Hot Port News from GAC
04-May-2020
JETTY CLOSURE FOR MAINTENANCE WORKS
Haldia, India
NEW INSTRUCTIONS FOR PASS APPLICATIONS
Ras Laffan, Qatar
MARINE SITE INVESTIGATION WEST OF LAMMA ISLAND
Hong Kong
ESTABLISHMENT OF SILT CURTAINS IN TSIM SHA TSUI, TAI WAN SHAN AND QUARRY BAY
Hong Kong
AMENDED MEASURES AT PORT
Sohar, Oman
CREW CHANGES UNDER SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Oman
EXTENSION OF LOCKDOWN AND SANITARY CURFEW
Mauritius
REVISED RULES FOR ATTENDANCE OF TURKISH TECHNICIANS
Turkey
COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS SUSPENDED
Philippines
LOCKDOWN EXTENDED, SOME RELAXATION EXPECTED
India
INDEXATION OF SCALE OF RATES
India
Jetty closure for maintenance works
Monday, May 4, 2020, Haldia, India
Haldia Port has advised that its Oil Jetty-II (HOJ-II) will be shut on 6 & 7 May for maintenance. During this period no vessels will be accepted for Berthing at HOJ-II.
For information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
New instructions for pass applications
Monday, May 4, 2020, Ras Laffan, Qatar
Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLC) Security has issued new instructions and requirements for RLC pass applications.
The Ministry of Interior’s General Directorate of Information Systems (GDIS) has suspended accepting new applications until further notice. Seamen, Shore leave & Passenger Transit passes are exempted.
Therefore, until further notice, no applications for new Contractor Passes (both temporary and permanent) will be accepted at Ras Laffan port.
Supplementary pass applications for contractors holding ID cards from other Industrial Cities/Regions will not be accepted. RLC Supplementary Cards will only be issued to personnel holding valid RLC ID cards.
RLC Security will only accept applications for extension/renewal of existing contractor passes if the application is submitted prior to expiry of the present pass.
Any application submitted for extension/renewal after expiry of the pass shall be considered as a new application and will not be accepted.
One-day pass requests for extension/renewal only will be accepted. New applications for One-day passes will not be accepted.
All applications for extensions/renewals must be accompanied with a copy of the front side of the current RLC Pass.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Qatar, contact GAC Qatar at qatar@gac.com
Marine site investigation west of Lamma Island
Monday, May 4, 2020, Hong Kong
For approximately 3 months, marine site investigation works involving drilling of boreholes will be carried out within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (C):
(A) 22 deg. 13.757’N / 114 deg. 04.728’E
(B) 22 deg. 10.924’N / 114 deg. 05.347’E
(C) 22 deg. 11.528’N / 114 deg. 03.754’E
The works will be carried out by one flat top barge and one work boat.
One tugboat will provide assistance.
A working area of approximately 50 metres around the barge will be established. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the barge.
The hours of work will be from 0800 to 1800 hours. No works will be carried out on Sundays and public holidays. Vessels employed for the works will stay in the works area 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.61/2020
Establishment of Silt Curtains in Tsim Sha Tsui, Tai Wan Shan and Quarry Bay
Monday, May 4, 2020, Hong Kong
For approximately 6 months, five silt curtains will continue to operate in the following areas:
TSIM SHA TSUI
Silt Curtain 1:
This area is bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (D) and the adjacent shoreline:
(A) 22 deg. 17.779’N / 114 deg. 10.637’E
(B) 22 deg. 17.775’N / 114 deg. 10.640’E
(C) 22 deg. 17.763’N / 114 deg. 10.626’E
(D) 22 deg. 17.767’N / 114 deg. 10.623’E
Silt Curtain 2:
This area is bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (E) to (H) and the adjacent shoreline:
(E) 22 deg. 17.791’N / 114 deg. 10.651’E
(F) 22 deg. 17.787’N / 114 deg. 10.655’E
(G) 22 deg. 17.782’N / 114 deg. 10.649’E
(H) 22 deg. 17.786’N / 114 deg. 10.645’E
Silt Curtain 3:
This area is bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (I) to (L) and the adjacent shoreline:
(I) 22 deg. 17.863’N / 114 deg. 10.738’E
(J) 22 deg. 17.859’N / 114 deg. 10.741’E
(K) 22 deg. 17.848’N / 114 deg. 10.728’E
(L) 22 deg. 17.852’N / 114 deg. 10.724’E
TAI WAN SHAN
Silt Curtain 4:
This area is bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (M) to (P) and the adjacent shoreline:
(M) 22 deg. 18.250’N / 114 deg. 11.574’E
(N) 22 deg. 18.250’N / 114 deg. 11.577’E
(O) 22 deg. 18.230’N / 114 deg. 11.572’E
(P) 22 deg. 18.230’N / 114 deg. 11.569’E
QUARRY BAY
Silt Curtain 5:
This area is bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (Q) to (T) and the adjacent shoreline:
(Q) 22 deg. 17.524’N / 114 deg. 12.657’E
(R) 22 deg. 17.527’N / 114 deg. 12.658’E
(S) 22 deg. 17.522’N / 114 deg. 12.672’E
(T) 22 deg. 17.520’N / 114 deg. 12.671’E
Each silt curtain has been established near seawater intake with two ends fixed on vertical seawall. The silt curtain is a large piece of netting used to contain mud and sediments.
