Hot Port News from GAC
24-Jan-2020
CHANNEL CLOSURE FOR GASPARILLA CELEBRATION
Tampa, United States
DREDGING AND WRECK REMOVAL WORKS
Singapore
HEIGHTENED ALERT FOR NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
Subic, Philippines
Channel closure for Gasparilla Celebration
Friday, January 24, 2020, Tampa, United States
Due to the Gasparilla Celebration tomorrow (25 January), we expect all channels north of the Alafia River to be closed to ALL traffic from 0930 to 1430 hours local time.
Any traffic wishing to transit those channels between 1431 and 1800 hours tomorrow will need to request permission from the US Coast Guard prior to arrival.
For information about operations in the United States contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com
Dredging and wreck removal works
Friday, January 24, 2020, Singapore
The working period for dredging off Sultan Shoal Lighthouse has been extended and the working area revised to include wreck removal works.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.004 of 2020, the dredging will now be carried out from 24 January to 23 July 2020, and wreck removal from 24 January to 31 March.
The works will be conducted 24 hours daily – including Sundays & Public Holidays – within the working area bounded by the following coordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
1) 1 deg. 14.485’N / 103 deg. 38.971’E
2) 1 deg. 14.550’N / 103 deg. 39.133’E
3) 1 deg. 13.760’N / 103 deg. 39.502’E
4) 1 deg. 13.119’N / 103 deg. 39.481’E
Wreck: 1 deg. 14.189’N / 103 deg. 39.137’E
Dredging works will be carried out by grab dredgers, supported by hopper barges and pusher tugs. The grab dredgers will be held in position by spudssystems within the working area. The safety zone is a circular area of 250m radius centered at the dredger.
Wreck removal works will be carried out by a crane barge, supported by tugs, work boats and barges. Wreck pieces will be lowered onto barges for disposal ashore. The working area is a circular area of 320m radius centered at the wreck.
A safety boat will be deployed to warn other craft in the vicinity of the working area.
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.
Fort information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
Heightened alert for Novel Coronavirus
Friday, January 24, 2020, Subic, Philippines
China has reported an outbreak of a mysterious viral pneumonia which has infected a certain number of individuals in the central city of Wuhan. In line with this, the Bureau of Quarantine is hereby directed to intensify infectious disease surveillance as follows:
All local shipping and airline agencies must advise all of their INCOMING VESSELS/AIRCRAFTS coming from foreign ports/airports, particularly from China and with Chines crew change for the past 30 days, to check and record body temperatures of all crew/passengers and others on board, at least 72 hours (3 days) prior to arrival at the port of Subic. Any flu-like signs and symptoms (fever, cough, headache, sore throat, etc) of crew/passengers of incoming vessels/aircrafts must be reported at once to the Quarantine office prior to arrival at the port of Subic.
Captains of all vessels/aircrafts must submit a signed Maritime Declaration of Health and General Declaration of Health upon arrival at the port of Subic during inspection.
Wearing of N95 mask is strictly advised for all boarding authorities upon inspection of vessels/aircrafts at the port of Subic.
Strict compliance is highly recommended.
(For information about operations in the Philippines, contact GAC Philippines at philippines@gac.com)
Source: Republic of the Philippines Department of Health, Bureau of Quarantine, Memorandum dated 22 January 2020
