Hot Port News from GAC
16-May-2020
WORLD HOLIDAYS: 17-30 MAY 2020
Worldwide
SUSPENSION OF INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS EXTENDED
Pakistan
MANDATORY WEARING OF FACEMASKS
Qatar
PRE-BERTHING PROCEDURE FOR OFF-SIGNING CREW
Port Arthur, United States
FURTHER EXTENSION OF ‘GENERAL HOLIDAY’
Bangladesh
World Holidays: 17-30 May 2020
Saturday, May 16, 2020, Worldwide
Public holidays around the world in the coming two weeks include the following:
Sun 17 May – Norway Constitution Day
Mon 18 May – Battle of Las Pedras Day (Uruguay)
Tue 19 May – Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day (Turkey)
Thu 21 May – Ascension Day
Sun 24 May-Wed 27 May – Eid ul Fitr
Mon 25 May – Memorial Day (USA)
Tue 26 May – Guyana Independence Day
Sat 23 May-Tue 26 May – Ramadan Eid
Sat 30 May – Indian Arrival Day (Trinidad & Tobago)
For information about operations around the world contact the respective GAC office. Details may be found at www.gac.com
Suspension of international flights extended
Saturday, May 16, 2020, Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan has extended the suspension of international flights until 2359 hours local time on Sunday 31 June.
Meanwhile, it has also been decided to allow restricted domestic scheduled and charter passenger flight operations between Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta Airports, in addition to the already approved flight operations from Islamabad to Gilgit and Skardu Airports.
Previous authorisation for private aircraft, cargo and special flights also remains unchanged subject to compliance with applicable Standard Operating Procedures.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Pakistan, contact GAC Pakistan at pakistan@gac.com
Mandatory wearing of facemasks
Saturday, May 16, 2020, Qatar
A Council of Ministers resolution has been issued regarding the updates of the precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of Corona Virus (COVID–19), which stipulates the following:
It is mandatory for all citizens and residents upon leaving house for any reason whatsoever to wear masks, except in the case when a person is alone while driving a vehicle. Ministry of Interior to take the necessary actions in this regard.
In case of non-compliance with this resolution, the violator shall be subjected to the penalties stipulated in Decree Law No. (17) of 1990 on the prevention of infectious diseases, by imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years and a fine not exceeding QR (200,000) two hundred thousand Qatar Riyals, or one of these two penalties.
This resolution shall be effective from Sunday 17/05/2020, until further notice.
In view of the above, please ensure that all your staff, contractors and sub-contractors are well informed and in full adherence to the above mentioned resolution of the Council of Ministers, to avoid the respective penalties stipulated by law.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Qatra, contact GAC Qatar at qatar@gac.com)
Source: Ras Laffan Industrial City Circular No.VI/R/29/2020 dated 15 May 2020
Pre-berthing procedure for off-signing crew
Saturday, May 16, 2020, Port Arthur, United States
Several planned off-signings have been recently cancelled due to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Port Arthur deciding not to board the respective vessels nor to allow the off-signers to disembark for clearance.
As a proactive measure, GAC North America has agreed with CBP Port Arthur to follow a pre-berthing procedure that will hopefully avoid any cancelations:
all offsigner personnel details will be submitted by our office to CBP for review as soon as available
the Master will be asked to submit a dated crew list with the temperature of every crew member and passenger, at least 24 hours prior to berthing
joining crew will not embark the vessel until CBP has completed an on-board inspection. This way, if CBP cancels the inspection, the joiners are still in C1 visa status and may be returned home directly.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com
Further extension of ‘General Holiday’
Saturday, May 16, 2020, Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Government has further extended the ‘General Holiday’ and decided to shut down all government, public and private offices until 30 May, due to COVID-19. The time of this shutdown may be extended again, depending on the situation.
Chattogram and Mongla Port authority are working during the general holiday.
Vessels sailing from China need to wait at least 16 days starting from the sailing date of China to berth at Chittagong Port.
Vessel Masters must provide a coronavirus declaration.
No shore passes are being issued to vessel crews.
There are restrictions in the issuance of Gate Passes for foreigners.
(For information about operations in Bangladesh, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at hub.ae@gac.com)
Source: GAC-UniGlobal, Bangladesh
