Hot Port News from GAC
25-Feb-2020
MARINE SOIL INVESTIGATION AT PULAU UBIN
Singapore
DAYLIGHT RESTRICTIONS DUE TO HIGH WATER
Mississippi River, United States
ADDITIONAL COVID-19 MEASURES
South Africa
ARRIVING/DEPARTING VESSELS
Pakistan
UPDATED PRE-ARRIVAL PREPARATIONS
Chennai, Ennore, Karaikal, Kattupalli, Cuddalore & Nagapattinam, India
NEW CRUISE BERTH WORKS
Firth of Clyde – Greenock Ocean Terminal, United Kingdom
NOVEL CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
Kuwait
Marine soil investigation at Pulau Ubin
Tuesday, February 25, 2020, Singapore
From 1 March to 30 June, marine soil investigation works will be carried out at Pulau Ubin.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.010 of 2020, the works will be conducted 24 hours daily – including Sundays & Public Holidays – at the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
ABH-M-1) 1 deg. 25.092’N / 103 deg. 58.593’E
ABH-N-1) 1 deg. 25.075’N / 103 deg. 57.741’E
ABH-N-2) 1 deg. 25.115’N / 103 deg. 57.853’E
ABH-N-3) 1 deg. 25.147’N / 103 deg. 57.957’E
ABH-N-4) 1 deg. 25.087’N / 103 deg. 57.807’E
ABH-N-5) 1 deg. 25.122’N / 103 deg. 57.886’E
BH-N-1) 1 deg. 25.124’N / 103 deg. 57.911’E
BH-N-2) 1 deg. 25.131’N / 103 deg. 57.937’E
BH-N-3) 1 deg. 25.138’N / 103 deg. 57.963’E
BH-N-4) 1 deg. 25.140’N / 103 deg. 57.990’E
BH-N-5) 1 deg. 25.142’N / 103 deg. 58.017’E
A steel platform with a rotary drilling rig will be used to carry out the soil investigation
work. Movement of the steel platform and rig will be assisted by crane barges, work
barges and tugs. The steel platforms will sit onto the shallows just off the coast.
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 21 (Sembawang Control);
and
e) Communicate with Sembawang Control on VHF Channel 21 for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
Daylight restrictions due to high water
Tuesday, February 25, 2020, Mississippi River, United States
The New Orleans Baton Rouge Pilots Board of Examiners has put the following High Water Restrictions into place effective immediately:
Mile 170.0 AHP to Mile 232.2 AHP, all vessels shall be daylight only.
The daylight only restriction will remain in place until the Baton Rouge gauge has a reading of 40 feet and falling and the Carrollton Gauge reads 16 feet and falling.
For information about operations in the United States contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com
Additional COVID-19 measures
Tuesday, February 25, 2020, South Africa
South Africa’s national ports authority, Transnet, has advised that the following measures have been introduced at the country’s eight commercial ports:
It is important that all vessel Masters make accurate declarations of health and, if in doubt, consult with a medical practitioner to be arranged by the vessel agent. Masters unable to communicate in English stand the risk of not receiving services until a translator is arranged. Any false declaration will be reported to the South African Maritime Safety Authority and health officials for further action.
Masters of all vessels must display the “Q” flag if all persons onboard are healthy but the Free Pratique has NOT been granted by Port Health. This means that the Master declares all crew & personnel onboard are healthy and he/she request Free Pratique.
The “Q” flag should remain on the main mast until the vessel has been cleared by Port Health and Free Pratique has been granted.
Pilots shall use personal protective equipment (PPE) when boarding any vessel to protect themselves, even if the Master has declared all onboard are healthy. Disposable PPE is to remain on board the vessel – Master to make arrangements for disposal as per vessel procedure for disposal of medical waste.
Waste removal from Off Port Limits vessels and vessels at anchorages are to cease immediately until advised or the situation has returned to normal.
If any of the last 10 port calls was to a port in China, no waste will be disposed of in any South African port.
Permission from Port Health and the Harbour Master’s office is required prior to any interaction with vessels from China or high risk vessels (i.e. those with person having any illness). This also applies to bunker barges/ships and small vessels.
Suspected cases of COVID-19 must be discussed with the NICD of the National Health Laboratory Service, in line with Standard Operating Procedures by the National Department of Health Directorate.
The NICD Hot Line number is: 066 562 4021 or 079 495 6739.
Local Port Health Office must be informed of any suspected cases.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in South Africa, contact GAC South Africa at shipping.capetown@gac.com
Arriving/departing vessels
Tuesday, February 25, 2020, Pakistan
There is no additional requirement for fumigation in cargo ships in the wake of Novel Corona Virus [2019-nCoV] under international Health Regulations-2005.
However, strict compliance in lieu of existing International protocols in accordance with the International Health Regulations [IHR-2005] and Pakistan Health Rules-1974 on arriving/departing ships and passengers would remain intact, vide Directorate of Central Health Establishments, Islamabad clarification No.1-A/Dir/Gen/CHE/2020/nCov, dated 3 February 2020/
(For information about operations in Pakistan, contact GAC Pakistan at pakistan@gac.com)
Source: Government of Pakistan Port Health Establishment, Karachi, clarification dated 25 February 2020
Updated pre-arrival preparations
Tuesday, February 25, 2020, Chennai, Ennore, Karaikal, Kattupalli, Cuddalore & Nagapattinam, India
An update has been made to the Standard Operating Procedures for vessels arriving at Indian ports, in light of newer COVID-19 cases in more countries.
These procedures should be followed by all ships calling at ports in countries with COVID-19 infections.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations at Indian ports, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
New cruise berth works
Tuesday, February 25, 2020, Firth of Clyde – Greenock Ocean Terminal, United Kingdom
Works remain ongoing to complete monopile installation in the area adjacent to Greenock Ocean Terminal…
…These works are now expected to continue until approximately the end of March 2020 and plans for final installation of pontoon structures are progressing.
Working operations remain between the hours of 0700 and 1900. A safety boat remains in attendance, and appropriate lights and shapes will be displayed during operational periods. All vessels will maintain a listening watch on VHF 12 and 16.
The temporary lights (two vertical all round green) installed on the most easterly and westerly piles are intended to become permanent aids to navigation on completion of the works. Comments from mariners on this are welcomed by 31 March 2020 (email to clydemarinemanagers@peelports.com).
(For information about operations in the United Kingdom, contact GAC UK at uk@gac.com)
Source: Peel Ports Clydeport Notice to Mariners No.33/20 (Ref CNTM 17/20)
Novel Coronavirus update
Tuesday, February 25, 2020, Kuwait
Kuwait Port Authority has today issued a circular advising that Kuwait ports are prohibited from receiving foreign ships arriving from/departing to the Republic of Korea, Italy, Thailand, Singapore and Japan, as well as the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong and Iraq.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Kuwait, contact GAC Kuwait at kuwait@gac.com
