| MARINE WORKS IN HUNG HOM FAIRWAY Hong Kong |
| SPEED RESTRICTION TO PROTECT NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES Atlantic Seaboard, United States |
| NOTICE OF INDUSTRIAL ACTION Sydney, Australia |
| NATIONAL UNITY DAY HOLIDAY Russia |
| Marine works in Hung Hom Fairway |
| Friday, November 3, 2017, Hong Kong |
| From 4 November and for approximately 6 months, marine works involving dredging, immersed tunnel unit installation and backfilling operations will be carried out within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (D): (A) 22 deg. 17.650’N / 114 deg. 11.016’E (B) 22 deg. 17.208’N / 114 deg. 11.117’E (C) 22 deg. 17.185’N / 114 deg. 11.003’E (D) 22 deg. 17.605’N / 114 deg. 10.920’ETo alleviate the impact to marine traffic in the Hung Hom Fairway arising from the marine works, a section of the fairway will be temporarily diverted northwards with boundaries joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (E) to (M): (E) 22 deg. 17.975’N / 114 deg. 11.456’E (F) 22 deg. 17.725’N / 114 deg. 11.402’E (G) 22 deg. 17.650’N / 114 deg. 11.016’E (H) 22 deg. 17.600’N / 114 deg. 10.909’E (I) 22 deg. 17.375’N / 114 deg. 10.657’E (J) 22 deg. 17.283’N / 114 deg. 10.462’E (K) 22 deg. 17.483’N / 114 deg. 10.409’E (L) 22 deg. 17.753’N / 114 deg. 10.874’E (M) 22 deg. 17.804’N / 114 deg. 10.981’EThe works will be carried out by a flotilla of vessels including one dredger, two hopper barges, one flat top barge, four dumb lighters, one work boat, three special purpose vessels, four tugboats and two guard boats. The number of vessels engaged in the works will change from time to time to suit operational requirements. A working area of approximately 50 metres around each dredger, barge and 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 dredger, barges and lighters. The works will be carried out 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 the Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No.153 of 2017 dated 31 October 2017 |
| Speed restriction to protect North Atlantic right whales |
| Friday, November 3, 2017, Atlantic Seaboard, United States |
| The Captain of the Port, Delaware Bay advises all vessels transiting the Mid-Atlantic Ocean that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has established regulations to implement a 10-knot speed restriction for all vessels 65 ft (19.8 m) or longer in certain locations along the east coast of the U.S. Atlantic seaboard at certain times of the year. These regulations are designed to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales by reducing the likelihood of collisions between ships and whales.
The 10-knot speed restriction will extend out to 20 nautical miles around major mid-Atlantic ports. According to NOAA researchers, about 83% of right whale sightings in the mid-Atlantic region occur within 20 nautical miles of shore. The speed restriction also applies in waters off New England and the southeastern U.S., where whales gather seasonally. The speed restrictions apply in the following approximate locations at the following times; they are based on times whales are known to be in these areas:
Specifically for vessels entering the Delaware Bay, the restriction applies in the following location: Within a 20 NM (37 km) radius (as measured seaward from COLREGS lines) of the center point of the entrance to the Delaware Bay (Ports of Philadelphia and Wilmington): 38 deg. 52′27.4″N – 075 deg. 01′32.1″W. For more information about the speed restriction please visit the NOAA website http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/ (For information about operations in the United States contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com) Source: U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Delaware Bay, Marine Safety Information Bulletin No.34-17 |
| Notice of Industrial Action |
| Friday, November 3, 2017, Sydney, Australia |
|
Port Authority of New South Wales has been negotiating with the Australian Maritime Officers Union (AMOU) and Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) over a replacement Enterprise Agreement for its Sydney workforce since February 2017. Unfortunately, these negotiations continue to remain difficult to finalise as the unions are maintaining a position which seeks employment guarantees that Port Authority is unable to provide. Port Authority of New South Wales wishes to advise that it has now received notification of protected industrial action to be undertaken by MUA members working on board pilot cutters operated by the Port Authority from Port Jackson and Port Botany as follows: 24 hour stoppage commencing at 0600 Wednesday 8th November 2017. The action proposed will suspend the use of the pilot vessels to embark and disembark Pilots in Port Jackson and Port Botany. The MUA have agreed to exempt the following functions from any industrial action:
Please be advised that this industrial action does not exempt perishables and therefore the movement of container vessels scheduled during this period will be affected. Emergency response, Vessel Traffic Services and other Port Officer functions (other than pilot cutter movements) will be required to continue as normal during this period of industrial action. Port Authority of New South Wales remains committed to reaching agreement with its employees whilst minimising, wherever possible, the impacts on you and your business, and we will provide regular updates to inform you of further developments at the earliest possible opportunity. (For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com) Source: Port Authority of New South Wales notice |
| National Unity Day holiday |
| Friday, November 3, 2017, Russia |
| Banks, authorities and port administrations in Russia will be closed from tomorrow (4 November) through to Monday 6 November, due a long holiday to mark National Unity Day. The first working day will be Tuesday 7 November.
This holidays will not impact oil/products terminals mooring and loading schedules. For information about operations in Russia, contact GAC Russia at russia@gac.com |
