Hot Port News from GAC

A ferry service between North Point Ferry Pier and the Tai Miu Wan pier will be operated on 18 April and 19 April 2017. Details of the ferry service will be announced by the Transport Department in due course.

The Marine Department and the Hong Kong Police Force patrol launches will be stationed in the vicinity to direct and control vessels attending the festival.

Persons-in-charge of local vessels are strongly reminded to ensure that vessels shall not carry passengers more than they are certified to carry. As only one set of landing steps will be available for use by local vessels, persons-in-charge of local vessels must exercise extreme care, patience and good seamanship and follow the berthing/unberthing instructions of the Marine Department and the Hong Kong Police Force patrol launches on the scene.

Masters of vessels navigating in the Tathong Channel on the above dates are advised to proceed with caution as more local traffic than normal will be encountered between Lei Yue Mun and Tai Miu Wan.

(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. 42 of 2017

…APM Terminals took over operations at the container terminal in January 2012. In conjunction with the transfer, an investment programme worth 82 million euro was rolled out. The programme will result in extensive upgrading of the terminal, including two new Super Post Panamax ship-to-shore cranes, expansion of the rail system with more and longer tracks, new rail-mounted cranes, and new diesel-electric straddle carriers.

Gothenburg Port Authority and APM Terminals have agreed that the current crane capacity at the terminal is sufficient, which means that the third quayside crane that was planned is no longer needed. Instead, an extension to the agreement has been signed. The agreement comprises two parts: a market share guarantee and a new investment programme worth 26 million euro. Both parts will run until 2024. The investment programme will focus on improved customer service and productivity on both land and water…

(For information about operations in Sweden contact GAC Sweden at sweden@gac.com)

Source: Port of Gothenburg, www.portofgothenburg.com/news-room/

According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.49 of 2017 dated 31 March 2017, the towing operations will be carried out 0700-1800 hours daily, including Sundays & Public Holidays, within the working area bounded by the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
1) 01 deg. 13.726’N / 103 deg. 37.580’E
2) 01 deg. 13.781’N / 103 deg. 37.674’E
3) 01 deg. 14.141’N / 103 deg. 38.566’E
4) 01 deg. 14.145’N / 103 deg. 38.581’E
5) 01 deg. 14.147’N / 103 deg. 38.596’E
6) 01 deg. 14.147’N / 103 deg. 39.117’E
7) 01 deg. 14.319’N / 103 deg. 39.301’E
8) 01 deg. 14.319’N / 103 deg. 39.277’E
9) 01 deg. 15.044’N / 103 deg. 39.050’E
10) 01 deg. 15.398’N / 103 deg. 38.880’E
11) 01 deg. 15.442’N / 103 deg. 38.840’E
12) 01 deg. 15.459’N / 103 deg. 38.783’E
13) 01 deg. 15.415’N / 103 deg. 38.709’E
14) 01 deg. 15.415’N / 103 deg. 37.932’E
15) 01 deg. 15.357’N / 103 deg. 37.963’E
16) 01 deg. 15.334’N / 103 deg. 38.024’E
17) 01 deg. 15.334’N / 103 deg. 38.762’E
18) 01 deg. 14.986’N / 103 deg. 38.930’E
19) 01 deg. 14.502’N / 103 deg. 39.161’E
20) 01 deg. 14.377’N / 103 deg. 39.179’E
21) 01 deg. 14.282’N / 103 deg. 39.095’E
22) 01 deg. 14.282’N / 103 deg. 38.596’E
23) 01 deg. 14.278’N / 103 deg. 38.555’E
24) 01 deg. 14.268’N / 103 deg. 38.519’E
25) 01 deg. 13.905’N / 103 deg. 37.617’E
26) 01 deg. 13.853’N / 103 deg. 37.519’E

Caisson towing operations will be assisted by tugs, between Tuas View East Caisson Fabrication Yard and F1/F2 reclamation area.

Craft involved in the works will exhibit the appropriate local and international day and night signals.

When caisson towing operations is in progress, mariners are reminded to:
a) Keep well clear and not to impede the passage of the tow;
b) Maintain a proper lookout;
c) Proceed at a safe speed and to navigate with caution;
d) Maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 22 (Jurong Control);
and
e) Communicate with Jurong Control on VHF Channel 22 for assistance, if required.

For information about operations in Singapore contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com

According to the Government of Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No.46 of 2017, the Director of Marine has set aside a passage area in Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter. The plan is available for inspection on request to the Director of Marine and it can also be inspected on the Department’s website: http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/pub_services/ocean/lpf_tshelter.html

For information about operations in Hong Kong contact GAC Hong Kong at shipping.hongkong@gac.com

For approximately 6 months, marine works involving removal of temporary reclamation and construction of seawall will be carried out within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (J) and the adjacent shoreline:
(A) 22 deg. 16.999’N / 114 deg. 11.092’E
(B) 22 deg. 17.008’N / 114 deg. 11.084’E
(C) 22 deg. 16.997’N / 114 deg. 11.059’E
(D) 22 deg. 17.039’N / 114 deg. 11.040’E
(E) 22 deg. 17.071’N / 114 deg. 11.046’E
(F) 22 deg. 17.100’N / 114 deg. 11.107’E
(G) 22 deg. 17.139’N / 114 deg. 11.170’E
(H) 22 deg. 17.083’N / 114 deg. 11.214’E
(I) 22 deg. 17.074’N / 114 deg. 11.203’E
(J) 22 deg. 17.064’N / 114 deg. 11.224’E

The works will be carried out by a flotilla of vessels including six dumb lighters, three tugboats 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 lighter will be established. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the lighters.

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. Yellow markers buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the extent of the silt curtain.

The hours of work will be from 0700 to 2300 hours. Vessels employed for the works will stay in the works area outside the hours of work.

Vessels 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 Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No.47 of 2017

Details of the temporary light marks marking the diverted channel are as follows:

I) Lateral light buoys:

Name: DTC1
Position (WGS 84 Datum): 22 deg. 18.899’N / 113 deg. 57.854’E
Shape: Pillar
Colour: Green
Light Characteristics: Q. G
Top Mark: Single Green Cone

Name: DTC2
Position (WGS 84 Datum):22 deg. 18.854’N / 113 deg. 57.971’E
Shape:Pillar
Colour:Red
Light Characteristics:Q. R
Top Mark:Single Red Can

II) Lights fixed on piers:

Name: DTC3
Position (WGS 84 Datum):22 deg. 18.496’N / 113 deg. 57.716’E
Light Characteristics:VQ. G

Name: DTC4
Position (WGS 84 Datum): 22 deg. 18.460’N / 113 deg. 57.776’E
Light Characteristics: VQ. R

The minimum width of the diverted channel is about 100 metres and the minimum depth of the diverted channel is about 2.5 metres (Chart Datum).

To facilitate the bridge pier head segments installation works which will be carried out by two large floating crane barges at the Tung Chung buoyed channel.

Guard boats will be stationed at the turning points of the diverted channel to give necessary guidance to the vessels using this channel. Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution and follow the guidance given by the guard boats on scene.

(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.48 of 2017

Soft copies of the new tariffs are available upon request. For further details or information about operations in Namibia, contact GAC Namibia at shipping.walvisbay@gac.com