Hot Port News from GAC
07-Apr-2020
MOBILITY OF ASYMPTOMATIC WORKERS
Canada
NEW LOCKDOWN
Bahamas
FURTHER EXTENSION OF CONTROLS
Trinidad & Tobago
WORK RESUMED AT DOCKS
Haldia, India
BIG-SCALE SOCIAL RESTRICTIONS IMPLEMENTED
Jakarta, Indonesia
OFFICIAL HOLIDAY & CURFEW EXTENDED
Kuwait
COUNTER MEASURES TO COMBAT IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON TRADE
Karachi, Pakistan
ADDITIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY MEASURES
Ruwais, United Arab Emirates
STERILIZATION OF SHIPS
Aqaba, Jordan
Mobility of asymptomatic workers
Tuesday, April 7, 2020, Canada
Transport Canada has issued a Ship Safety Bulletin giving guidance on the mobility of asymptomatic workers in the marine sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Exemption is granted allowing Marine Sector Workers who have to travel to Canada to perform their duties, to board an international flight destined to Canada. No traveller can board a flight/enter Canada if they have a fever and cough or a fever and breathing difficulties. Asymptomatic crew are also permitted to transit to the nearest airport for the purpose of crew change-over.
Domestic crew should follow the advice of their employer and local health officials. Anyone who has close contact with someone who has or is suspected to have COVID-19 must self-isolate for 14 days. Operators should arrange local transport for crew members that avoids large groups, crowded areas, and public transit.
For shore leave for seafarers onboard foreign vessels, at Canadian ports, terminals and marine facilities, until 30 June 2020, symptomatic and asymptomatic foreign nationals (except those exempted) may not enter Canada if shore leave is considered discretionary. Essential shore leave may be granted to an asymptomatic seafarer and is not to exceed four hours in duration.
Crew onboard Canadian domestic vessels should follow the advice of their employer and local health officials.
A complete ban on shore leave in the Canadian Arctic is in effect until December 31, 2020. Crews that are residents of Arctic and northern communities could be exempt.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Canada, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com
New lockdown
Tuesday, April 7, 2020, Bahamas
The island will go on lockdown from 2100 hours local time tomorrow (Wednesday 8 April) until 0500 hours local time on Tuesday 14 April.
Thereafter, it will be in effect from 2100 hours on the Friday until 0500 hours on the Monday for every weekend until the end of the month.
The current 24-hour curfew is in force until 0900 hours tomorrow, 8 April.
(For information about operations in the Bahamas, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com)
Source: Elnet Maritime Agency, Bahamas – GAC agent
Further extension of controls
Tuesday, April 7, 2020, Trinidad & Tobago
The Government of Trinidad & Tobago has extended its #StayAtHome Order until 30 April and introduced stricter anti-COVID 19 controls, including the requirement for all members of the public to wear masks when outside.
The shutdown of all non-essential services has been extended to 30 April, and the opening hours of essential services reduced.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Trinidad & Tobago, contact GAC Trinidad & Tobago at trinidad@gac.com
Work resumed at docks
Tuesday, April 7, 2020, Haldia, India
Work has resumed at Haldia Docks this morning (7 April), with stevedores continuing operations onboard vessels at Berth No.4A, followed by Berths No.2 & 4-A.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
Big-Scale Social Restrictions implemented
Tuesday, April 7, 2020, Jakarta, Indonesia
Big-Scale Social Restrictions have been implemented in DKI Jakarta as part of the measures to handle COVID-19, following a significant increase and the spread of cases of the virus accompanied by local transmission.
The restrictions include school and workplace closure, but exceptions are granted to certain offices or institutions that provide services related to defense and security, public order, food requirements, fuel oil and gas, and health services. Companies must establish a minimum number of employees and continue to apply physical distance or maintain a safe distance in an effort to prevent the spread of corona virus.
Business sectors that can operate include:
The Stores relating to food and goods or basic necessities and important items.
Banks, insurance offices, payment system operators, and ATMs.
Electronic and Print media.
Telecommunications, internet services, broadcasting and cable services.
Delivery of all materials and foodstuffs or main goods and important items including food, medicines, medical equipment.
