15-Mar-2018
SUBMARINE OUTFALL INSPECTION WORKS OFF STANLEY PENINSULA
Hong Kong
MARINE WORKS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THREE-RUNWAY SYSTEM NORTH OF AIRPORT
Hong Kong
VESSEL MOVEMENTS HALTED AFTER HELICOPTER INCIDENT
Port Hedland, Australia
TROPICAL CYCLONE EXPECTED
Darwin, Australia
CIVIL UNREST EASES, CURFEW CANCELLED
Panama
Submarine outfall inspection works off Stanley Peninsula
Thursday, March 15, 2018, Hong Kong
For approximately 2 weeks, submarine outfall inspection works 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. 11.828’N / 114 deg. 14.084’E
(B) 22 deg. 11.728’N / 114 deg. 14.221’E
(C) 22 deg. 11.707’N / 114 deg. 14.203’E
(D) 22 deg. 11.807’N / 114 deg. 14.066’E
The works will be carried out by one work boat and one survey vessel. One guard boat will provide assistance.
A working area of approximately 25 metres around the work boat will be established.
The hours of work will be from 0800 to 1800 hours. No works will be carried out on Sundays and public holidays.
Vessels employed for the works will not stay in the works area outside the hours of work.
Diving operations will be carried out from time to time during 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 and keep clear of the works area at slow speed, bearing in mind there are divers working in the works area.
(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. 37 of 2018 dated 13 March 2018
Marine works for construction of three-runway system north of airport
Thursday, March 15, 2018, Hong Kong
For approximately 12 months, marine works involving reclamation, seawall construction, sand filling, deep cement mixing works, drilling of boreholes, laying of sand blankets, water monitoring, hydrographic survey and diving operations will be carried out [north of Hong Kong International Airport] in the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (V) and the adjacent shoreline:
(A) 22 deg. 18.059’N / 113 deg. 53.861’E
(B) 22 deg. 18.120’N / 113 deg. 52.852’E
(C) 22 deg. 18.667’N / 113 deg. 52.446’E
(D) 22 deg. 18.558’N / 113 deg. 52.096’E
(E) 22 deg. 18.835’N / 113 deg. 52.139’E
(F) 22 deg. 19.103’N / 113 deg. 52.181’E
(G) 22 deg. 19.380’N / 113 deg. 52.224’E
(H) 22 deg. 19.551’N / 113 deg. 52.709’E
(I) 22 deg. 19.722’N / 113 deg. 53.193’E
(J) 22 deg. 19.670’N / 113 deg. 53.212’E
(K) 22 deg. 19.820’N / 113 deg. 53.676’E
(L) 22 deg. 19.971’N / 113 deg. 54.140’E
(M) 22 deg. 20.119’N / 113 deg. 54.604’E
(N) 22 deg. 20.265’N / 113 deg. 55.070’E
(O) 22 deg. 20.418’N / 113 deg. 55.533’E
(P) 22 deg. 20.214’N / 113 deg. 55.994’E
(Q) 22 deg. 20.097’N / 113 deg. 56.257’E
(R) 22 deg. 19.946’N / 113 deg. 56.597’E
(S) 22 deg. 19.833’N / 113 deg. 56.850’E
(T) 22 deg. 19.642’N / 113 deg. 56.919’E
(U) 22 deg. 19.357’N / 113 deg. 56.832’E
(V) 22 deg. 19.329’N / 113 deg. 56.755’E
Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights and radar reflectors will be laid at co-ordinates (D), (G), (H), (I), (J), (K), (L), (M), (N), (O) and (R) to mark the boundary of the works area.
The yellow marker buoys at coordinates (G) and (O) will also be fitted with “Automatic Identification System (AIS)”.
