Hot Port News from GAC
18-May-2020
CABLE LAYING IN EAST JOHOR STRAIT
Singapore
CONTROLLED CREW CHANGES – CLARIFICATION OF PROCEDURE
India
ENTRY OF CREW
Taiwan
RESUMPTION OF GARBAGE RECEPTION FACILITY
Mundra, India
CYCLONE AMPHAN POSING SERIOUS THREAT
Bay of Bengal, India
NO CREW CHANGES POSSIBLE
Togo
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION & STATUS OF SERVICES AT PORT
Lomé, Togo
EID HOLIDAYS ANNOUNCED
Pakistan
LOCKDOWN EXTENDED, BUT RELAXED
India
Cable laying in East Johor Strait
Monday, May 18, 2020, Singapore
The working period for cable laying operations in the East Johor Strait has been updated.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.028 of 2020 dated 13 May 2020, the works will be conducted 24 hours daily – including Sundays & Public Holidays – from 29 May to 28 November, within the working area bounded by the following co-ordinates (see attached chartlet):
1 01 deg. 28·585’N / 103 deg. 48·148’E
2 01 deg. 28·696’N / 103 deg. 48·662’E
3 01 deg. 28·208’N / 103 deg. 48·573’E
4 01 deg. 28·141’N / 103 deg. 48·182’E
The works will involve soil investigation, dredging and cable laying works.
The cable laying works will be carried out by a Cable Laying Barge and dredging
works will be carried out by dredger within the working area.
Safety boats will be deployed to warn other craft in the vicinity of the working area.
Craft involved in the works will exhibit the appropriate local and international day and night signals.
When in the vicinity of the working area, mariners are reminded to:
a) Keep well clear and not to enter the working area;
b) Maintain a proper lookout;
c) Proceed at a safe speed and navigate with caution;
d) Maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 21 (Sembawang Control);
and
e) Communicate with Sembawang Control on VHF Channel 21 for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
Controlled crew changes – clarification of procedure
Monday, May 18, 2020, India
DGS Order No. 12 of 2020 dated 22.04.2020 has been issued to provide detailed Standard Operating Procedure / Protocol for sign-on and sign-off of Indian crew at Indian Ports. Para 5 (2) (7) of the SoP in respect of sign-off states that “Seafarer arriving on a vessel from any foreign port within 14 days of departure from foreign port shall be kept in quarantine for a total of 14 days from the date of departure from the last foreign port at a facility approved by the Port or State authority. On completion of 14 days, he shall undergo a COVID-I9 test to confirm ‘negative’ test.”
It is clarified that the above said para requirement is only applicable for vessels arriving from any foreign port. Seafarers on board Indian flag vessels operating exclusively on the Indian coast, harbour and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are NOT required to undergo quarantine of 14 days, post disembarkation from such a vessel, if the seafarer is tested negative for COVID-19 and is asymptomatic and subject to compliance of all listed conditions for controlled crew change.
Also, it is noted that seafarers serving on board tugs, pilot launch, mooring boats etc. operating exclusively within port limits for port operations are being asked to undergo quarantine of 14 days, post disembarkation from such vessels. Seafarers serving on board the said vessels which are operating exclusively within port limits are NOT required to undergo quarantine of 14 days, post disembarkation from such a vessel. The said seafarers are to be treated as port staff and necessary quick clearances and facilitation shall be provided by the ports for crew changes as applicable.
Master shall ensure that all Indian seafarers serving onboard shall maintain daily records for temperature, pulse, blood pressure and respiratory rate. These said records are to be produced to appropriate authorities on request.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com)
Source: Directorate General of Shipping Clarification to DGS Order No.2 of 2020, dated 17 May 2020
Entry of crew
Monday, May 18, 2020, Taiwan
Crews are permitted entry to Taiwan only under following conditions:
Vessel with Taiwanese flag
Foreign flag vessel belonging to Taiwan owner
Vessel calling for comprehensive repair work
Vessel delivery or redelivery in Taiwan by Taiwanese owner or Taiwanese buyer
Crew disembark from vessel sailing Taiwan domestic routing
All of above conditions exclude China flagged vessel and Chinese crew
Foreign crews must apply for permit under the purpose of business contract, and accepted crew must follow a 14 days period of home quarantine after entry to Taiwan. Once entry is approved, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will issue temporary visa for 21 days. The port agent or principal shall arrange direct transport to escort the crew member(s) to airport or vessel for departure after 14 days quarantine.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Taiwan, contact GAC Taiwan at shipping.taiwan@gac.com
Resumption of garbage reception facility
Monday, May 18, 2020, Mundra, India
Garbage reception has resumed for vessels calling at the port of Mundra. However, due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, vessels using this facility must follow the below Standard Operating Procedure:
Vessel master to send Reception Service request to Port Operations Centre through Vessel Agency. Master to give an undertaking that all garbage deemed to be disposed is packed as per Point 4.
Vessel Master / Agency to raise request in Swatch Sagar Portal as per DG Shipping Guidelines.
Vessel to comply with MARPOL regulations for waste disposal at all times.
Vessel crew should ensure that waste to be packed safely in two strong bags (double protection) and each set of bag must be hand tied by securing with a cable tie or hand knot. Loose and spilling waste will not be collected. Any spill overs on the wharf will not be entertained and subject to penalization.
