Hot Port News from GAC
20-Feb-2020
MARINE SOIL INVESTIGATION WORKS AT RAFFLES RESERVED ANCHORAGE
Singapore
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SPM
Seria, Brunei
DISEMBARKING/SIGNING-OFF SHIP PERSONNEL
Japan
ENHANCED BORDER MEASURES
New Zealand
UPDATED PROCEDURE FOR ARRIVING VESSELS
Thailand
VESSELS ARRIVING FROM COVID-19 AFFECTED AREAS
Hai Phong & Quang Ninh, Vietnam
SUSPENSION OF OPERATIONS AT HOJ-11 OF HDC
Kolkata, India
NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
Canada
Marine soil investigation works at Raffles Reserved Anchorage
Thursday, February 20, 2020, Singapore
From 1 March to 30 April, marine soil investigation works will be carried out at the Raffles Reserved Anchorage.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.009 of 2020 dated 19 February 2020, the works will be conducted 24 hours daily – including Sundays & Public Holidays – at the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
BH1) 1 deg. 11.706’N / 103 deg. 45.036’E
BH2) 1 deg. 11.712’N / 103 deg. 45.090’E
BH3) 1 deg. 11.688’N / 103 deg. 45.066’E
BH4) 1 deg. 11.664’N / 103 deg. 45.042’E
BH5) 1 deg. 11.670’N / 103 deg. 45.096’E
A barge with a rotary drilling rig will be used to carry out the soil investigation work.
Movement of the barge will be assisted by tugs. The barge will be held in place by steel legs anchored into the seabed.
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 68 (West Control);
and
e) Communicate with West Control on VHF Channel 68 for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
Additional requirements for SPM
Thursday, February 20, 2020, Seria, Brunei
With regards to the current situation related to the Novel Corona Virus (2019-nCoV), Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn. Bhd. (BSP) has advised that for all vessels arriving in Brunei for crude oil loading operations at Seria Crude Oil Terminal Single Point Mooring, the following additional health surveillance steps and Government guidance are in effect:
As per advice from the Ministry of Health, visitors to Brunei with a history of being in mainland China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan) within 14 days prior to entering Brunei, i.e. Positive Travel History, will not be permitted to enter any BSP offices and sites.
As per Ministry of Energy requirements, details must be provided of any crew with Positive Travel History. Information will be kept confidential and will only be shared with the Ministry of Energy.
As per ISPS, vessels to provide last 10 port of calls. They must also provide the crew manifest and complete the Maritime Declaration of Health form.
Any vessels which has its last port as China, must be able to demonstrate at least 14 days of quarantine prior to arrival in Seria.
BSP staff are NOT permitted to board any vessels that do not comply with the above requirements.
For information about operations in Brunei, contact the GAC Singapore Hub Agency Centre at hub.sg@gac.com
Disembarking/signing-off ship personnel
Thursday, February 20, 2020, Japan
In order to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, personnel and crew members may not disembark/sign off at any Japanese port if they have visited Hubei province in China or own a same province passport (only applicable departing from a foreign country from 1 February 2020).
For information about operations in Japan, contact GAC Japan at tokyo@gac.com
Enhanced border measures
Thursday, February 20, 2020, New Zealand
New Zealand has introduced enhanced border measures in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These have been aligned with Australia where possible.
For voyages shorter than 14 days departing mainland China after midnight 2 Feb:
– Crew self-isolate on board, no shore leave
– Crew wear PPE when interacting with border and port staff
Cruise vessels
The international Cruise vessel Association has advised they are no longer permitting passengers from mainland China to board.
For information about operations in New Zealand, contact the GAC Singapore Hub Agency Centre at hub.sg@gac.com
Updated procedure for arriving vessels
Thursday, February 20, 2020, Thailand
Below is an update regarding novel coronavirus outbreak procedure:
All incoming vessel must declare last 10 ports of call, and any crew changes during the past 14 days.
Vessel to complete the questionnaire and advise crew members’ temperature on a daily basis.
The Quarantine Department will inspect papers and if found to be a risk (patients under investigation) the officer will attend vessel for inspection, which may delay operations.
For information about operations in Thailand, contact GAC Thailand at thailand@gac.com
Vessels arriving from COVID-19 affected areas
Thursday, February 20, 2020, Hai Phong & Quang Ninh, Vietnam
The port authorities at Hai Phong and Quang Ninh Port Authority have advised the following with regards to vessels arriving from areas affected by COVID-19:
Vessels arriving from affected areas must be inspected by quarantine carefully in the Pilot Station
If any crew on board has a fever or any ominous sign of sickness, the vessel will be isolated at the Pilot Station within 14 days or not allow inward to Vietnam
No crew are allowed to go ashore
No crew changes are permitted in Vietnam
A berthing delay of about 24 hours can be expected for quarantine inspection.
For information about operations in Vietnam, contact the GAC Singapore Hub Agency Centre at hub.sg@gac.com
Suspension of operations at HOJ-11 of HDC
Thursday, February 20, 2020, Kolkata, India
Berthing of vessels at HOJ-II will remain suspended from 06:00 hours on 23.02.2020 to 06:00 hours on 25.02.2020 for fixing fenders and all other allied works.
All users of HOJ-II are requested to be guided of the same and plan their vessels accordingly. Inconvenience caused is regretted.
(For information about operations in India contact GAC India at india@gac.com)
Source: Kolkata Port Trust Trade Circular dated 19 February 2020
Novel Coronavirus
Thursday, February 20, 2020, Canada
Recognizing the evolving situation concerning the current outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus, this Marine Security Notification provides information and guidance to the Canadian marine industry on protocols to consider to safeguard the health and safety of those working in the marine industry in Canada. It is based on recommendations developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization to minimize the spread of the virus…
…to reduce and/or eliminate the risk of spreading of the Coronavirus in Canada, the following is implemented on a temporary basis:
FOREIGN FLAGGED VESSELS
Foreign flagged ships are to pay particular attention to ensuring that all required components of the 96 and 24 hour Pre-Arrival Inspection Report (PAIR) are completed in accordance with section 221 of the Marine Transportation Security Regulations (MTSR);
Vessel Masters with crew members and passengers symptomatic of the Coronavirus are to advise Transport Canada Marine Safety and Security following transmission of the 96 hour PAIR;
In vessels with symptomatic crew members or passengers, Transport Canada Marine Security Inspectors will advise Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) officials who will follow up directly with the vessel;
Based on that information, PHAC will provide follow-on direction;
In the event that PHAC determines that a crew member or passengers onboard a vessel to be at risk, Transport Canada Marine Safety and Security, in coordination with PHAC, will provide notification to others on a required basis (including but not limited to the CCG, Pilotage Authorities, Port Authorities, TC Marine Safety, CBSA).
DOMESTIC VESSELS
The above procedures do not apply to Canadian registered vessels;
Domestic ships should reports passengers and crew who are symptomatic of the Coronavirus to provincial and local health authorities;
and
If a case of Coronavirus is suspected, Masters of Canadian vessels are to advise Transport Canada and supporting agencies (pilots, ports, etc) prior to others boarding or coming into contact with passengers from the vessel…
(For information about operations in Canada, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com)
Source: Extracts from Transport Canada Marine Security Operations Special Marine Security Notification No: #2020-003
