Hot Port News from GAC
16-Oct-2019
BACKFILLING WORKS OFF WEST JURONG CHANNEL & PESEK BASIN
Singapore
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF LANDING STEPS
Hong Kong
PIRACY DOWN, BUT GULF OF GUINEA STILL A HOT SPOT: IMB REPORT
Worldwide
Backfilling works off West Jurong Channel & Pesek Basin
Wednesday, October 16, 2019, Singapore
The working period for backfilling works off West Jurong Channel and Pesek Basin has been extended. The works are now being conducted from 16 October to 30 November.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.101 of 2019, the works will be carried out 24 hours daily – including Sundays & Public Holidays – within the working area bounded by the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
WORKING AREA A
1) 01 deg. 18.047’N / 103 deg. 41.627’E
2) 01 deg. 17.887’N / 103 deg. 41.713’E
9) 01 deg. 17.859’N / 103 deg. 41.540’E
10) 01 deg. 17.987’N / 103 deg. 41.475’E
WORKING AREA B-1
2) 01 deg. 17.887’N / 103 deg. 41.713’E
3) 01 deg. 17.804’N / 103 deg. 41.757’E
8) 01 deg. 17.777’N / 103 deg. 41.583’E
9) 01 deg. 17.859’N / 103 deg. 41.540’E
WORKING AREA B-2
3) 01 deg. 17.804’N / 103 deg. 41.757’E
4) 01 deg. 17.719’N / 103 deg. 41.803’E
7) 01 deg. 17.692’N / 103 deg. 41.626’E
8) 01 deg. 17.777’N / 103 deg. 41.583’E
WORKING AREA B-3
4) 01 deg. 17.719’N / 103 deg. 41.803’E
5) 01 deg. 17.644’N / 103 deg. 41.843’E
6) 01 deg. 17.619’N / 103 deg. 41.663’E
7) 01 deg. 17.692’N / 103 deg. 41.843’E
WORKING AREA C
5) 01 deg. 17.644’N / 103 deg. 41.843’E
11) 01 deg. 17.510’N / 103 deg. 41.935’E
14) 01 deg. 17.418’N / 103 deg. 41.801’E
6) 01 deg. 17.619’N / 103 deg. 41.663’E
WORKING AREA D
11) 01 deg. 17.510’N / 103 deg. 41.935’E
12) 01 deg. 17.274’N / 103 deg. 42.097’E
13) 01 deg. 17.145’N / 103 deg. 41.989’E
14) 01 deg. 17.418’N / 103 deg. 41.801’E
Backfilling works will be carried out upon the completion of installation of pulling wire, clump weight and pipeline bottom pull. Safety boats will be deployed in the vicinity of the working area to warn other vessels of 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
Temporary closure of landing steps
Wednesday, October 16, 2019, Hong Kong
Landing steps No. 1 & 2 of the Central Pier No. 9 will be temporarily closed between 23 October (Wednesday) and 9 November 2019 (Saturday) to facilitate an exhibition of a solar-hydrogen-wind hybrid vessel 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 at shipping.hongkong@gac.com)
Source: Government of the Hong Kong Marine Department Notice No.157 of 2019
Piracy down, but Gulf of Guinea still a hot spot: IMB report
Wednesday, October 16, 2019, Worldwide
The International Chamber of Commerce International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) report for the third quarter of 2019 demonstrates fewer incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships than the first nine months of 2018.
119 incidents of Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships have been reported to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB PRC) in 2019, compared to 156 incidents for the same period in 2018. Overall, the 2019 incidents include 95 vessels boarded, 10 vessels fired upon, 10 attempted attacks, and four vessels hijacked. The number of crew taken hostage through the first nine months has declined from 112 in 2018 to 49 in 2019.
While the overall number of incidents has dropped, incidents involving guns and knives remain consistent. There have been 24 knife-related and 35 gun-related incidents reported in 2019, compared to 25 and 37 for the first nine months of 2018…
…The Gulf of Guinea remains a high-risk area for piracy and armed robbery. The region accounts for 86% of crew taken hostage and nearly 82% of crew kidnappings globally.
In July a general cargo vessel was hijacked approximately 120nm SW from Brass. 10 crew members were kidnapped from the vessel and released four weeks later. In August a bulk carrier and a general cargo vessel were boarded within hours of each other at Douala anchorage, Cameroon and a total of 17 crew were kidnapped from the vessels. Within six weeks all kidnapped crew were released. This incident demonstrates the range of piracy activity in the Gulf of Guinea and that all types of ships are vulnerable to attack. Lagos recorded 11 incidents in 2019, the highest number for any port…
… Indonesia reported a decline in overall piracy related incidents with 20 actual and attempted attacks for the first nine months of 2019. Over the past five years, Indonesia has gradually reduced its share of piracy related incidents… …Indonesia’s impressive gains can be attributed to continued information sharing between the Indonesian Marine Police and the IMB PRC.
Somalia has no piracy-related incidents recorded for the first nine months of 2019. Although no incidents have been reported, Somali pirates continue to possess the capacity to carry out attacks in the Somali basin and wider Indian Ocean…
(For information about operations worldwide contact the respective GAC office. Details may be found at www.gac.com)
Source: Extracts from International Maritime Bureau (www.icc-ccs.org) update dated 14 October 2019
