Hot Port News from GAC
28-Aug-2019
REMOVAL OF JETTY AND INSTALLATION OF MONO PILES
Singapore
VICTORY DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY
Turkey
DORIAN NEARING VIRGIN ISLANDS & PUERTO RICO
Virgin Islands & Puerto Rico
FIGHTING NEAR AIRPORT
Aden, Yemen
PORT READINESS CONDITION ZULU SET
Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands
PORT CONDITION WHISKEY (72 HOUR ALERT) FOR TROPICAL STORM DORIAN
Tampa, St. Petersburg & Manatee, United States
Removal of jetty and installation of mono piles
Wednesday, August 28, 2019, Singapore
The working period for the removal of a jetty and installation of mono piles at Pulau Sebarok has been extended. The work will now carried out from 28 August 2019 to 27 February 2020.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.078 of 2019, the work will be conducted 24 hours daily – including Sundays & Public Holidays – within the working area bounded by the following coordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
1) 01 deg. 12.497’N / 103 deg. 47.728’E
2) 01 deg. 12.528’N / 103 deg. 47.779’E
3) 01 deg. 12.410’N / 103 deg. 47.892’E
4) 01 deg. 12.368’N / 103 deg. 47.852’E
Crane barges will be used in the removal and installation work. Diving operations will be performed as part of the monopile removal process.
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 and not to enter the working area;
b) Maintain a proper lookout;
c) Proceed at a safe speed and navigate with caution;
d) Maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 68 (Western Control);
and
e) Communicate with Western Control on VHF Channel 68 for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
Victory Day public holiday
Wednesday, August 28, 2019, Turkey
All official institutions and banks in Turkey will be closed on Friday 30 August for the Victory Day public holiday.
Some ports may suspend operations or increase fees for official services such as pilotage, towage, mooring and customs by 50% on this date. There will be a 50% additional pilotage charge for Turkish Straits.
Owners and operators of vessels calling at Turkish ports are urged to make sure all arrangements for crew, spares, provisions, documentation, etc are made in a timely manner ahead of the holiday.
For information about operations in Turkey contact GAC Turkey at turkey@gac.com
Dorian nearing Virgin Islands & Puerto Rico
Wednesday, August 28, 2019, Virgin Islands & Puerto Rico
At 800am AST (1200 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Dorian was near latitude 17.1 North, longitude 64.1 West. Dorian is moving toward the northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue during the next few days.
On the forecast track, the center of Dorian will pass over or near the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico later today. Dorian is then forecast to move to the east of the Turks and Caicos and the southeastern Bahamas on Thursday, and near or to the east of the central and northwestern Bahamas on Friday and Saturday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 60mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts. Some strengthening is expected today, and Dorian is forecast to be near hurricane strength when it approaches the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Although weakening is possible after Dorian moves across Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, the storm is forecast to strengthen late this week and this weekend while passing near or to the east of the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center. A wind gust to near 39 mph (63 km/h) was recently reported at St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands…
(For information about operations in the Americas, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com)
Source: Extract from National Hurricane Center Miami FL Tropical Storm Dorian Intermediate Advisory No.16A issued at 800am AST on 28 August 2019
Fighting near airport
Wednesday, August 28, 2019, Aden, Yemen
Heavy fighting erupted in Aden this afternoon (28 August) between government forces and those belonging to the Southern Transitional Council.
The clashes are concentrated in the vicinity of Aden International Airport, which is reported to be controlled by government forces. Apparently, all flights have been suspended though no official announcement has been made.
The port of Aden, however, is still operating as normal.
For the latest updates and information about operations in Yemen contact GAC Yemen at yemen@gac.com
Port Readiness Condition Zulu set
Wednesday, August 28, 2019, Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands
The U.S. Coast Guard, Sector San Juan, has advised that Port readiness Condition Zulu has been set at the following ports in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands:
Arecibo, PR
Ceiba, PR
Culebra, PR
Fajardo, PR
Guanica, PR
Guayama, PR
Guayanilla, PR
Mayaguez, PR
Ponce, PR
Salinas, PR
San Juan, PR
St. Croix, USVI
St. Thomas, USVI
St. John, USVI
Tallaboa, PR
Vieques, PR
Yabucoa, PR
These ports were closed to all vessel traffic at 07.30 local time today (28 August), unless specifically authorised by the Captain of the Port.
Cargo operations are suspended, including bunkering and lightering. Waivers may be granted unless cargo of particular hazard or certain dangerous cargo is involved.
For information about operations in the United States and territories, contact North America at usa@gac.com
Port Condition Whiskey (72 hour alert) for Tropical Storm Dorian
Wednesday, August 28, 2019, Tampa, St. Petersburg & Manatee, United States
Due to the possibility of gale force winds (34-47 knots) entering the Tampa Bay area within 72 hours, the Captain of the Port (COTP) is ordering Port Condition WHISKEY for the ports of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Manatee. The COTP will continue to evaluate weather predictions for the region.
PROHIBITED OPERATIONS:
None
AUTHORIZED OPERATIONS:
All
CURRENT ACTIONS:
Waterfront facilities should be removing potential flying debris, hazardous materials and oil pollution hazards from dockside areas. Container stacking plans should be implemented. Container terminal operators shall reduce general cargo container stack heights to no more than two high for containers containing hazardous materials and no more than four high for all other containers, or propose alternate securing arrangements to the COTP. All facilities shall continue to operate in accordance with their approved Facility Security Plans and comply with the requirements of MTSA Coast Guard Port Assessment Teams will be conducting port surveys. The COTP may require additional precautions to ensure the safety of the ports and waterways.
FUTURE ACTIONS:
Affected ports in the St. Petersburg Captain of the Port Zone should be watching this storm closely. Should higher port conditions be required, the following additionally future requirements may be implemented.
In preparation for the approaching heavy weather, all oceangoing commercial vessels greater than 500 gross tons are required to submit a heavy weather plan to Sector St. Petersburg via email at WWMTampa@uscg.mil to request and receive permission to remain in port. Proof of facility owner/operator approval is required.
Vessels bound for any of these ports, which would be unable to depart if weather conditions worsen are advised to seek an alternate destination as these ports may be closed to inbound traffic.
Drawbridges may be locked down as early as eight hours prior to the anticipated arrival of sustained gale force winds or when an evacuation is in progress. During lock-down, the bridge is closed, power is turned off, traffic arms may be removed, the control house is secured and the bridge operator is sent to safety.
(For information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com)
Source: U.S. Coast Guard, Sector St Petersburg, Florida, Port Community Information Bulletin #05-19 dated 28 August 2019
