Hot Port News from GAC
31-May-2019
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF LANDING STEPS
Hong Kong
PILOTAGE CHARGES TO RISE
Port Kembla, Australia
OBSTRUCTIONS IN VICINITY OF SHIP CHANNEL
Corpus Christi, United States
Temporary closure of landing steps
Friday, May 31, 2019, Hong Kong
Landing steps No. 3 of the Central Pier No. 9 will be temporarily closed from 1400 to 2200 hours on 28 June 2019 (Friday) to facilitate an exhibition of two tugs which will be berthed to the landing steps during the period mentioned above.
Owners, operators, coxswains and persons-in-charge of vessels are advised to use other landing facilities in the vicinity during the period of closure.
(For information about operations in Hong Kong contact GAC Hong Kong at shipping.hongkong@gac.com )
Source: Government of the Hong Kong SAR Marıne Department Notıce No. 92 of 2019
Pilotage charges to rise
Friday, May 31, 2019, Port Kembla, Australia
NSW Ports have advised that there will be an 3.68% increase to pilotage charges, effective from 1 July 2019.
The revised pilotage tariffs are as follows:
Minimum Fee (per movement) 1 to 8,803 GT
– $1,271.54
Pilotage In/Out – TIER I Up to 25,000 GT
– Minimum Charge plus $0.14444 in excess of 8,803 GT
Pilotage In/Out – TIER II 25,001 to 50,000 GT
– $3,611.00 plus $0.05058 in excess of 25,000 GT
Pilotage In/Out – TIER III 50,001 to 78,000 GT
– $4,875.50 plus $0.01120 in excess of 50,000 GT
Pilotage In/Out – MAX CHARGE > 78,000 GT
– $5,189.10
In addition to pilot charges, the permit attendance charge for processing hot-work and Dangerous goods permits will increase to $99.76 hour.
For information about operations at Australian ports, contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
Obstructions in vicinity of ship channel
Friday, May 31, 2019, Corpus Christi, United States
NOAA has informed the U.S. Coast Guard of two obstructions in the Corpus Christi Inner Harbor:
The first obstruction rises 1.6 m from the sea floor, has an obstruction depth of 44 feet, and is within the Viola Turning Basin located at or near 27 deg. 50’ 44.6”N, 097 deg. 31’ 14.6”W.
The second obstruction rises approximately 4 meters from the sea floor, has an obstruction depth of 29 feet, and is located 5 meters north of the Corpus Christi Ship Main Turning Basin Channel at or near 27 deg. 48’ 51.6”N, 097 deg. 24’ 48.2”W.
The U.S. Coast Guard is communicating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to track removal plans. There are no current traffic restrictions regarding these obstructions, however mariners are urged to use extreme caution when transiting near these obstructions. Additional Marine Safety Information Bulletins will be posted if future surveys show that the obstructions have moved, if removal options are scheduled, if any traffic restrictions are put in place, or if a Port Coordination Team call is initiated.
(For information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com)
Source: United States Coast Guard, Corpus Christi TX, Marine Safety Information Bulletin No.10-19 dated 30 May 2019
