Hot Port News from GAC
31-Jan-2020
IMPLEMENTATION OF WATER CONSERVATION STRATEGY MODIFICATIONS
Panama Canal, Panama
PRE-ARRIVAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Australia
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (31 JANUARY)
Australia
NOVEL CORONAVIRUS ALERT
United Arab Emirates
WORKS AT TUAS TERMINAL PHASE 1
Singapore
WORKS AT TUAS TERMINAL PHASE 2
Singapore
Implementation of water conservation strategy modifications
Friday, January 31, 2020, Panama Canal, Panama
Pursuant to the modifications announced by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), the following additional information is provided:
1. FRESH WATER SURCHARGE
Effective February 15, 2020, a fresh water surcharge will be applied to all transiting vessels over 125 feet (38.1 meters) length overall (LOA). This charge will consist of both a fixed component and a variable component, as follows:
a) A fixed component applied based on overall vessel length (LOA):
* $2,500 per transit to vessels with LOA over 125 feet (38.1meters) and up to 200 feet (60.96 meters);
* $5,000 per transit to vessels with LOA over 200 feet (60.96 meters) and up to 300 feet (91.44 meters);
* $10,000 per transit to vessels with LOA over 300 feet (91.44 meters).
b) A variable component ranging from a minimum of 1% of the vessel’s tolls, when Gatun Lake level is above 85.5 feet, to a maximum of 10% of the vessel´s tolls, when Gatun Lake level falls below 72.0 feet. The percentage used to calculate the variable component applicable to each vessel will be based on the level of Gatun Lake on the day prior to the transit… …The level of Gatun Lake will be published daily, together with the projected level for the next 60 days…
2. PAYMENT OF TRANSIT RESERVATION (BOOKING) FEES
Beginning February 15, 2020, the booking fee for all slots allocated during Booking Periods 1, 1.a and 2, including the special period for passenger vessels, shall be paid in full no later than 48 hours after confirmation by the ACP that the slot has been awarded. If the guarantee is not received within the required time, the booking slot will be voided.
For slots awarded during Booking Period 3, the booking fees will be charged once the vessel begins its transit, in the same manner as tolls and other transit-related fees.
Similarly, booking fees for slots that were allocated prior to February 15, 2020, will be paid once the vessel transits, in the same manner as tolls and other transit-related fees.
3. MODIFICATIONS TO THE AUCTIONED BOOKING SLOT
Two additional slots will be offered through the auction process, one to supers and one to regular vessels, during the 3rd period only, in any booking condition in effect at the time. These slots will only be available once all the normal booking slots available for that date, for either supers or regulars, independent of each other, have been allocated.
In addition, any slot that becomes available during the 3rd booking period due to cancellations, change in date, early transits of pre-booked vessels, or any other reason, will be offered through an auction process, provided that all slots for that particular vessel category (Neopanamax, supers or regulars) have been awarded. If there are no vessels interested in the slot, it will become available to any interested vessel on a first-come, first-served basis after the auction is closed.
Since these auctioned slots may require that interested vessels meet particular conditions, such as transit direction and vessel restrictions, these conditions will be announced when the auction is published.
4. TRANSIT CONDITION CHANGE
Beginning Saturday, February 15, 2020, and until further notice, Condition 1.a will be in effect for the Panamax locks. Applications for reserved transits under this booking condition will be received beginning at 0900 hours, Wednesday, February 12, 2020.
5. JUST IN TIME TRANSIT (JIT)
The Just-In-Time transit slots available for supers will be reduced to one for each direction until further notice, and the JIT slot for regular vessels transiting without restrictions will remain at one for each direction. The additional slots for regular vessels less than 300 feet LOA will no longer be offered.
6. TRANSIT ITINERARY CREATION FEE
A handling service fee will be applied to every transit itinerary at the time the itinerary is created for vessels with 38.1 meters (125 feet) LOA or more, as follows:
For vessels less than 27.74 meters (91 feet) in beam (regulars): $1,500 per transit itinerary.
For vessels between 27.74 meters (91 feet) and 32.62 meters (107 feet) in beam (supers, including Panamax plus): $5,000 per transit itinerary.
For vessels with beams of more than 32.62 meters (107 feet) (Neopanamax): $5,000 per transit itinerary.
The above-mentioned fee shall be paid no later than 48 hours after confirmation by the ACP that the transit itinerary has been accepted. Vessels that do not comply with the 96-hour pre-arrival notification requirement (short ETAs) will have 24 hours for the placement of the guarantee. Failure to provide the proper guarantee or payment of the processing fee prior to the times established by the ACP will result in the cancellation of the transit itinerary.
