection. Any vessel with boarding facilities determined to be below acceptable standards must correct the deficiencies prior to transit.
(For information about operations in the Panama Canal Contact GAC-Wilford & McKay at gac-wilfordmckay.panama@gac.com)
Source: Panama Canal Authority Advisory to Shipping No.A-14-2015
GAC Bunker Fuels Ltd Pricing Alert
Market Price Update 15/06/2015
| COUNTRY | 180 CST | 380 CST | MGO | MDO |  |
|
|
Aberdeen | 0 | 0 | 396.00 | 0 | |
|
Aden | 420.00 | 400.00 | 880.00 | 0 | |
|
Alexandria | 0 | 645.00 | 875.00 | 0 | |
|
Antwerp | 366.00 | 327.00 | 556.00 | 0 | |
|
Aqaba | 0 | 490.00 | 795.00 | 0 | |
|
Bahrain | 0 | 0 | 690.00 | 0 | |
|
Bergen | 0 | 0 | 608.00 | 0 | |
|
Busan | 404.00 | 384.00 | 593.00 | 583.00 | |
|
Cape Town | 431.00 | 0 | 667.00 | 0 | |
|
Colombo | 425.00 | 420.00 | 640.00 | 0 | |
|
Dubai/Sharjah/Rak | 415.00 | 380.00 | 700.00 | 0 | |
|
Durban | 412.00 | 0 | 700.00 | 0 | |
|
Falmouth | 0 | 392.00 | 675.00 | 0 | |
|
Fujairah | 375.00 | 350.00 | 730.00 | 0 | |
|
Gibraltar | 420.00 | 388.00 | 624.00 | 0 | |
|
Hambantota | 430.00 | 428.00 | 710.00 | 0 | |
|
Houston | 479.00 | 342.00 | 625.00 | 0 | |
|
Istanbul | 398.00 | 377.00 | 638.00 | 0 | |
|
Jeddah | 410.00 | 400.00 | 840.00 | 0 | |
|
Kuwait | 0 | 400.00 | 1, 010.00 | 0 | |
|
Labuan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
Las Palmas | 390.00 | 375.00 | 905.00 | 0 | |
|
Malta | 366.00 | 351.00 | 599.00 | 0 | |
|
Mumbai | 650.00 | 398.00 | 745.00 | 0 | |
|
New York/New Jersey | 436.00 | 360.00 | 621.00 | 0 | |
|
Panama | 408.00 | 362.00 | 659.00 | 0 | |
|
Piraeus | 412.00 | 391.00 | 605.00 | 0 | |
|
Port Louis | 0 | 510.00 | 705.00 | 0 | |
|
Port Said | 750.00 | 640.00 | 905.00 | 0 | |
|
Qatar | 0 | 0 | 635.00 | 0 | |
|
Richards Bay | 425.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
Rio de Janeiro | 373.00 | 350.00 | 683.00 | 0 | |
|
Rotterdam | 365.00 | 326.00 | 555.00 | 0 | |
|
Salalah | 500.00 | 450.00 | 830.00 | 0 | |
|
Santos | 374.00 | 353.00 | 710.00 | 0 | |
|
Seychelles | 0 | 0 | 725.00 | 0 | |
|
Shanghai | 428.00 | 383.00 | 716.00 | 0 | |
|
Singapore | 355.00 | 370.00 | 560.00 | 0 | |
|
St Petersburg | 283.00 | 263.00 | 543.00 | 0 | |
|
Suez | 510.00 | 395.00 | 875.00 | 0 | |
|
West Africa – Abidjan | 537.00 | 423.00 | 807.00 | 0 | |
|
West Africa – Lome | 0 | 420.00 | 690.00 | 0 | |
|
West Africa – Luanda | 480.00 | 430.00 | 680.00 | 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”
