Hot Port News from GAC

The lowest observed sounding from latet survey was 43 feet MLLW. We feel that with a tide of 0 MLLW or better and the fresh water allowance, there will be sufficient water to dock vessels with a draft of 42 feet fresh water. However, we understand that shippers will have UKC requirements greater than available water and they need to make vessel draft considerations prior to pilot boarding to maintain company compliance.

We also require both SW docks be resurveyed and provided to the pilots in 6 months. At that time dock 3 draft restrictions may be implemented due to silting and the inability to get more dredging completed in this last cycle….

….This recommendation is applicable to Seaway terminals and does not indicate depths of the Federal channel.

(For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com)
Source: Extract from letter from Brazos Pilots Association, Freeport, Texas

The works will be carried out from 0700 to 1900 hours. No works will be carried out on Sundays and public holidays. The vessel engaged in the works will stay close to a dolphin outside the hours of works.

The vessel engaged in the works will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.

Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution.
(For information about operations in Hong Kong contact GAC Hong Kong at shipping.hongkong@gac.com)

Source: Government of the Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No.72 of 2016

Sydney/Port Botany:
Pilotage movements were suspended from 1600 hours on 4 June, and were resumed from 0730 hours today (6 June), except for the berthing of tankers at Kurnell due swell conditions. Operations at container terminals were suspended due high winds from 1500 on 4 June to 1730 on 5 June.

Port Kembla:
Port closed from 1400 on 4 June and remains closed through 6 June. Port expected to re-open from 0700 tomorrow (7 June).

Eden:
The operators of the Woodchip Jetty advise it has suffered major damage due to the severe weather over the weekend. The facilities consist of a T-head jetty with centre loading point and five mooring dolphins. Part of the jetty and conveyor system has been damaged and is not accessible. Present reports indicate the wharf, loader and mooring dolphins have not been damaged. It is known how long will be required to conduct repairs, but it is understood that the next woodchip vessel due around 23 June will be cancelled.

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

A working area of approximately 100 metres by 100 metres around the grab dredger will be established.

The hours of work will be round-the-clock.

Vessels engaged in the operations will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.

Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution.

(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.74 of 2016

In conjunction with the temporarily widened fairways, the light buoy “Victoria” will be temporarily relocated about 250 metres north-westward from its charted position to the following position (WGS 84 Datum) on 6 June 2016:
(G) 22 deg. 17.800’N / 114 deg. 08.520’E

The dredging operations will be carried out after the temporary relocation of the light buoy “Victoria”.

The works will be carried out by a grab dredger. Two tugboats and three split-hopper barges will assist in the works. The number of vessels engaged in the works will change from time to time to suit operational requirements.

A working area of approximately 250 metres by 170 metres around the grab dredger will be established. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the grab dredger.

The works will be carried out round-the-clock.

The vessels engaged in the operations will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.

Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution.

(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.73 of 2016

Container ships coming from ports south of port of Norfolk heading to:
a) Ports of Port Kelang and its eastern ports shall be granted reduction of 65% of the Suez Canal normal tolls.
b) Ports of Colombo and its eastern ports located just up to port of Port Kelang shall be granted reduction of 55% of Suez Canal normal tolls.

Any company wishing to benefit from this circular has to submit a request before sailing through its shipping agency.

The ship must not call any port in between port of origin and port of destination for commercial purposes provided that ship’s operator must forward a formal declaration about that.

In case of calling at in-between ports for non-commercial purposes, the authorities of these ports have to submit a certificate to the SCA, stating the reasons of calling.

Submitting a certificate from the last port of origin stating the date of sailing and a certificate from the first port of arrival stating date of arrival within sixty days from the date of the Canal transit.

A statement submitted by ship’s agency undertaking to pay the granted reduction in case of calling in between ports for commercial purposes, or failing to submit the documents during the period stated above.

Circular No.1/2016 shall be cancelled.

This circular rakes effect as for vessels sailing from port of origin as of June 6, 2016, as an experimental period, for 90 days (ends on September 3, 2016) to be renewed.

(For information about operations in the Suez Canal contact GAC Egypt at suezcanal@gac.com)

Source: Suez Canal Authority Circular 2/2016

On this track, the center of Colin is forecast to approach the coast of the Florida Big Bend area this afternoon or evening, move across portions of Florida and southeastern Georgia early Tuesday morning, and move near the southeastern coast of the United States later on Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast today before Colin reaches the coast of Florida.  Some slight strengthening is possible on Tuesday when Colin is near the southeastern United States coast.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles (295 km) to the east of the center…

…Colin is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 3-5 inches with isolated maximum totals of 8 inches possible across the northeastern Yucatan peninsula, western Cuba, western to northern Florida, southeastern Georgia, and coastal areas of the Carolinas through Tuesday…

…The combination of a storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters. The water could reach the following heights above ground if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide:
Indian Pass to Tampa Bay – 1-3 ft with slightly higher amounts possible in a few locations.
Tampa Bay south to Florida Bay – 1-2 ft.

Localized coastal flooding and dangerous surf is possible along the

Florida east and Georgia coasts within the Tropical Storm Warning area, as well as in the Tropical Storm Watch area along the Georgia and South Carolina coasts.

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast.

Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances…

…Tropical storm conditions are expected to first reach the Gulf coast within the warning area this afternoon, and the Atlantic coast within the warning area by early Tuesday.  Tropical storm conditions are possible along the Atlantic coast within the watch area on Tuesday…

…A few tornadoes are possible today and tonight across portions of Florida and far southern Georgia.

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

Source: Extracts from National Hurricane Center, Florida, Tropical Storm Colin Intermediate Advisory No.4a issued at 700am CDT on Monday June 06 2016