The above-mentioned fee will be deducted from the vessel’s tolls invoice once the vessel transits. If the vessel cancels the transit itinerary, this fee will not be refunded.
Transit itineraries that are cancelled for purposes of booking substitutions will not be assessed the Transit Itinerary Creation Fee. In these cases, the fee may be transferred to the substituting vessel, in compliance with the Transit Reservation System Rules, provided that both vessels fall within the same category (Neopanamax, super, regular).
Vessels less than 125 feet (38.1 meters) LOA are not required to pay this fee when creating their transit itinerary. Similarly, vessels arriving to Canal waters for a Local Call only (no transit) will not be assessed the transit itinerary creation fee. However, if the visit changes status from Local Call to Transit, then the fee will be assessed.
Since swapping booking slots does not involve cancellation of itineraries, additional itinerary fees will not be applied.
Itineraries created prior to February 15, 2020, will be grandfathered and not required to pay the Transit Itinerary Creation Fee.
(For further details/assistance and information about operations in the Panama Canal, contact GAC Panama at operations.panama@gac.com)
Source: Extracts from Panama Canal Authority (www.pancanal.com) Advisory to Shipping No.A-03-2020 dated 28 January 2020)
Pre-arrival reporting requirements
Friday, January 31, 2020, Australia
As a part of pre-arrival reporting to Biosecurity (AQIS) for vessels calling at Australian ports, Masters are required to include a Human Health Update. This mandatory update reports any crew, passengers, etc that are unwell and will be vetted by biosecurity who will determine if there is a health issue on board and what actions may need to be taken.
Several Australian ports have introduced additional requirements, as follows:
ADELAIDE:
Flinders Ports have requested to be advised if a vessel has Chinese crew members or if Vessel is visiting from China. Local quarantine authorities have been asking for information on port calls from December / January for vessels arriving.
BRISBANE:
Patricks Terminal is requesting copies of ABF and DAWR lodgement forms for all vessels.
Viva Terminal – All vessels are required to advise of any illnesses when they do their Quarantine Pre-Arrival Report (QPAR) to AQIS. All vessels entering a Viva Energy Australia Terminal must obtain pratique from a biosecurity officer, at arrival at the first Australian port of call. Pratique requests are based on the information submitted through the vessel master and/or shipping agent providing pre-arrival information through the Pre Arrival Report (PAR). A risk assessment is then performed by a Department of Agriculture biosecurity officer to determine whether pratique can be granted or if some actions are required first. A copy of this clearance with crew list to be forwarded to the Terminal Manager.
All Masters must inform the ship agent of any illness among the crew must be reported no matter the origin of the ship or crew. Any Health concerns on the ship while berthed should be escalated to the Terminal Manager, Terminal Controller or Supervisor.
DAMPIER:
Vessels/Agents to forward the Free Pratique (Biosecurity status document) once received to Dampier VTS. Any health issues or sickness noted after Free Pratique is granted, must be reported to Biosecurity for further assessments and to vessel agents and Dampier VTS for information. Additionally, Department of Health Novel Coronavirus Information Sheet for Travellers and Quarantine Coronavirus Signage is to be sent to the vessels arriving Dampier as part of standard pre-arrival messages. All vessels to follow any other biosecurity guidelines / notifications / directives issued in relation to this matter.
DARWIN:
Qube Darwin have requested the following information for crew members on board container vessels arriving (Do any of the crew members have any flu like symptoms. Work areas/ container bays we are working are clean and free from any rubbish. Have the crew any Face mask protection, and hand sanitation. This would be recommended.) Qube are taking some precautions on staff when working international vessels. All Working gang will have the option of face masks on shift. It is recommended that when signing up/off the vessel and any interaction with crew members that Masks are to be worn by Qube staff.
FREMANTLE:
Fremantle Ports have requested that all Masters of all vessel, regardless of origin, are provided with a copy of Department of Health Novel Coronavirus Information Sheet for Border Staff and Department of Health Novel Coronavirus Information Sheet for Travellers. The Master should then report any issues through his QUARANTINE CLEARANCE or to the agent if not from overseas. The pilot will confirm that the vessel has received information on the virus when boarding and should there be any concerns then we will arrange to anchor the vessel and notify DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH immediately.
MACKAY:
Mackay Harbour – Copy of Form 13 to be supplied.
Haypoint – Copy of crew list for incoming ship.
Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT) – Until further notice it is requested that Masters provide previous 3 discharge ports (in order), Crew Nationality.
NEWCASTLE:
If a vessel show its last port in China, NGIG are not boarding and the Chief is requested to come ashore to do the sign-up and mates receipt, etc.