Cardinal mark buoys will be laid at co-ordinates (E), (F), (P) and (Q) to indicate the safe side on which to pass the works area. The characteristics of the cardinal mark buoys are as follows:
Co-ordinate (E): 22 deg. 18. 835’N / 113 deg. 52.139’E
Shape: Pillar
Colour: Black horizontal band on a yellow body
Light: 9 flashes
Top Mark: Cones point towards each other
Radar Reflector: Fitted
Co-ordinate (F): 22 deg. 19.103’N / 113 deg. 52.181’E
Shape: Pillar
Colour: Black horizontal band on a yellow body
Light: 9 flashes
Top Mark: Cones point towards each other
Radar Reflector: Fitted
Co-ordinate (P): 22 deg. 20.214’N / 113 deg. 55.994’ E
Shape: Pillar
Colour: Yellow horizontal band on a black body
Light: 3 flashes
Top Mark: Cones point away from each other
Radar Reflector: Fitted
Co-ordinate (Q): 22 deg. 20.097’N / 113 deg. 56.257’E
Shape: Pillar
Colour: Yellow horizontal band on a black body
Light: 3 flashes
Top Mark: Cones point away from each other
Radar Reflector: Fitted
Silt curtains, extending from the sea surface to the seabed, will be established around the boundary of the works area. The silt curtain is a large piece of netting used to contain mud and sediments. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the extent of the silt curtains.
The works will be carried out by a flotilla of vessels including drilling barges, hopper barges, derrick lighters, flat top barges, jack-up platforms and survey boats at various stages. Some tugboats, guard boats and self-propelled delivery barges will provide assistance. The number and type of vessels engaged in the works will change from time to time to suit operational requirements.
A working area of approximately 150 metres will be established around each drilling barge. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the drilling barges.
A working area of approximately 50 metres will be established around each derrick lighter and flat top barge. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the derrick lighters and flat top barges.
Yellow flashing lights will be installed at the corners of the jack-up platforms to indicate the positions of the platforms.
To facilitate the drilling works, sand blankets will be temporarily laid within the works area. The water depth at the areas where sand blankets are laid will be temporarily reduced by about 2.0 metres.
Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow fixed lights will be laid to mark the boundaries of such areas.
To safeguard the deep cement mixing works and ensure navigational safety, guard boats will station in the works area and patrol the waters in the vicinity to give necessary guidance to the vessels approaching the works area.
The hours of works will be round-the-clock.
Diving operations will be carried out from time to time during 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 the Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No. 38 of 2018 dated 14 March 2018
Vessel movements halted after helicopter incident
Thursday, March 15, 2018, Port Hedland, Australia
All vessel movement at Port Hedland were halted last night (14 March) after a helicopter used by the port authority to transfer marine pilots ditched into the sea about 35km from the port en route to collect a pilot from a vessel. Two people were on board at the time. One has been rescued but the second remains missing.
Following the incident, all in-bound shipping was halted immediately, and only limited out-board movements were permitted.
Just before midday today (15 March), the Port Authority advised that normal shipping would resume at 1500 hours local time.
For information about operations at Australian ports, contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
Tropical Cyclone expected
Thursday, March 15, 2018, Darwin, Australia
A Tropical Cyclone is expected to form off the north coast tomorrow (Friday 16 March). A Watch Zone is in effect for Milingimbi to Daly River Mouth, including Darwin and the Tiwi Islands.
At 12.30pm local time ACST, the Tropical Low had sustained winds near the centre of 45km per hour with wind gusts to 85km per hour, and was located within 55 km of 9.2 deg. S, 130.9 deg.E , 250km north of Milikapiti and 285km northwest of Croker Island. It was moving east at 13km per hour.
An intensifying tropical low north of the Tiwi Islands is expected to move southeast across the Arafura Sea today before turning towards the north coast of the Top End during Friday.
The low is expected to reach tropical cyclone intensity during Friday evening. The system will then turn towards the southwest during Saturday and move into the Timor Sea late on Saturday or early Sunday.
Gales with gusts to 110 km/h may develop between the Tiwi Islands and Goulburn Island during Friday evening. Gales may extend to Milingimbi if the tropical cyclone takes a more eastwards track. Gales may also develop between Point Stuart and Daly River Mouth including Darwin in the early hours of Saturday morning if the tropical cyclone passes through the Van Diemen Gulf and maintains intensity. However, if the tropical cyclone crosses the coast east of the Cobourg Peninsula on Friday night, the tropical cyclone will likely weaken before approaching Darwin, reducing the chance of gales being experienced.
Heavy rain is expected to develop along the north coast on Friday then extend into the northwest Top End on Saturday.
For information about operations at Australian ports contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
Civil unrest eases, curfew cancelled
Thursday, March 15, 2018, Panama
After civil unrest earlier this week, the situation in Panama appears to have normalised. The curfew in Colon has been cancelled and at the moment, all is quiet.
Panama Canal traffic remains normal.
For information about operations in Panama contact GAC-Wilford & McKay at gac-wilfordmckay.panama@gac.com