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.62/2020
Amended measures at port
Monday, May 4, 2020, Sohar, Oman
Following the latest COVID-19 virus developments and Maritime Circular 07/2020 from the Ministry of Transport, measures implemented by the Harbour Master of Sohar Port are slightly adjusted as per today [4 May 2020].
The latest set of measures are as follows:
All ships and their agents are obliged to submit the IMO Declaration of Health to the Harbour Master using the format as presented in Maritime Circular 07/2020.
The crew list shall include the date and place that each crew joined the ship and countries they came from before joining the ship.
The earlier used ‘Corona virus questionnaire’ as shared in Notification 25 is not used anymore.
The Declaration of Health need to be uploaded in the Port Management System 12 hours before arrival by the ship’s agent for approval of the vessel call by the Harbour Master.
In case of a sick person on board, the vessel will not be allowed to enter the port and the patient involved will be screened by a Port Health team at anchorage. This team is available in Sohar.
In case of recently arrived crew on board the ship (within the last 16 days), the Harbour Master will decide, based upon the submitted facts, whether pilot boarding and port entry is allowed.
The master of the ship is obliged to implement the general and the additional precautionary measures as stipulated in Maritime Circular 07/2020 under section A & D.
In principle, no disembarkation of ship’s crew is allowed during the ship’s call at Sohar Port, including the anchorage.
In case of crew change for emergency or special circumstances, pre-approval is needed from the Harbour Master, Immigration and Port health in line with the requirements as stipulated in Maritime Circular 07/2020 under section E. For Harbour Master approval, this request must be sent to the Port Control email address as mentioned hereunder. Approval is given by email.
Any concerned staff interacting with the ship’s crew should follow up on the official advice from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Transport on personal protection.
Port Control should be contacted in case of any suspicious situation regarding the Corona virus in the port area or on board a ship.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about in Oman, contact GAC Oman at muscat@gac.com)
Source: Sohar Port / Free Zone Notification dated 4 May 2020
Crew changes under special circumstances
Monday, May 4, 2020, Oman
In general, crew changes are restricted in Omani ports and terminals during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, under the following special circumstances, the crew may be changed:
The crew has served his/her maximum time on board and no further extension if the employment contract is granted by the flag State;
Compassionate grounds, e.g. death of family member; or
The crew is no longer medically fit to work onboard the ship.
Further, vessel owners should be able to provide flights out of Oman to ensure departing crew fly out of the country immediately. As normal flights are not available out of Oman, special flights should be arranged by the vessel owner. In cases where crew do not fly out immediately, they will be kept under quarantine in accordance with Ministry of Health regulations and procedures until they fly out of the country. All relevant expenses shall be borne by the company or ship agent.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Oman, contact GAC Oman at muscat@gac.com
Extension of lockdown and sanitary curfew
Monday, May 4, 2020, Mauritius
The COVID-19 lockdown and sanitary curfew in Mauritius has been extended to 1 June, with some essential activities due to resume from 15 May if all goes well.
Vessels may call at anchorage for bunkering and pick-up of spares only, provided that:
– no crew members disembark while at anchorage
– there is no human interaction between crew members and operators during loading
– at no time should agents/operators involved in loading board the ship or ship crew board the bunker barge.
The airport remains closed until further notice.
(For information about operations in Mauritius contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at hub.ae@gac.com)
Source: Celero Group, Mauritius – GAC agent
Revised rules for attendance of Turkish technicians
Monday, May 4, 2020, Turkey
As per the latest information, Turkish technicians may only attend vessels within Turkish territorial waters when a compulsory issue occurs onboard, such as engine malfunction or a sailing-related problem. All other services, such as bunker surveys or other standard attendances are again prohibited.
If a vessel experiences a problem that requires attendance as per the above, the Captain should prepare a letter which explains issue and formally requests a technician to come onboard. The vessel’s agent shall present this letterhead to relevant authorities to gain the necessary permission.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Turkey, contact GAC Turkey at turkey@gac.com
Commercial flights suspended
Monday, May 4, 2020, Philippines
According to local media reports, the Philippine government suspended all commercial flights to and from the country from yesterday (3 May), to further curb the spread of COVID-19.
To date, no official announcement has been issued.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the Philippines, contact GAC Philippines at philippines@gac.com
Lockdown extended, some relaxation expected
Monday, May 4, 2020, India
India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the nationwide lockdown for further two weeks beyond today, expected to continue till 18 May.
The extension is expected to see some relaxations, based on the spread of the virus in districts, identified as RED (hotspot), GREEN & ORANGE Zones, with relaxation anticipated in GREEN & ORANGE Zones.
Shipping movements are expected to perform at improved levels as industrial activities resume in phases. Specifically, demand and movement is expected to gain momentum in the coming days.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
Indexation of Scale of Rates
Monday, May 4, 2020, India
Most Major Ports in India are now applying an indexation factor of 1.88% on their Scale of Rates (SOR) for the year 2020-21.
The effective dates vary from port to port, as does the decision whether or not to implement the increase.
For further details and information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
