17-Dec-2018
HIGH WATER MOORING RESTRICTION REINSTATED
New Orleans, United States
AIR DRAFT FOR 1-210 BRIDGE
Lake Charles, United States
BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG SEASON UPDATE
Australia
TRANSPORT OF SAND MATERIAL TO STOCKPILE AREA & SOIL INVESTIGATION AT TUAS VIEW EXTENSION
Singapore
High water mooring restriction reinstated
Monday, December 17, 2018, New Orleans, United States
After the Carollton Gage in New Orleans reached 12 feet, the daylight mooring restriction for all terminals using mooring vessels was reinstated at 12.00pm on 14 December.
As advised by the New Orleans-Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association on Friday 14 December, mooring and unmooring operations at all mid-stream transfer facilities are restricted to daylight hours. No vessel may moor at any facility using boats between 19:00 – 06:00 daily.
This high water restriction will remain in effect until the Carollton Gage reaches 12 feet and falling.
For information about operations in the United States contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com
Air draft for 1-210 Bridge
Monday, December 17, 2018, Lake Charles, United States
Due to the repairs of I-210 BRIDGE, starting in January 2019, there will be a recommended maximum air draft of 133 ft. for all vessels transiting through the bridge.
Kiewt Construction plans to install a work platform, called a Seaspan, under the present bridge girder, which will reduce the available air draft for all vessels. The recommended air draft is based on a 1.8 ft. tide level at NOAA ports gauge located at bulk terminal No.1.
For information about operations in the United States contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug season update
Monday, December 17, 2018, Australia
On 30 October, the Morning Composer, a roll-on roll-off vessel, departed Belgium with cargo loaded from Germany and Belgium, and arrived in Australian territory on 26 November 2018.
The vessel was subject to heightened vessel surveillance for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) and reported detections of exotic insects (both live and dead) including BMSB.
The vessel was directed to remain at anchorage while in Australian territory, for inspection by biosecurity officers. During the inspection, subsequent exotic insects were detected by biosecurity officers. The vessel was directed for thermal py-fogging prior to another inspection conducted by the department.
During the second inspection, six different species of exotic insects including BMSB were detected. The vessel was directed to remain anchored at sea pending a risk management proposal to be provided to the department for consideration and approval.
The department has had ongoing engagement with the shipping line and its operators to progress a suitable risk management plan that addresses the biosecurity risk to Australia. The vessel has been required to conduct daily inspections and report insect findings to the department.
On 9 December 2018, the vessel operator provided all insect specimens to the department for analysis and identification. A full assessment of all insects recovered from the vessel since its arrival in Australian territory has been completed by specialist departmental officers.
The department has considered these findings along with the risk management plan submitted by the vessel operator. The continued detections of exotic insects including BMSB indicates the likelihood of a larger residual population of exotic insects including BMSB on board the vessel that remains undetected.
No cargo was discharged in Australia from the vessel and the vessel has remained at anchorage at a safe distance from Australia’s border.
The department considers that the vessel and its cargo continues to present an unacceptable level of biosecurity risk. To protect Australia from the risk posed by this vessel and it cargo, the department has directed the vessel to leave Australian territory. As a result, the cargo on board the vessel has also been directed to be exported from Australian territory.
The vessel operator has fully cooperated with the department, including providing pre-arrival and daily reporting of exotic insects.
The department continues to review any BMSB detections and the risk pathways to adjust import measures as needed. Industry is expected to comply with the BMSB season measures (http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/before/brown-marmorated-stink-bugs/) and, where possible, only load compliant cargo and/or ensure cargo is not contaminated with BMSB and other biosecurity risks.
(For information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com)
Source: Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Transport of sand material to stockpile area & soil investigation at Tuas View Extension
Monday, December 17, 2018, Singapore
The working period for transport of sand material and soil investigation works at Tuas View Extension has been extended.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.128 of 2018, the work is being carried out 24 hours daily – including Sundays and Public Holiday – from today (17 December 2018) to 16 June 2019, within the working area bounded by the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
1) 01 deg. 13.400’N / 103 deg. 36.291’E
2) 01 deg. 13.400’N / 103 deg. 36.381’E
3) 01 deg. 13.289’N / 103 deg. 36.410’E
4) 01 deg. 13.203’N / 103 deg. 36.499’E
5) 01 deg. 13.211’N / 103 deg. 36.575’E
6) 01 deg. 13.331’N / 103 deg. 36.595’E
7) 01 deg. 13.369’N / 103 deg. 36.648’E
8) 01 deg. 13.458’N / 103 deg. 36.748’E
9) 01 deg. 13.482’N / 103 deg. 36.810’E
10) 01 deg. 14.123’N / 103 deg. 36.810’E
11) 01 deg. 14.125’N / 103 deg. 36.686’E
12) 01 deg. 14.474’N / 103 deg. 36.686’E
13) 01 deg. 14.474’N / 103 deg. 36.293’E
The work involves transporting and dumping of sand material by self-discharge sand carrier and trailer suction hopper dredgers to the Stockpile Area.
Soil investigation work will be carried out by drilling and sampling using a jack-up barge.
Tug boats will be used to move the jack-up barges. The safety zone is a circular area of 30m radius centred at the borehole.
A safety boat will be deployed in the vicinity to warn other craft about the work.
Craft involved in the works will exhibit the appropriate local and international day and night signals.
When in the vicinity of the working area, mariners are reminded to:
a) Keep well clear of the working area;
b) Maintain a proper lookout;
c) Proceed at a safe speed and to navigate with caution;
d) Maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 22 (Jurong Control);
and
e) Communicate with Jurong Control on VHF Channel 22 for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