Petrol gas stations (SPBU), LPG, Retail outlets and Oil and Gas storage.
Power plants, units transmission services and distributions.
Capital market services determined by the Jakarta Stock Exchange.
Freight forwarding services.
Cold storage and storage services.
Personal security services.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Indonesia, contact PT Andhika GAC at shipping.indonesia@gac.com
Official holiday & curfew extended
Tuesday, April 7, 2020, Kuwait
Kuwait government have extended the official holidays by two more weeks to April 25 for all government offices to ensure that Ministry of Health directives are followed.
The cabinet has also approved to impose area-wide bans where the spread of the coronavirus infections has increased in the past few days. The government is implementing these measures as the situation has deteriorated and wants to bring it under control to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Curfew hours have been extended to end at 6am instead of 4am.
GAC Kuwait is still operating, our timing of DO collection is 0800 hrs to 1300 hrs LT Sunday to Thursday.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Kuwait, contact GAC Kuwait at shipagency.kuwait@gac.com or freight.kuwait@gac.com
Counter measures to combat impact of COVID-19 on trade
Tuesday, April 7, 2020, Karachi, Pakistan
AICT and all its customers are reeling from the extenuating circumstances caused by the global spread of the Coronavirus… …AICT are continuously monitoring the situation and have already taken several measures to counter the spread of the virus at our terminal.
As a Container Terminal, AICT has a duty to all its customers for the facilitation of trade and will therefore remain fully operational through this pandemic.
To further facilitate our valued customers, we have introduced the following measures on an emergency basis, as recommended and requested by the Government of Pakistan, in order to provide relief to all businesses and to assist the fight against this pandemic:
20 DAYS FREE TIME (5+15) for all shipments for vessels arriving during the period from 23 March, 2020 to 12 April, 2020 (both days inclusive) and delivered up to 15 April, 2020.
WAIVER OF ALL AICT STORAGE CHARGES for cargo related to the fight against COVID-19 such as medical supplies, ventilators, masks, sanitizers, surgical gloves, medicines, test kits, etc. A letter from the NDMA or Pakistan Customs declaring that the supplies are for COVID-19 and requesting waiver of charges shall be required in order to avail this facility.
All customers are encouraged to collect their shipments as soon as possible as the terminal remains fully operational to facilitate trade…
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Pakistan, contact GAC Pakistan at pakistan@gac.com)
Source: AL-HAMD International Container Terminal (AICT), Karachi (www.aictpakistan.com), Advisory to Customers dated 4 April 2020
Additional health & safety measures
Tuesday, April 7, 2020, Ruwais, United Arab Emirates
ADNOC is putting in place additional health and safety measures for Ruwais City, Ruwais Industrial Complex and Ghayathi Camp.
Effective Monday 6 April at 8pm:
To ensure traffic flow, you should access the city and our industrial sites via the Link Road 1. Exit from the city and out industrial sites will be via the north route to the old highway. All other routes will be closed to the public until further notice.
A permit system is being introduced to minimize non-essential travel out of and back into Ruwais City…
Critical staff will be asked to stay within Ruwais City for 14 days, extendable for 4 weeks or further.
Note that business critical staff in Ruwais continue to have access to their work in Ruwais City. If you need to leave the city, remember you must self-isolate for 14 days and complete the appropriate medical checks before being allowed to re-enter…
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Ruwais, contact GAC Abu Dhabi at abudhabi@gac.com)
Source: ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) COVID-19 update
Sterilization of ships
Tuesday, April 7, 2020, Aqaba, Jordan
The Jordanian Maritime Commission (JMC) has announced sterilization of ships calling at the port of Aqaba among the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Places to be sterilized, where there is direct contact between ship’s crew and related staff whose work requires entry to the places of subsistence and boarding on board, will be identified and inventoried to reduce the time to as little as possible to ensure no delay in handling of cargo.
Substances to be used in sterilization must have no effect on human health.
The cost of sterilization should not exceed a maximum of 500 JD, despite the high prices of sterilization materials from their source.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Jordan, contact GAC Jordan at jordan@gac.com
