| DESIGNATED BUNKERING AREAS IN CANAL WATERS Panama Canal, Panama |
| CANOE RACE Hong Kong |
| VESSEL BOARDINGS SUSPENDED Houston, United States |
| BOARDINGS SUSPENDED AT SB BUOY Beaumont/Port Arthur, United States |
| PORT CONDITION ZULU SET AS HARVEY STRENGTHENS Houston, United States |
| Designated bunkering areas in Canal waters |
| Friday, August 25, 2017, Panama Canal, Panama |
| The Panama Canal has designated specific anchorages as bunkering areas on the Atlantic and Pacific terminus of the Canal in order to facilitate monitoring of these activities.
Atlantic Terminal:
Pacific Terminal:
Canal Authorities must approve any bunkering operation in areas or locations other than the approved areas listed above prior to scheduling or engaging in the activity. (For information about operations in the Panama Canal contact GAC-Wilford & McKay at gac-wilfordmckay.panama@gac. Source: Panama Canal Authority Advisory To Shipping No.A-28-2017 dated 23 August 2017 |
| Canoe race |
| Friday, August 25, 2017, Hong Kong |
| A canoe race will take place along eastern coast of Hong Kong Island on 27 August 2017 (Sunday) during the period from 0900 hours to 1500 hours. About 100 canoes are expected to participate in the race.
The race will start from Causeway Bay in Victoria Harbour, then follow a route passing Chai Wan and Cape D’aguilar to Tai Tam Bay and finish at Stanley. Masters, coxswains and persons-in-charge of vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution, giving practical consideration to the contestants. Compliance with the provisions of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 is mandatory. (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.120 of 2017 |
| Vessel boardings suspended |
| Friday, August 25, 2017, Houston, United States |
| Due to deteriorating offshore weather conditions, Houston Pilots suspended vessel boardings at 0630 hours local time today (25 August).
For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com |
| Boardings suspended at SB buoy |
| Friday, August 25, 2017, Beaumont/Port Arthur, United States |
| As per Sabine River Pilot Office, boardings to/from SB (outer) buoy were suspended at 0858 hours local time today (25 August), due to Hurricane Harvey. The 29/30 buoy remains open for now.
For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com |
| Port Condition Zulu set as Harvey strengthens |
| Friday, August 25, 2017, Houston, United States |
| The Captain of Port for Houston will set Port Condition ZULU for all ports within the Sector at noon today (25 August). Once Port Condition ZULU has been set, no further vessel movements are allowed.
Hurricane Harvey strengthened to category 2 overnight and is continuing to strengthen, and is still forecast to be a strong Category 3 hurricane at landfall. Landfall will occur at around midnight tonight, around Corpus Christi to Port Aransas. Tropical storm force winds have arrived in the area. Tropical storm conditions are expected to continue through Sundaymorning, and as the storm begins to track east, strengthening could reoccur. The weather will remain unsettled through Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. Life threatening storm surge inundation of 6-12 feet (above ground level) from South Padre Island to Sargent TX, 5-8 feet from Sargent to Jamaica Beach, and 2-4 feet from Jamaica Beach to High Island and around Galveston Bay is expected. The storm’s steering flow weakens considerably after landfall. The storm will stall and a slow east-northeast drift will result this weekend and into early next week. This will result in heavy rainfall for a prolonged period; 15-25 inches of rain with local amounts near 35 inches is possible across southern regions, less further inland causing catastrophic flooding, especially south of the I-10 corridor. A Hurricane Warning is in effect from Port Mansfield to Sargent TX. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from Matagorda to High Island. A Storm Surge Warning is in effect from Port Mansfield to High Island. A Storm Surge Watch in in effect around Galveston Bay. Harbor Tugs have moved their two tugs from Freeport. They currently have 8 tugs in Galveston and 17 in Houston. They cannot guarantee “holding services” with plans to respond to emergency requests. Port Freeport reports all vessels clear of the port; they are buttoned up and ready to ride the storm. VTS Houston has re-emphasized that all vessels remaining in port should have already filed their declarations of intent to the COTP. Not all vessels in port have submitted the required form “Intention to Remain in Port” to the VTS. USCBP will be sending out a notification to all agents waiving the 48-hour clearance requirements. VTS is requesting vessels in port to monitor Houston traffic on VHF Channel 12 and 13. For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com |