Upon receiving permission from POC team, shore reception team will collect waste from vessel.
Vessel crew to place the waste bags on the jetty, once the shore reception team arrives. Shore reception facility personnel will not board the vessel.
Once Service is completed, Waste Delivery Receipt will be sent to vessel via e-mail and same will be uploaded in Swatch Sagar Portal.
During this operation, if the port operation centre, reception facility or any other port representative observes, that disposal procedures are not complied in line with SOP, reception facility has the right to suspend operation immediately.
Shore Reception Facility personnel to wear Mask, disposable gloves and adhere to proper social distancing procedures while going to collect garbage. After complete garbage disposal at appropriate designated location, used PPE to be disposed and hands to be washed with soap / disinfected with sanitiser.
Admin Department to periodically disinfect/sanitize jetty area.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
Cyclone Amphan posing serious threat
Monday, May 18, 2020, Bay of Bengal, India
Cyclone Amphan has rapidly intensified in the Bay of Bengal as it tracks toward India and Bangladesh, posing a serious threat. It was equivalent in strength to a Category 4 Hurricane as of this Monday morning (India time), and is very likely to intensify further into a “severe cyclonic storm” during next six hours and a “very severe cyclonic storm” during subsequent 12 hours.
The Cyclone is currently centred at about 960 km south of Odisha’s Paradip, 1110 km south-southwest of West Bengal’s Digha and 1,230 km south-southwest of Bangladesh’s Khepupara.
Amphan will cause heavy rainfall and high-velocity wind in coastal districts of Odisha, West Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar, and is likely to make landfall on the West Bengal coast on Wednesday, 20 May.
As the cyclone approaches the coast on Tuesday night local time, strong winds, very rough sea conditions, storm surge and heavy rain are likely across Odisha and West Bengal coasts. An Orange Alert has been issued for both Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal (South Bengal).
Forecasts suggest that squally wind speed reaching 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely to commence along and off Odisha coast from this evening, and extend to West Bengal coast from Tuesday afternoon. The wind speeds are likely to go up to around 145 kmph by Monday and up to 180 kmph by Wednesday.
At the port of Vizag, Storm Flag 2 has been hoisted.
Storm Flag 2 has also been hoisted at Gangavaram. Inward movements have been suspended and port has shifted all working vessels to anchorage. The re-berthing schedule is yet to be decided.
Vessels at berth in Haldia have been shifted out to anchorage until the cyclone passes.
At Dhamra, all Inward movements have been suspended. Most of the working vessels have sailed out and presently only two vessels working at Berth at BB-2 and BB-3A. The port is monitoring the situation and may shift these vessels to anchorage, if required.
For information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
No crew changes possible
Monday, May 18, 2020, Togo
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Togolese authorities have set up a crisis committee chaired by the President of the Republic, which has decided to suspend the entry of any travellers into the country.
It is therefore currently not possible to conduct crew changes for foreigners at the port of Lomé. Port and Immigration authorities advise that no embarkation/disembarkation of foreign citizens is allowed at the port of Lomé or transiting through Togo under any circumstances.
There are no commercial flights scheduled for the remainder of May.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Togo, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at hub.ae@gac.com)
Source: OMA Togo – GAC agent
Required documentation & status of services at port
Monday, May 18, 2020, Lomé, Togo
All vessels calling at Lomé, both offshore and in the port, must send the following documents at least 72 hours prior to arrival:
Crew list – this must state crew embarkation port/Country and date.
Maritime Declaration of Health
Last 10 ports of call
In cases where this is not possible documents must be sent immediately on leaving the previous port of call.
Port Health will attend vessels arriving from affected countries, in order to disinfect the vessel first before any other persons embark to carry out their assigned jobs.
If a person is contaminated or showing symptoms of the COVID-19 virus, the port health authorities must immediately be called and an assessment of the state of health of the people on board will be carried out. Either they will be asked to remain confined to their cabins, or they will be disembarked and quarantined at the hospital CHU Campus de Lomé.
An alert state with mandatory curfew from 2100 to 0500 is still in force. The country’s borders remain closed to passengers, but this does not apply to movement of goods.
Deliveries of spare parts, provisions, fresh water are possible though there may be some delays due to the curfew and restricted opening hours.
There are no restrictions on STS and bunkering operations.
Garbage and slops removal is possible, but it is recommended to give 72 hours’ notice.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Togo, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at hub.ae@gac.com)
Source: OMA Togo – GAC agent
Eid holidays announced
Monday, May 18, 2020, Pakistan
The Pakistan Government has announced that the Eid holidays will be from 22 to 27 May.
Ports will be closed and labour supply will not be available on the first day of Eid only (24 or 25 May, subject to moon sighting).
For information about operations in Pakistan, contact GAC Pakistan at pakistan@gac.com
Lockdown extended, but relaxed
Monday, May 18, 2020, India
The Government of India has extended the lockdown for two more weeks until 31 May, as more COVID-19 cases are detected, particularly in the last few days.
However, the extended lockdown comes with a lot of relaxation likely to open up the economy with operation of all markets, offices, industries, businesses, etc.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
