Hot Port News from GAC
26-Sep-2019
TRAFFIC SUSPENSION FOR YACHT RACES
Bosphorus, Turkey
DREDGING OPERATIONS AT TAI O
Hong Kong
STRONG CURRENT MEASURES CANCELLED
Port Arthur, United States
NEW CRITERIA FOR GRANTING OF LANDING PERMITS
New York/Newark, United States
INJECTOR TRIAL RUNS SOUTH OF TUAS VIEW EXTENSION
Singapore
Traffic suspension for yacht races
Thursday, September 26, 2019, Bosphorus, Turkey
Due to yacht races being held on Saturday 28 September, vessel traffic in the Bosphorus will be suspended between 11:00 and 17:00 hours local time.
For information about operations in the Turkish Straits contact GAC Istanbul at turkey@gac.com
Dredging Operations at Tai O
Thursday, September 26, 2019, Hong Kong
For approximately 7 months, dredging operations will be carried out in the following areas:
WORKS AREA 1
This area is bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (D):
(A) 22 deg. 15.180’N / 113 deg. 51.611’E
(B) 22 deg. 15.002’N / 113 deg. 51.642’E
(C) 22 deg. 14.978’N / 113 deg. 51.490’E
(D) 22 deg. 15.155’N / 113 deg. 51.460’E
WORKS AREA 2
This area is bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (E) to (H):
(E) 22 deg. 15.160’N / 113 deg. 51.269’E
(F) 22 deg. 15.068’N / 113 deg. 51.300’E
(G) 22 deg. 15.041’N / 113 deg. 51.208’E
(H) 22 deg. 15.135’N / 113 deg. 51.177’E
The works will be carried out by one derrick lighter and one split hopper barge. One work boat and one tugboat will provide assistance.
A working area of approximately 15 metres around each working vessel will be established. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the working vessels.
A silt curtain, extending from the sea surface to the seabed, will be established within the works areas. The silt curtain is a large piece of netting used to contain mud and sediments. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the extent of the silt curtain.
The hours of work will be from 0800 to 1900 hours. No works will be carried out on Sundays and public holidays. Vessels employed for the works will stay in the works areas outside the hours of work.
Vessels engaged in the operations will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.
Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution.
(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.149 of 2019
Strong current measures cancelled
Thursday, September 26, 2019, Port Arthur, United States
Reports from vessels at the West Port Arthur Bridge crossing the Intracoastal Waterway at Mile Mark 289 WHL indicate that currents have subsided to approximately 2.5 knots or less. Effects on both inland tows and passing ship traffic are significantly reduced.
Effective at 6:00 p.m., VTS Port Arthur is cancelling all measures on vessel traffic on the Sabine-Neches Canal and Intracoastal Waterway.
Taylor Bayou behind Texaco Island is open to all ship traffic.
Restriction placed on ships transiting past West Port Arthur Bridge are rescinded.
VTS Port Arthur will continue to monitor currents and traffic, and respond should conditions warrant. Concerned traffic should contact VTS Port Arthur on VHF-FM channel 01A, 65A or the VTS Watch Supervisor at (409) 719-5070 for the latest information.
(For information about operations in the United States contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com)
Source: U.S. Coast Guard, Marine Safety Unit – Port Arthur Texas, Marine Safety Information Bulletin 18-19 dated 25 September 2019
New criteria for granting of landing permits
Thursday, September 26, 2019, New York/Newark, United States
Recently, there has been an uptick in the number of deserters in the Port of New York/Newark. To mitigate this threat, CBP in the Port of New York/Newark will require crewmembers to have completed a minimum of 5 contracts before any consideration will be given to granting shore leave.
CBP will not grant a conditional landing permit for any crewmember arriving into the Port of New York/Newark who are on their first through fifth contract until further notice. Once a crewmember has successfully completed a minimum of 5 contracts, CBP will consider granting a conditional landing permit for shore leave. In addition, CBP may exercise its authority to cancel shore for any crew member at any time without notice.
It is the responsibility of the vessel master or vessel agent to provide CBP with a list of crewmembers who have yet to complete a total of five contracts on the same vessel line prior to the arrival of the vessel into the port. It is also the responsibility of the vessel master and vessel agent to ensure that crewmembers who do not meet the criteria of 5 completed contracts and have not been granted a conditional landing permit remain secured on the vessel. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in penalties.
(For information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com)
Source: Customs and Border Protection Field Operations, New York, Informational Pipeline No.19-032-NWK dated 25 September 2019
Injector trial runs south of Tuas View Extension
Thursday, September 26, 2019, Singapore
Injector trials will be conducted south of Tuas View Extension from 28 September 2019 to 28 March 2020.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.091 of 2019, the trials will be conducted between 0700 and 1800 hours daily, including Sundays and Public Holidays, within the working area bounded by the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
1) 01 deg. 12.830’N / 103 deg. 36.989’E
2) 01 deg. 12.820’N / 103 deg. 37.031’E
3) 01 deg. 12.667’N / 103 deg. 36.997’E
4) 01 deg. 12.678’N / 103 deg. 36.955’E
Craft involved in the trials will exhibit the appropriate local and international day and night signals.
The work involves injector trial runs by the cable laying barge for survey of seabed prior to the proposed trenching operations. Safety boats will be deployed in the vicinity of the working area to warn other vessels of the work.
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
