Hot Port News from GAC
12-May-2020
MONSOON PREPAREDNESS (1 JUNE-30 SEPTEMBER)
Jawaharlal Nehru, India
STATE OF EMERGENCY UNTIL 17 MAY
Dominican Republic
CREW CHANGES/REPATRIATION OF FOREIGN CREW
Indonesia
MOVEMENT CONTROL ORDER EXTENDED
Malaysia
PHASED REOPENING PLAN ANNOUNCED
Trinidad & Tobago
REPORTING OF SUSPECTED & CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES
South Africa
Monsoon preparedness (1 June-30 September)
Tuesday, May 12, 2020, Jawaharlal Nehru, India
All concerned are hereby informed to take note of the following and take necessary action:
The Area Cyclone Warning Centre, India Meteorological department, Mumbai relays port warning messages whenever occasion demands. The Weather Section (WS) is manned 24 hours and is contactable on Telephone No.2215 0431 & Fax No.2216 0824.
Vessels in ports shall keep their main engines standby on ½ hour notice. Masters of vessels shall ensure additional mooring ropes whenever occasion demands. Also, it will be ensured that there are sufficient crew on board to tackle any emergencies. It may be noted that no immobilization of main engines is allowed. Vessels will keep watch on VHF Channel 13 in case of any emergency.
The launch service provided by JNPT running between Mumbai and JNP may be suspended without notice whenever occasion demands.
All emergencies shall be dealt with, as detailed in the Port’s Emergency Action Plan. JN Port Control’s Telephone Nos. are 27245178, 27245151, 67815151 & 67815178 and is manned round the clock with continuous watch on VHF Channel 13.
(For information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com)
Source: Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust Circular dated 6 May 2020
State of Emergency until 17 May
Tuesday, May 12, 2020, Dominican Republic
The COVID-19 State of Emergency declared by the government of the Dominican Republic has been extended until 17 May.
All ports in the country are operating with the following security measures that Port Authorities have implemented to avoid the spread of the virus:
National daily curfew from 17:00 to 06:00 hours the next day. Only the people with permits like doctors, nurses, armed forces and port employees are allowed out after curfew.
No crew changes permitted until further notice.
Cruise Ships are prohibited from calling at all Dominican Ports.
No passenger flights are operating – only cargo flights and a few flights for foreigners leaving the country.
All vessels must send their Maritime Health Declaration along with the Last 10 Ports of Call, Crew List and copy of P&I Club prior to arrival.
When pilot boards, established social distancing is required.
Health Personnel appointed by the Ministry of Defense perform the medical examination to vessel’s crew at the berth. Therefore, all crew members must disembark the vessel upon berthing.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the Dominican Republic, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com)
Source: Marítima Dominicana, S.A.S. – GAC agent
Crew changes/repatriation of foreign crew
Tuesday, May 12, 2020, Indonesia
Currently, crew changes and repatriation foreign crew is temporary restricted at Indonesia except for the repatriation of Indonesia workers.
To curb the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia, the Indonesian government has restricted foreign visitors from traveling to Indonesian Territory. This travel restriction will be reviewed on 13 May.
All foreign visitors are restricted to enter and transit through the Indonesian territory. This travel restriction does not apply to:
– Children of dual citizenship with a foreign passport and registered in the immigration system as an Indonesian citizen;
– Holders of Temporary Stay Permit and Permanent Stay Permit (Permanent Residents/KITAS and KITAP) with a valid Multiple Re-entry Permit;
– Holders of Diplomatic Visa and Official/Service Visa;
– Holders of Diplomatic Stay Permit and Official/Service Stay Permit;
– People engaged with Medical Services and Delivery of Supplies (humanitarian assistance);
– Airline and Maritime Crews including Land Transport;
– People whose travel is associated with essential work for NATIONAL STRATEGIC PROJECTS such as infrastructure or construction with approval from the Director-General of Immigration.
Crew members will be allowed to enter if they are:
active crew assigned by an operator to duty on an aircraft when entering Indonesia;
extra crew as a passenger when entering Indonesia to become an active crew when leaving Indonesia under the following circumstances:
1. providing a notification letter which assigns him/her as an active crew
2. the notification letter shall be delivered at least 24 hours prior to extra crew’s arrival;
3. showing a crew identity card or crew member certificate during an immigration clearance;
4. a registered crew in the same airline as inbound flight as he/she arrives.
Crew members are not allowed to disembark from their vessels unless otherwise declared as emergency circumstances and compelling urgent matter.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Indonesia, contact Andhika GAC Indonesia at shipping.indonesia@gac.com
Movement Control Order extended
Tuesday, May 12, 2020, Malaysia
The Malaysian Government has extended the conditional Restriction Movement Control Order and COVID-19 lockdown until 9 June 2020.
Crew changes are not permitted.
Vessels will be inspected by the Port Health Department either at anchorage or at berth as per their discretion. A declaration of crew health records to be available if required by the Health Department during their inspection on board.
Cruise vessels are not permitted to call Malaysian ports.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Malaysia, contact GAC Malaysia at shipping.malaysia@gac.com
Phased reopening plan announced
Tuesday, May 12, 2020, Trinidad & Tobago
The Government of Trinidad & Tobago is implementing phased reopening, following the below plan:
PHASE 1: 10-23 MAY
– Restaurants & food services reopened until 8pm – No Dine-in
– Restricted outdoor activity, no gathering, social distancing
– Hardware, plumbing & electrical stores open 8am-4pm
– Groceries, pharmacies & markets open 8am-6pm
PHASE 2: 24 MAY-6 JUNE
– Manufacturing sector reopens
– Public sector construction re-starts
– Public transportation – maximum capacity remains at 50%
PHASE 3: 7-20 JUNE
– All public services return to work
– Private sector construction allowed
– Public transport maximum capacity increases to 75%
PHASE 4: (Date to be advised)
– Malls to reopen
PHASE 5: (Date to be advised)
– Beaches & cinemas to reopen
PHASE 6: (Date to be advised)
– Border to reopen
The dates of each phase may be adjusted based on the statistics as time goes by.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Trinidad & Tobago, contact GAC Trinidad & Tobago at trinidad@gac.com
Reporting of suspected & confirmed COVID-19 cases
Tuesday, May 12, 2020, South Africa
Transnet National Ports Authority would like to remind port users of the requirement to disclose suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases to the Authority and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), for the purposes of addressing, preventing or combatting the spread of COVID-19 in the port system…
…the Authority urges all port users to prioritise COVID-19 health and safety precautions in their operational areas which include:
COVID-19 screening procedure (temperature checks)
Wearing of appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) as prescribed by the regulations, which includes a face mask/screen and hand gloves where applicable.
The Authority has put in place stringent health and safety measures in all our entry and exit points to limit the spread of COVID-19 infections. All port users must be in possession of the Essential Services Permit with port access/ID and they will be subjected to standard COVID-19 Screening process (temperature checks) on arrival. Failure to adhere to these measures will result in access being denied.
Port users are further requested that, in addition to published COVID-19 reporting protocols, are to report positive COVID-19 case(s) to the Port Manager of the affected port by telephone.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in South Africa, contact GAC South Africa at shipping.capetown@gac.com)
Source: Transnet National Port Authority letter dated 11 May 2020
