NEW DRAFT RESTRICTION Houston, USA |
AIMPE INDUSTRIAL ACTION: UPDATEÂ 14 JANUARY 2016 Australia |
CREW CHANGES AT ANCHORAGE SUSPENDED Ras Al Khaimah, UAE |
NEW IMMIGRATION RULE Fujairah, UAE |
DREDGING AT SUNGEI PANDAN Singapore |
New draft restriction |
Thursday, January 14, 2016, Houston, USA |
Based on a recent survey of the Bayport Flare, Houston Pilots has restricted the maximum allowed draft for vessels transiting the north side of the Bayport Flare to 30’ fresh water.This restriction applies to all vessels shifting to or from Bayport, but does not impact vessels sailing or arriving Bayport.Vessels with a draft greater than 30’ freshwater intending to transit the north side of the Bayport flare will be restricted to daylight only and will require two tugs.
A dredge is currently working in Bayport as part of the Port of Houston Authority’s deepening and widening project. Discussions are currently underway to ascertain when the dredge will be available to remove shoaling in the north flare. For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com |
AIMPE industrial action: update 14 January 2016 |
Thursday, January 14, 2016, Australia |
Svitzer has today lodged an urgent application with the Fair Work Commission seeking to terminate the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers’ (AIMPE) industrial action at the nation’s ports.This follows AIMPE’s decision to escalate its campaign and the notification late yesterday afternoon (13 January) that they would conduct further rolling stoppages of up to 48 hours in duration.The AIMPE engineers’ union has proceeded with industrial action as planned on Svitzer operated tugs, with the first round of stoppages completed at Geelong, Newcastle, Sydney/Botany and Brisbane and planned 12-hour stoppages planned today (14 January) at Fremantle and Kwinana.
On 19 January, the unionplans to simultaneously stop work at eight major ports. The planned stoppages are as follows: Newcastle: Brisbane: Adelaide: Melbourne & Geelong: Sydney & Botany: Fremantle & Kwinana: For information about operations at Australian ports contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com |
Crew changes at anchorage suspended |
Thursday, January 14, 2016, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE |
Crew changes at Mina Saqr anchorage (Ras Al Khaimah) have been suspended by local authorities until further notice.Crew changes for vessels alongside Ras Al Khaimah ports are still allowed.GAC is still delivering spares and stores with its own oil major-approved launch to anchored and passing vessels. Further, GAC is offering crew change services at Dubai anchorage as an alternative to Mina Saqr anchorage.
For further information contact GAC Dubai at shipping.dubai@gac.com |
New immigration rule |
Thursday, January 14, 2016, Fujairah, UAE |
The Port of Fujairah immigration authorities have advised that, with immediate effect,  crew changes are not permitted for vessels calling from or heading for any of below listed countries: Iran Iraq Syria Libya Yemen Djibouti AlgeriaFor information about operations in Fujairah contact GAC Fujairah at fujairah@gac.com |
Dredging at Sungei Pandan |
Thursday, January 14, 2016, Singapore |
From 15 January to 15 May, dredging work will be carried out at Sungei Pandan.According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.08 of 2016 dated 14 January 2016, the works will be carried out 24 hours daily – including Sundays & Public Holidays – within the working area bounded by the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum): 1) 01 deg. 18.076’N / 103 deg. 45.291’E 2) 01 deg. 18.091’N / 103 deg. 45.311’E 3) 01 deg. 18.009’N / 103 deg. 45.346’E 4) 01 deg. 18.007’N / 103 deg. 45.320’EThe dredging work will be carried out by grab dredgers held in position by spuds. Tug boats will be used to shift the dredgers. The dredged materials will be transported to the designated dumping grounds by split barges, which will be shifted by tug boats. A safety boat will be deployed to warn other craft in the vicinity of the working area of the project. Craft involved in the works will exhibit the appropriate local and international day and night signals. When in the vicinity of the working area, mariners are reminded to: For information about operations in Singapore contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com |