Hot Port News from GAC

Houston Pilots boarding vessels have been requested to assist you in the completion and submission of the questionnaire, which should take less than 10 minutes to complete. The completed questionnaire should be given to the Pilot before he or she departs the vessel. Alternatively, the completed questionnaire may be sent by email tonondumison@theagcteam.com

For further details, and information about operations in the USA, contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com

• Commercial passenger vessels on established ferry routes may need to pass through the parade of ships within the 500 yard Naval Vessel Protection Zone boundary. Commercial passenger vessels that need to transit through the military warship section of the parade must make passing arrangements with the Coast Guard and receive authorization to cross via VHF Ch 13. Passenger vessels must pass a minimum distance of 250 yards from all military warships. Vessels must operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain safe course while crossing the parade formation and take all direction that may be provided by the Coast Guard or Naval warship. All vessel traffic in the Hudson River and Upper Bay shall transit to the west of the parade column and shall operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain safe course.

The following waterway restrictions and closures will be in effect during Fleet Week 2016.

• No vessels are authorized within the restricted area around the Stapleton Homeport Pier on Staten Island from 8:00 a.m., May 25, 2016 through 4:00 p.m., May 31, 2016.
• No vessels are authorized within 250 yards of the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on the
• Hudson River between the south east corner of Pier 86 and the northeast corner of Pier 92, from 8:00 a.m., May 25, 2016 through 4:00 p.m., May 31, 2016, with the exception of scheduled cruise ship arrivals and departures.
• No vessels are authorized within the NVPZ around naval vessels moored at Brooklyn
• Marine Terminal from 8:00 a.m., May 25, 2016 through 8:00 p.m., May 31, 2016.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

• 10:00 a.m. Stapleton Anchorage 23B, and Gravesend Anchorage are closed to commercial vessels.
• 10:00 a.m. Last inbound tug/barge, or deep draft vessel, permitted to pass through the Alpha buoy and enter Ambrose channel.
• 10:00 a.m. Last outbound tug/barge, or deep draft vessel, permitted to pass through The Narrows (Verrazano Bridge) & out Ambrose Channel.
• 1:00 p.m. Inbound traffic permitted in Ambrose Channel.
• 1:00 p.m. Upper Bay open for transits of tug/barge and deep draft vessels.
• (Coordinate exact timing of transits with VTS New York.)
  Stapleton Anchorage 23B (immediately adjacent to Homeport Pier) will remain closed until June 1, 2016.

Please note that all times listed above are approximate. The potential exists for unanticipated delays due to ship movement and/or implementation of additional vessel controls with little or no warning within the Port of NY/NJ fromWednesday, May 25 through Tuesday, May 31, 2016. For the most up to date information on current restrictions please contact VTS New York at (718) 354-4088.

Entry into or movement within the restricted zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port or a designated on-scene representative. Any person violating this regulation is subject to a penalty of up to $50, 000 and/or imprisonment for not more than 5 years.

5. Additional waterway information is available at: http://homeport.uscg.mil/newyork.

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

Source: U.S. Coast Guard Advisory (CGAN 2016-007) dated May 23, 2016