 
| INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENT OF PACKED CONTAINERS Hong Kong |
| CANCELLATIONS AND DELAYS FOLLOWING TERRORIST ATTACK ON AIRPORT Istanbul, Turkey |
| USCG ENFORCEMENT ZONE FOR ANNUAL FIREWORKS Delaware River, USA |
| MARINE WORKS AT SAI KUNG PUBLIC PIER Hong Kong |
| International shipment of packed containers |
| Wednesday, June 29, 2016, Hong Kong |
| The Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Carriage of Cargoes) Regulation, Cap. 369AV, (Revision 2016) will be in force on 1 July 2016. Section 3A of the Regulation incorporated the latest requirements of the SOLAS Chapter VI Regulation 2 to require shippers to verify and declare the verified gross mass of packed containers to carriers before loading them on vessels.On 23 May 2016, after considered the concerns of member States, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) issued circular MSC.1/Circ.1548 (as enclosed) advising members to take practical and pragmatic measures to enforce the above-mentioned requirement in the initial 3-month period provided that the stability and safe operation of vessels are not affected. Considering the similar concerns of operators in the industry and the practical arrangement of other countries, Marine Department adopts the advice of IMO and will enforce the requirements in a practical and pragmatic manner from 1 July 2016 to 30 September 2016.
(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.87 of 2016 |
| Cancellations and delays following terrorist attack on airport |
| Wednesday, June 29, 2016, Istanbul, Turkey |
| Following the deadly attack late last night (28 June) on Istanbul Ataturk International Airport, owners/operators with vessels at Turkish ports are advised to use Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport for their crew changes.Three attackers opened fire at three different points in the airport and blew themselves up after police fire. The official report issued at 09.15 hours local time today (29 June) says 36 people were killed and 147 injured.
Istanbul Ataturk International Airport is still being affected negatively in the aftermath of the attack, with many cancelled flights and delays. The clearance of the spare parts will be delayed until the operations at the airport return to normal. For information about operations in Turkey, contact GAC Turkey at turkey@gac.com |
| USCG Enforcement Zone for Annual Fireworks |
| Wednesday, June 29, 2016, Delaware River, USA |
| The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone in the Delaware River near Philadelphia for annual fireworks displays in the Captain of the Port Delaware Bay zone at specified times from July 1 through July 4, 2016.During the enforcement period, no vessel may transit the following zone without approval from the Captain of the Port or a designated representative: adjacent to Penn’s Landing bounded from shoreline to shoreline, bounded on the south by a line running east to west from points along the shoreline at latitude 39 deg. 56’31.2”N, longitude 075 deg. 08’28.1” W; thence to latitude 39 deg. 56’29”.1 N, longitude 075 deg. 07’56.5” W, and bounded on the north by the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.
Enforcement of this zone is intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after these fireworks events. (For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com) Source: Maritime Exchange for Delaware River and Bay Alert dated 28 June 2016 |
| Marine Works at Sai Kung Public Pier |
| Wednesday, June 29, 2016, Hong Kong |
| For approximately 2 months, marine works involving construction of two additional landing steps and modification to the Pier will be carried out in the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (D): (A) 22 deg. 22.929’N / 114 deg. 16.512’E (B) 22 deg. 22.903’N / 114 deg. 16.545’E (C) 22 deg. 22.869’N / 114 deg. 16.512’E (D) 22 deg. 22.895’N / 114 deg. 16.480’EThe works will be carried out by a flotilla of vessels including one derrick lighter, one flat top pontoon, one tug and one work boat. The number of vessels engaged in the works will change from time to time to suit operational requirements. A working area of approximately 15 metres around each working vessel will be established. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the working vessels. A silt curtain, extending from the sea surface to the seabed, will be established within the works area. The silt curtain is a large piece of netting used to contain mud and sediments. The hours of work will be from 0700 to 1900 hours. No works will be carried out on Sundays and public holidays. Vessels employed for the works will stay in the works areas outside the hours of work. 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.88 of 2016 dated 28 June 2016 |