The Port Authority has requested the following for all vessels calling directly from mainland China:
– Agents to advise the Port Authority via email 48 hours prior to the vessel entry:
– The date the vessel departed China and if the vessel berthed at any ports during its transit to Newcastle.
The Port Authority will request the following information from the Master of the vessel prior to arrival and pilot pickup:
– Declaration to VTS from the vessel master that they have no sick people on-board;
– Declaration of previous 5 ports of call for the vessel.
PORT HEDLAND:
BHP have an amended pilot pre arrival form with added questions about if the ship had been to china and all crew are healthy. Port authority is requesting for a message to be sent to vessels arriving from China to confirm all crew are healthy.
PORT KEMBLA:
A declaration from the Master is requested by the port with the following detail:
– Declaration from the vessel master that they have no sick people onboard.
– Declaration of previous 3 ports of call for the vessel.
Yellow flag on board the vessel indicated there is a health risk on board.
PORT WALCOTT:
Rio Tinto is requesting all vessels to send through Customs forms 13 sand 3B, or last vessels port visited and crew nationalities.
QUEENSLAND PORTS: Cape Flattery, Cairns, Mourilyan, Lucinda, Townsville, Abbott Point, Mackay, Port Alma, Gladstone, Bundaberg, Brisbane
Queensland’s Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) require all foreign trading ships scheduled to arrive at Queensland ports to provide the following information 2 hours prior to embarking a Pilot:
– Report if any Crew Member has visited the Hubei Province in China past 14 days;
– Report if any Crew Member is showing any of the Novel Coronavirus symptoms that include fever, flu-like symptoms cough, sore throat, headache or difficulty breathing.
– If answers to both of the above questions are NO, Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) will then inform all parties including Marine Pilots, Tug operators, Linesman, Stevedores of the clear declaration.
– If the answer is YES to either question, MSQ will make the appropriate notifications to State and Federal agencies for further advice. Any such vessels will either be directed back to sea or proceed to anchor until assessed and cleared by appropriate government qualified personnel.
SYDNEY:
Biosecurity officers will attend vessels arriving from Mainland China and conduct inspections that includes health assessment of crew. Sydney Ports also will provide information to master and crew of the vessel, fact sheets and information in English and Chinese. All ports where crew leave will have signage displayed as well. Crew changes need to be reported and any changes in health status after submitting PAR needs to be reported asap via Human health update in MARS.
Any terminal or port not mentioned below are operating as per standard procedure.
For details and updates, or information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
Coronavirus update (31 January)
Friday, January 31, 2020, Australia
As of this morning, 31 January 2020, 9 cases of 2019-nCoV have been confirmed in Australia: 2 in Queensland, 3 in Victoria, and 4 in New South Wales. Australian health authorities continue to test any people who show symptoms of the virus. To date more than 200 people have been tested…
Internationally, approximately 7,834 confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV, and 170 deaths have been reported – a 2.17% fatality rate. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Health Regulations Emergency Committee has now declared the outbreak of 2019-nCoV a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Australia is already implementing the WHO measures… [and] taking a highly precautionary approach based on the latest and best medical advice.
The WHO advised that further international exportation of cases may appear in any country. All countries should prepare for containment. This means:
actively surveying people at risk so they can detect cases early
isolating and managing any cases
tracing contact and preventing onward spread of infection
sharing full data with WHO…
… People who have been in contact with confirmed novel coronavirus cases must be isolated in their home for 14 days after exposure. Returned travellers who have been in Hubei Province of China must be isolated in their home for 14 days after leaving Hubei Province other than for seeking individual medical care.
On 29 January 2020, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) raised the level of travel advice for China to ‘level 3 – reconsider your need to travel’.
On 24 January, it raised the level of travel advice for Wuhan and Hubei Province in China to ‘level 4 – do not travel’.
The Australian Government is making arrangements to help isolated and vulnerable Australian citizens leave Wuhan.
The Government is working to identify Australian citizens in China who may meet requirements for repatriation.
The Government is standing up a quarantine facility on Christmas Island where people will be quarantined for 14 days… …Health and biosecurity experts will advise on appropriate quarantine and medical arrangements for the facility…
(For information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com)
Source: Extracts from Australian Government Department of Health Coronavirus update dated 31 January 2020 – https://www.health.gov.au/news/coronavirus-update-at-a-glance
Novel Coronavirus alert
Friday, January 31, 2020, United Arab Emirates
As part of the efforts to take all precautions and measures to prevent the spread of the new Coronavirus from ships calling UAE, all ports must ensure any ship that visited a Chinese port in the last 30 days, at least three days before her arrival to the first port of call in the UAE, a statement by the Master that crew members onboard are free from any symptoms that include high fever, sore throat, persistent coughing and breathing difficulties and other symptoms that may indicate infection with the new Coronavirus.
