| UNDERWATER INSPECTION & SUBMARINE CABLE LAYING OPERATIONS Hong Kong |
| TYPHOON SEASON Hong Kong |
| VESSEL TRANSIT TRIM Suez Canal, Egypt |
| Underwater inspection & submarine cable laying operations |
| Thursday, May 19, 2016, Hong Kong |
| For approximately 2 months, marine works involving underwater inspections and cable laying operations will be carried out along a line from Junk Bay to the eastern boundary of Hong Kong Waters.The line is formed by joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum): (A) 22 deg. 16.905’N / 114 deg. 16.031’E (B) 22 deg. 16.936’N / 114 deg. 15.780’E (C) 22 deg. 16.862’N / 114 deg. 15.609’E (D) 22 deg. 16.170’N / 114 deg. 15.245’E (E) 22 deg. 15.678’N / 114 deg. 15.513’E (F) 22 deg. 14.289’N / 114 deg. 15.491’E (G) 22 deg. 13.019’N / 114 deg. 16.618’E (H) 22 deg. 12.420’N / 114 deg. 17.123’E (I) 22 deg. 12.109’N / 114 deg. 22.750’E (J) 22 deg. 12.400’N / 114 deg. 23.387’E (K) 22 deg. 13.540’N / 114 deg. 24.451’E (L) 22 deg. 14.170’N / 114 deg. 28.208’E (M) 22 deg. 13.963’N / 114 deg. 28.754’E (N) 22 deg. 14.038’N / 114 deg. 30.147’EThe works will be carried out by one cable-laying barge, four work barges, two work boats and three tugboats. 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 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 these barges. The hours of work will be from 0700 to 1900 hours. No works will be carried out on Sundays and public holidays. Vessels engaged in the works will stay in the works area outside the hours of work. Silt curtains, extending from the sea surface to the seabed, will be established for a period of approximately 6 days while the cable-laying barge is passing along the cable route off south of Cape Collision. Vessels engaged in the operations will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations. Diving operations will be carried out from time to time. 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.58 of 2016 dated 17 May 2016 |
| Typhoon Season |
| Thursday, May 19, 2016, Hong Kong |
| Owners, agents and charterers are requested to remind their ship masters of the need to take precautionary measures during the approach of tropical cyclones.Masters, owners, agents and persons in control of vessels are also reminded of their obligation to comply with any direction issued by the Director of Marine concerning the safe operation of vessels and the port, or in relation to any matter which the Director may give directions under the Laws of Hong Kong.When a tropical cyclone warning is issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, every vessel which is moored to the following government mooring buoys shall clear anchors and cables and prepare the main propulsion machinery to full power condition and such vessel shall, if so directed by the Director, leave the mooring buoy:-
“A” mooring “B” mooring Other details of government mooring buoys can be obtained at Marine Department’s website (http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/ The master of a ship moored to a government mooring buoy may, at his discretion, drop a bow anchor under foot to lessen the tendency to sheer. This should not impair the efficiency of the mooring, although an anchor should not be used during normal weather conditions. Masters are reminded that every vessel within the waters of Hong Kong must maintain a continuous listening watch on the VHF radio channel appropriate to the VHF sector in which the vessel is located, or another VHF channel as may be specified by the Vessel Traffic Centre (call sign “MARDEP”). The Centre will broadcast tropical cyclone information from time to time when the tropical cyclone warning signals have been issued. Masters should also listen to local radio broadcasts for weather advisory information bulletins. An inadequately manned vessel during the passage of a tropical cyclone not only places itself at risk but also endangers the port and other vessels. The attention of masters, owners, agents, and charterers of vessels is therefore drawn that sufficient number of qualified crew capable to carry out all duties to ensure the safety of the ship having regard to the pertaining circumstances shall be maintained on board at all times during the passage of a tropical cyclone. Further information on minimum safe manning levels on ships while in the waters of Hong Kong can be found in Marine Department website (http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/ (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.64 of 2016 dated 19 May 2016 |
| Vessel Transit Trim |
| Thursday, May 19, 2016, Suez Canal, Egypt |
| The Suez Canal Authority has advised that all vessels arriving at the waterway for transit should not to be trimmed by bow and should adjust their trim prior to arrival at the Canal anchorage area.Vessels that arrive trimmed by bow and not Vessels that arrive trimmed by bow and not adjusted will not be allowed to transit.Navy and container vessel are exempted from the above, but navigational sea trail prior transit will apply to ensure vessel seaworthiness to transit the Canal.
For information about operations in the Suez Canal contact GAC Egypt at suezcanal@gac.com |
