Hot Port News from GAC
30-Aug-2019
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF LANDING STEPS NO. 1 OF KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER
Hong Kong
2019-20 SEASONAL MEASURES FOR BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG (BMSB)
Australia
DREDGING UNDERWAY
Broome, Australia
INSTALLATION OF FLOATING SEA BARRIER OFF CHANGI EAST
Singapore
DORIAN FORECAST TO BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE
Bahamas
PORTS AT HURRICANE CONDITION X-RAY
Jacksonville & Fernandina, United States
Temporary Closure of Landing Steps No. 1 of Kowloon Public Pier
Friday, August 30, 2019, Hong Kong
Landing steps No.1 of Kowloon Public Pier will be temporarily closed from 1800 hours to 2300 hours on 22, 24 and 25 September 2019 to facilitate the functions in connection with the 30th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
Owners, operators, coxswains and persons-in-charge of vessels are advised to use other landing facilities in the vicinity during the periods 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 Marine Department Notice No.133 of 2019
2019-20 seasonal measures for Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB)
Friday, August 30, 2019, Australia
In response to the rapid expansion of BMSB throughout Europe and North America, the Australian Government Department of Agriculture has strengthened the seasonal measures to manage risk of BMSB from arriving in Australia for the 2019–20 BMSB risk season…
…For the 2019-20 BMSB risk season, heightened biosecurity measures will apply to certain goods manufactured in, or shipped from target risk countries, and/or vessels that berth at, load or tranship from target risk countries from 1 September 2019 and that arrive in Australian territory by 31 May 2020 (inclusive).
Goods shipped between 1 September and 30 April need to be treated, and will be referred for intervention if they arrive by 31 May 2020.
For goods that are shipped prior to 30 April and arrive after 31 May, they may be subject to intervention as required…
(For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com)
Source: Australian Government Department of Agriculture ( http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/before/brown-marmorated-stink-bugs)
Dredging underway
Friday, August 30, 2019, Broome, Australia
Dredging is underway at the Port of Broome to ensure it will be open to cruise ships around the clock in time for the start of the cruise ship season in mid-October.
The $15.3 million channel optimization program will allow 24-hour access for cruise ships, which currently need to berth at irregular hours due to navigational hazards. Dredging work started this week and is expected to run for two weeks.
For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
Installation of floating sea barrier off Changi East
Friday, August 30, 2019, Singapore
The working period for the installation of a floating sea barrier off Changi East has been extended. The work will now be carried out from 1 September 2019 to 29 February 2020.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.080, the work will be conducted 24 hours daily – including Sundays & Public Holidays – within the working area bounded by the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
1) 1 deg. 18.618’N / 103 deg. 59.844’E
2) 1 deg. 18.611’N / 103 deg. 59.863’E
3) 1 deg. 18.661’N / 103 deg. 59.884’E
4) 1 deg. 18.668’N / 103 deg. 59.867’E
Installation of floating sea barrier will be carried out using crane and work barges. These barges will be assisted by tugs. Safety boats will be deployed to warn other craft in the vicinity of the working area.
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 12 (East Control);
and
e) Communicate with East Control on VHF Channel 12 for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
Dorian forecast to become a major hurricane
Friday, August 30, 2019, Bahamas
The government of the Bahamas has issued a Hurricane Watch for the northwestern Bahamas. Interests in southern and central Florida should monitor the progress of Dorian.
At 500am AST (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Dorian was located near latitude 23.8 North, longitude 69.1 West. Dorian is moving toward the northwest near 12 mph (19 km/h), and this motion is expected to continue through the day. A slower west-northwestward to westward motion is forecast to begin tonight and continue through the weekend. On this track, Dorian should move over the Atlantic well east of the southeastern and central Bahamas today, approach the northwestern Bahamas Saturday, and move near or over portions of the northwestern Bahamas on Sunday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph (165 km/h) with higher gusts.
Strengthening is forecast during the next few days, and Dorian is expected to become a major hurricane later today. Dorian is likely to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane while it moves near the northwestern Bahamas and approaches the Florida peninsula through the weekend.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles (165 km).
Hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area by Sunday, with tropical storm conditions possible by Saturday night or Sunday morning.
A dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding in areas of onshore winds in the northwestern Bahamas. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.
Dorian is expected to produce the following rainfall accumulations this weekend into the middle of next week:
– Northwestern Bahamas and coastal sections of the Southeast United States: 6-12 inches, isolated 15 inches
– Central Bahamas: 1-2 inches, isolated 4 inches.
This rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods.
Swells are likely to begin affecting the east-facing shores of the Bahamas and the southeastern United States coast during the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
(For information about operations in the Americas, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com)
Source: Extracts from National Hurricane Center, Miami FL, Hurricane Dorian Advisory No.24 issued at 500am AST on 30 August 2019
Ports at Hurricane Condition X-Ray
Friday, August 30, 2019, Jacksonville & Fernandina, United States
Hurricane Condition X-RAY was set for the ports of Jacksonville and Fernandina yesterday (29 August), under which the ports remain open to all commercial traffic.
Oceangoing vessels greater than 500 gross tons, including oceangoing tugs and barges greater than 500 gross tons, already in port or arriving during Hurricane Port Condition X-RAY shall continue with preparations and safely depart the port before the setting of Hurricane Port Condition ZULU (12 hours preceding the arrival of sustained gale force winds). All ships should coordinate and plan with regards to their evasion plan.
There are no “safe havens” within the ports of Jacksonville, Fernandina, and Canaveral. The safest condition during the arrival of a hurricane is when the inventory of vessels is at a minimum. All ships should coordinate their efforts in accordance with their evasion plan. Masters should take early and decisive action to ensure the safety of their vessels and crews.
About eight hours prior to the predicted arrival of sustained gale force winds (above 39 mph), most bridges will be locked down and will not open until after the severe weather has passed. Vessels intending to evacuate the ports of Jacksonville, Fernandina, or Canaveral via the St. Johns River or the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway must depart early to avoid being blocked by bridges.
For information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com
