Hot Port News from GAC

The week of November 6 – 11, Norfolk dredging will be installing a pipeline to facilitate dredging from approximately 39 deg. 48’03.81”N, 075 deg. 24’24.80”W extending to 39 deg. 48’41.65”N, 075 deg. 24’01.44”W. This pipeline will be marked with lighted buoys at 300’ intervals, and vessels are directed not to pass over the submerged pipeline. This pipeline is expected to remain in place for at least one month, and the following restrictions shall remain in place for the duration of the pipeline placement:

• Small Tug and Barge units will be permitted within the portion of the anchorage upriver from the pipeline on a case by case basis, with advance USCG permission.
• Currently there is a safety zone in place which permits two vessels at a time in Marcus Hook Anchorage on a “first-come, first-served” basis. These two vessels will be allowed to anchor in the southern portion of the anchorage, or that portion of the anchorage downriver from the submerged pipeline.
• Normally, this is a 48 hour anchorage; however, vessels will not be permitted to occupy the anchorage beyond 12 hours during this time. Vessels that require an examination by the Public Health Service, Customs, or Immigration authorities will be directed to an anchorage for the required inspection by the COTP.
• Vessels seeking to anchor at Marcus Hook Anchorage must obtain permission from the Captain of the Port at least 24 hours in advance, at (215)271-4807.

(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 37-17 dated 8 November 2017

According to figures, the Panama Canal transited a total of 13,548 vessels during Fiscal Year 2017, representing a 3.3% increase compared to the previous year. Due to the larger Neopanamax vessels now able to transit the Expanded Canal, the growth in traffic translated into a 22.2% increase in total annual tonnage from Fiscal Year 2016, allowing the Panama Canal to surpass the already ambitious cargo projection of 399 million PC/UMS…

…The record-breaking FY17 results include many important milestones for the Panama Canal. Less than six months after the inauguration of the Expanded Canal, the waterway welcomed the YM Unity containership, its 500^thNeopanamax vessel transit, while in March 2017, Mediterranean Shipping Company’s MSC Anzu became the 1,000th Neopanamax vessel to transit the Canal. The September 2017 transit of the COSCO Yantian containership marked 2,000 Neopanamax transits, including the Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wonder, the first Neopanamax cruise vessel to transit.

After setting similar records in December 2016, and May 2017, in August 2017, the Neopanamax containership CMA CGM Theodore Roosevelt became the largest ship to transit the Canal, measuring 365.96 meters in length and 48.252 meters in beam with a total TEU allowance (TTA) of 14,863…

…In September 2017, the Canal launched Panama’s Maritime Single Window (VUMPA), with other Panamanian Government offices, to streamline logistics paperwork for international customers. To uphold sustainability efforts, in October 2016, the Canal created the Environmental Premium Ranking to reward qualified customers who meet high environmental efficiency standards with the opportunity to improve their position within the Customer Ranking System, which is taken into account when booking transits through the Canal. The Panama Canal also instituted modifications to the toll structure in response to a series of discussions with customers and a review of changing cargo patterns.

The Panama Canal currently serves 29 major liner services, including 15 Neopanamax liner services, primarily on the U.S. East Coast to Asia trade route.

(For information about operations in the Panama Canal, contact GAC-Wilford & McKay at gac-wilfordmckay.panama@gac.com)

Source: Extract from the Panama Canal Authority Monthly Canal Operations Summary – October 2017