Hot Port News from GAC

It should be noted that ALL vessels entering into, exiting, and re-entering a zone MUST be boarded or screened every time.

Vessels anchored at Mantua Creek Anchorage during the times that the Airport Security Zone is enforced must submit a crewlist to include name and DOB for each crewmember on the vessel. There will be no vessel movement at the time the Airport Zone is being enforced; if you are anchored, you will remain anchored unless otherwise instructed by the CG Patrol Commander.

Limited Opening Schedules for Bridges:

The Tacony-Palmyra (route 73) Bridge over Delaware River, mile 107.2, between Tacony, PA and Palmyra, NJ and Burlington-Bristol (route 413) Bridge over Delaware River, mile 117.8, between Burlington, NJ and Bristol, PA will be reduced due to the 2015 Papal visit to Philadelphia. The drawbridges will remain in the closed-to-navigation position from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on September 26 and September 27, 2015, except for scheduled daily openings at 12 noon and 6 p.m. The vertical clearances above mean high water in the closed-to-navigation position are 53 feet at the Tacony-Palmyra (route 73) Bridge and 62 feet at the Burlington-Bristol (route 413) Bridge.

Openings of the C.R. (Amtrak) railroad bridge over Beach Thorofare, New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway, mile 68.9, at Atlantic City, NJ and C.R. (Amtrak) railroad bridge over Delaware River, mile 104.6, at Delair, NJ will be reduced due to the 2015 Papal visit to Philadelphia. The drawbridges will not be required to open on signal or within ten minutes of a signal from 5 a.m. on September 26, 2015 to 3 a.m. on September 28, 2015. Mariners requesting an opening shall provide at least one hour notice. The vertical clearances above mean high water in the closed-to-navigation position are 5 feet at the at the C.R. (Amtrak) railroad bridge over beach Thorofare, NJICW, and 49 feet at the C.R.(Amtrak) railroad bridge over Delaware River.

The S.R. 44 bridge over Mantua Creek, Mile 2.7, at Paulsboro, NJ and Route 130 Bridge over Raccoon Creek, Mile 1.8, at Bridgeport, NJ will be allowed to remain in the closed-to-navigation position from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., from September 26 to September 28, 2015, except for scheduled daily openings at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Contact info:

Send crew & passenger lists to the following email: SecDelBayMTSRU@uscg.mil

Patrol Commanders may be reached on VHF Ch. 16 and will likely shift you to another frequency.

For enforcement questions during periods that security zones are active (When/Why/Where/How to transit the zone): (215) 271-4638.

(For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com)

Source: Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay notice dated 22 September 2015

(C) 22 deg. 17.279’N / 114 deg. 10.472’E

A Closed Area will be established around the barges between 1400 hours and about 2300 hours on the event day with the following details:

(i) The area is formed by four straight lines joining the following positions (WGS Datum):

(1) 22 deg. 17.366’N / 114 deg. 10.109’E

(2) 22 deg. 17.366’N / 114 deg. 10.574’E

(3) 22 deg. 17.192’N / 114 deg. 10.574’E

(4) 22 deg. 17.192’N / 114 deg. 10.109’E

(ii) The Closed Area will be closed to all marine traffic, except craft directly involved in the fireworks display, Government launches and vessels with special permission from the Director of Marine (to be collectively called excepted vessels) during the aforesaid period.

A Restricted Area will be established in the Central Harbour from 2000 hours to about 2215 hours on the event day with the following details:

(i) The Eastern Cordon Line (ECL) of the Restricted Area is a straight line joining the south extremity of MTR Hung Hom Freight Terminal Pier and the breakwater at Kellett Island, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. The Western Cordon Line (WCL) of the Restricted Area is a straight line joining the southwest extremity of the Ocean Terminal and the Central Government Pier.

(ii) No vessels, other than the excepted vessels, will be allowed to enter or remain within the Restricted Area….

….To minimize head-on encounters of vessels after the fireworks display, the Restricted Area will be lifted in stages by lifting the WCL at about 2200 hours. The ECL will be lifted later depending on the traffic condition in the Central Harbour. It is anticipated that the Restricted Area will be completely lifted at about 2215 hours on the event day. To combat vessels proceeding at excessive speed in the Central Harbour, the Marine Police and Marine Department will deploy laser gun and interception teams on the event day.

Vessels intending to navigate in the Central Harbour after the fireworks display should pay special attention to the establishment of three Buffer Zones at Kowloon Public Pier, Kwun Tong Public Pier, Central Piers 9 and 10 and the associated marine traffic control measures. Details of these measures are given in the Annex to this Notice.

In the event of inclement weather and emergency, the fireworks display may be postponed to the fallback date of Friday, 2 October 2015, at 2100 hours, with the same control measures as aforementioned.

(For information about operations in Hong Kong contact GAC Hong Kong atshipping.hongkong@gac.com)

Source: Government of Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No.126 of 2015

Port Kembla – presently port is open, one inward movement scheduled for 1400/23rd has completed. Next ETD is scheduled for am/24th Sept. Presently no delays.

For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia atshipping.australia@gac.com