18-Jul-2018
BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG MEASURES
Australia
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE REVOKES BUNKER CRAFT OPERATOR LICENCE
Singapore
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug measures
Wednesday, July 18, 2018, Australia
The Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) has announced updated draft measures to prevent the spread of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) for upcoming season from September 2018 to April 2019.
BMSB is a pest with the potential to severely impact agriculture. Juveniles and adults feed on around 300 different plant species and can severely damage fruit and vegetable crops. Adults are found in large numbers seeking shelter from cold weather in crevices or protected areas of shipping containers, vehicles, boats, caravans, machinery and personal stored items.
The proposed seasonal measures apply to certain goods shipped as sea cargo from target risk countries. That list of countries has been expanded to ten, namely: USA, Italy, Germany, France, Russia, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Georgia and Japan (heightened vessel surveillance only).
Draft measures include:
Heightened surveillance on all roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) and general cargo vessels with pre-arrival reporting through a questionnaire and daily checks for BMSB
Heightened surveillance to identify high risk vessels to be directed for inspection or treatment
Mandatory offshore treatment for target high risk goods
Increased onshore intervention for target risk goods
Export or destruction of target high risk goods requiring mandatory offshore treatment and arriving untreated, unless exceptional circumstances are granted
Break bulk cargo, machinery and vehicles are ALL considered “High Risk Goods”
All cargo classified as High Risk Goods require mandatory offshore treatment before arrival into Australia. Otherwise it will be refused entry and either destroyed or marked for re-export.
There are some exemptions (Food, seeds, pharmaceuticals, plants). There may be exemptions for those with approved arrangements approved with the DAWR.
For further details, go http://www.agriculture.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/biosecurity/import/pests/bmsb-industry-presentation.ppt
Final seasonal measures will be published shortly.
For information about operations at Australian ports contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore revokes bunker craft operator licence
Wednesday, July 18, 2018, Singapore
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has revoked the bunker craft operator licence of Pegasus Maritime (S) Pte Ltd (“Pegasus”), with effect from 16 July 2018. Pegasus will no longer be allowed to operate as a bunker craft operator in the Port of Singapore.
As part of MPA’s ongoing efforts to ensure the integrity of bunkering in Singapore, checks were conducted on Pegasus earlier this year. MPA’s investigations revealed that Pegasus had allowed an unlicensed craft operator to use its bunker craft to make bunker deliveries. Given the severity of the breaches, MPA has revoked Pegasus’ bunker craft operator licence.
MPA reminds all bunker licensees to adhere strictly to the terms and conditions of their licences. MPA takes a serious view of contraventions of the licence terms and conditions, and will suspend or revoke the relevant licences where necessary.
(For information about operations in Singapore contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com)
Source: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Circular No.7 of 2018 dated 16 July 2018