If the new Coronavirus is suspected on crew onboard, the port should inform the FTA before allowing the ship to enter the port and wait further instructions.
This circular is valid for 2 months from the date of issue.
For further clarification please contact SHIPPING@fta.gov.ae
(For information about operations in the UAE, contact GAC at abudhabi@gac.com, dubai@gac.com, fujairah@gac.com, rasalkhaimah@gac.com or sharjah@gac.com)
Source: United Arab Emirates Federal Transport Authority – Land & Maritime Circular No (1) 2020 dated 30 January 2020
Works at Tuas Terminal Phase 1
Friday, January 31, 2020, Singapore
The working period for works at Tuas Terminal Phase 1 has been extended, and the area has been revised.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.005 of 2020, from 1 February to 31 July, the works 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. 15.650’N / 103 deg. 37.040’E
2) 1 deg. 15.650’N / 103 deg. 37.135’E
3) 1 deg. 15.608’N / 103 deg. 37.135’E
4) 1 deg. 15.608’N / 103 deg. 37.546’E
5) 1 deg. 15.542’N / 103 deg. 37.546’E
6) 1 deg. 15.542’N / 103 deg. 37.869’E
7) 1 deg. 15.608’N / 103 deg. 37.869’E
8) 1 deg. 15.608’N / 103 deg. 38.644’E
9) 1 deg. 15.678’N / 103 deg. 38.644’E
10) 1 deg. 15.678’N / 103 deg. 38.710’E
11) 1 deg. 15.440’N / 103 deg. 38.709’E
12) 1 deg. 14.550’N / 103 deg. 39.133’E
13) 1 deg. 14.398’N / 103 deg. 38.755’E
14) 1 deg. 14.398’N / 103 deg. 37.039’E
The works will include reclamation, dredging, soil investigation and shore protection removal. Dredging work will be carried out by dredgers which are assisted by tug boats. The dredger will have a circular safety working zone of 70m radius. Dredged materials will be transported to the designated dumping ground by the hopper barges which are assisted by tug boats.
The soil investigation will involve borehole drilling and vibro-coring using jack-up barge. Tug boats will be used to shift the jack-up barges.
A safety boat will be on attendance to warn and direct craft in the vicinity to keep clear of 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.
For information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
Works at Tuas Terminal Phase 2
Friday, January 31, 2020, Singapore
The working period has been extended, and the working area has been revised for works at Tuas Terminal Phase 2.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.006 of 2020, the works will be carried out 24 hours daily – including Sundays & Public Holidays – from 1 February to 31 July, within the working area bounded by the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
1) 01 deg. 13.323’N / 103 deg. 36.876’E
2) 01 deg. 14.507’N / 103 deg. 36.876’E
3) 01 deg. 14.507’N / 103 deg. 36.901’E
4) 01 deg. 14.289’N / 103 deg. 36.900’E
5) 01 deg. 14.289’N / 103 deg. 37.041’E
6) 01 deg. 14.398’N / 103 deg. 37.041’E
7) 01 deg. 14.398’N / 103 deg. 38.755’E
8) 01 deg. 14.344’N / 103 deg. 38.755’E
9) 01 deg. 14.344’N / 103 deg. 39.024’E
10) 01 deg. 13.670’N / 103 deg. 39.275’E
11) 01 deg. 13.486’N / 103 deg. 38.892’E
12) 01 deg. 13.486’N / 103 deg. 37.571’E
13) 01 deg. 13.296’N / 103 deg. 37.571’E
14) 01 deg. 13.296’N / 103 deg. 37.300’E
15) 01 deg. 13.193’N / 103 deg. 37.300’E
16) 01 deg. 13.193’N / 103 deg. 36.901’E
17) 01 deg. 13.323’N / 103 deg. 36.901’E
Soil investigation works will entail borehole drilling, seabed surface sampling, and marine cone penetration test. Jack-up barges and crane barges will be used to carry out the soil investigation work. Tug boats will be used to shift jack-up barges and crane barges. The circular safety zone for the borehole drilling and marine cone penetration test are 50m and 150m respectively.
Self-Discharge Sand Carriers (SDSC) and Trailer Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD) will discharge sand at the designated temporary area. Dredging operations consist of Trailer Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD), Cutter Suction Dredger (CSD) and grab dredger/ backhoe dredger mobilization to the working area, dredging of clayey/ sandy/ residual soils.
The reclamation works consist of transport and discharge of materials utilising TSHD, CSD, flat top barges, hopper barges, and conveyor barges.
The work will also involve caisson installation.
Safety boats 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 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 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
