Hot Port News from GAC
28-Apr-2020
MARINE SITE INVESTIGATION AT KWUN TONG
Hong Kong
LOCKDOWN UNTIL 3 MAY
India
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION RESTRICTIONS, MANPOWER SHORTAGE
Krishnapatnam, India
IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW RATES DEFERRED
Haldia & Kolkata, India
EMERGENCY POWERS TO CONTINUE UNTIL END OF MAY
Bahamas
NO CORONA EFFECT ON PORT Q1 FREIGHT VOLUMES
Gothenburg, Sweden
GRADUAL LIFTING OF LOCKDOWN
Lebanon
‘CLICK AND COLLECT’ SCHEME FOR VESSELS AT ANCHORAGE
Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Marine site investigation at Kwun Tong
Tuesday, April 28, 2020, Hong Kong
For approximately 9 months, marine site investigation works involving drilling of boreholes will be carried out in the following works areas at Kwun Tong.
WORKS AREA 1
This area is bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) (A) to (C), (D) to (E), (F) to (H) with the adjacent shoreline and the breakwaters respectively:
(A) 22 deg. 18.859’N / 114 deg. 12.731’E
(B) 22 deg. 18.647’N / 114 deg. 12.934’E
(C) 22 deg. 18.418’N / 114 deg. 13.134’E
(D) 22 deg. 18.411’N / 114 deg. 13.139’E
(E) 22 deg. 18.358’N / 114 deg. 13.186’E
(F) 22 deg. 18.318’N / 114 deg. 13.127’E
(G) 22 deg. 18.612’N / 114 deg. 12.890’E
(H) 22 deg. 18.820’N / 114 deg. 12.691’E
WORKS AREA 2
This area is bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) (I) to (K), (L) to (O) with the adjacent shoreline and the breakwater respectively:
(I) 22 deg. 18.353’N / 114 deg. 13.190’E
(J) 22 deg. 18.258’N / 114 deg. 13.273’E
(K) 22 deg. 18.176’N / 114 deg. 13.484’E
(L) 22 deg. 18.090’N / 114 deg. 13.626’E
(M) 22 deg. 18.147’N / 114 deg. 13.347’E
(N) 22 deg. 18.244’N / 114 deg. 13.187’E
(O) 22 deg. 18.311’N / 114 deg. 13.133’E
The works will be carried out by four jack-up barges. One tugboat will provide assistance. The number of vessels engaged in the works will change from time to time to suit operational requirements.
Yellow flashing lights will be installed at the four corners of each barge to indicate its position.
The hours of work will be from 0700 to 1900 hours. No works will be carried out on Sundays and public holidays. Vessels employed for the works will stay in the works areas outside the hours of work.
Vessels engaged in the operations will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.
Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution.
(For information about operations in Hong Kong, contact GAC Hong Kong at shipping.hongkong@gac.com)
Source: Government of the Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No.59/2020
Lockdown until 3 May
Tuesday, April 28, 2020, India
India has extended the countrywide lockdown until 3 May in its battle against the coronavirus pandemic.
Restrictions are slowly easing, allowing the re-opening of businesses in essential sectors. However, difficulty in movement of raw material, finished products and manpower continued to be the biggest hurdle for want of ‘Passes’ from local authorities. Inability of workers to travel to their workplace, especially in remote areas, is a major hurdle.
The Government is hopeful that industrial activity will gain pace once the lockdown ends on 3 May 2020.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
Local transportation restrictions, manpower shortage
Tuesday, April 28, 2020, Krishnapatnam, India
Due to a sudden increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases in nearby villages, strict restrictions have been imposed on transportation in Krishnapatnam.
The port is unable to mobilise manpower, leading to a severe shortage of manpower which is having a huge impact on cargo operations. At present, inward movements for bulk vessels to manual berths have been suspended.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
Implementation of new rates deferred
Tuesday, April 28, 2020, Haldia & Kolkata, India
The implementation of the revised Scale of Rates for vessels calling at the ports of Haldia and Kolkata ports has been deferred until 15 August.
The new rates had originally been due to come into effect from 17 May, for a period of 3 years.
For information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
Emergency powers to continue until end of May
Tuesday, April 28, 2020, Bahamas
The Bahamas Parliament has affirmed the continuance of Emergency Powers (Covid 19) Regulations until 30 May.
A curfew remains in place every weekday between 21:00 and 05:00 hours local time.
Further, the island will be in lockdown from 2100 hours every Friday until 0500 the following Monday every weekend until the end of May.
(For information about operations in the Bahamas, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com)
Source: Elnet Maritime Ltd., Bahamas – GAC agent
No corona effect on port Q1 freight volumes
Tuesday, April 28, 2020, Gothenburg, Sweden
The Port of Gothenburg, in line with the rest of Sweden, remains open despite the coronavirus pandemic.
The most recent operating results are positive and show that freight volumes have remained high through the first quarter of the year. This is revealed in the Port of Gothenburg’s new freight volume report…
…The port of Gothenburg is Sweden’s largest port by far, which also means that the port’s volumes give a firm indication on how trade with the outside world works for the entire Swedish business community. Sweden is highly dependent on the rest of the world and despite trade volumes remaining firm during the first quarter, a slowdown is expected during the second quarter as a result of the situation globally…
…With core operations continuing as normal, and with the generally low levels of absenteeism due to illness continuing, a certain sense of calm has been maintained among the workforce during the pandemic…
(For information about operations in Sweden, contact GAC Sweden at sweden@gac.com)
Source: Extract from Port of Gothenburg (www.portofgotheburg.com) press release dated 24 April 2020
Gradual lifting of lockdown
Tuesday, April 28, 2020, Lebanon
Lockdown in Lebanon is being partially lifted from this week. This will be done in five phases, gradually working back to normal life as per the decision of the country’s Ministry of Health:
Phase 1: 27 April to 4 May
Phase 2: 4 May to 11 May
Phase 3: 11 May to 25 May
Phase 4: 25 May to 8 June
Phase 5: Complete re-opening as from 8 June
In each of the five phases, social distancing continues to be highly required, as well as the wearing of masks and gloves and sanitizers to be kept available.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Lebanon, contact GAC Lebanon at lebanon@gac.com
‘Click and collect’ scheme for vessels at anchorage
Tuesday, April 28, 2020, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Aberdeen Harbour Board has created a ‘click and collect’ scheme to help support crews working on vessels moored in their anchorage.
The scheme allows vessels to book a four-hour slot to come into port and stock up on essential supplies like food, fuel and critical spares.
For more details, as well as information about operations in the United Kingdom, contact GAC UK at uk@gac.com