Hot Port News from GAC
25-May-2020
CURFEW UNTIL 3 JUNE, NO SHORE LEAVE OR CREW CHANGE
Guyana
BORDER AND AIRPORT OPEN
Vancouver, Canada
PORT DUES TO RISE
Basrah Oil Terminal, Iraq
WORKS OFF SOUTH OF MARINA EAST
Singapore
DREDGING WORKS AT JETTY
Deendayal, India
PORT CLOSED DUE TO BAD WEATHER
Buckeye Bahamas Hub Terminal, Bahamas
CONTAINER TRAFFIC IN FULL FLOW DESPITE PANDEMIC
Gothenburg, Sweden
PLANNED EASING OF COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
South Africa
Curfew until 3 June, no shore leave or crew change
Monday, May 25, 2020, Guyana
The 6pm-6am curfew remains in effect in Guyana Curfew until 3 June.
Ports are closed to all vessels except international merchant ships. No shore leave or crew changes are permitted.
The country’s airports remain closed to incoming passenger flights until 3 June.
Crude oil tankers calling at FPSO Liza Destiny are only being berthed upon completion of 14 days at sea.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Guyana, contact GAC Guyana at guyana@gac.com
Border and airport open
Monday, May 25, 2020, Vancouver, Canada
The border and Vancouver International Airport are now open, and crew changes are permitted, subject to certain conditions.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Canada, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at hub.ae@gac.com
Port dues to rise
Monday, May 25, 2020, Basrah Oil Terminal, Iraq
The Iraqi Port Authority (IPA) has increased the port dues for all vessels calling at Basrah Oil Terminal.
The new tariff will be applicable from 1 June 2020 for all vessels loading at Basrah SPM and Jetties.
For further details and information about operations in Iraq, contact GAC Iraq at shipagency.kuwait@gac.com
Works off south of Marina East
Monday, May 25, 2020, Singapore
The period for works off south of Marina East has been extended. The works will now be conducted 25 May to 24 November.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.029 of 2020 dated 21 May 2020, the work will be carried out 24 hours daily – including Sundays & Public Holidays – within the working area bounded by the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
1) 01 deg. 16.574’N / 103 deg. 52.646’E
2) 01 deg. 16.808’N / 103 deg. 52.453’E
3) 01 deg. 16.865’N / 103 deg. 52.503’E
4) 01 deg. 16.824’N / 103 deg. 52.584’E
5) 01 deg. 16.684’N / 103 deg. 52.618’E
6) 01 deg. 16.620’N / 103 deg. 52.704’E
The works will include dredging and installation of steel pipes and towers. Crane barges will be utilized for the installation of steel pipes and towers. Dredgers will have a circular safety working zone of 50-metre radius centered from the dredgers. The dredged materials will be transported to designated dumping ground by barges.
Temporary platforms are raised at Points A to F, painted yellow and illuminated.
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 12 (East Control);
and
e) Communicate with East Control on VHF Channel 12 for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
Dredging works at jetty
Monday, May 25, 2020, Deendayal, India
Oil Jetty-I (OJ-I) at Deendayal Port, Kandla has been spared for dredging works for a period of 7 days starting from yesterday (24 May).
Vessel operations at the jetty will be suspended during this period.
For information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
Port closed due to bad weather
Monday, May 25, 2020, Buckeye Bahamas Hub Terminal, Bahamas
At 22:36 hours local time yesterday (24 May), Buckeye Bahamas Hub was closed due to impending bad weather conditions.
Berthing to the outer jetties is suspended at this time, but the inner berths remain open.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the Bahamas, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com)
Source: Elnet Maritime Ltd – GAC agent
Container traffic in full flow despite pandemic
Monday, May 25, 2020, Gothenburg, Sweden
Ports throughout Europe have been hit hard by the current Covid-19 pandemic. This can be seen clearly in the recently published volume statistics from Europe’s largest ports. They are also feeling the knock-on effect of cancelled calls – in many cases up to 30%. In contrast, the Port of Gothenburg has increased its container volume, there have been no cancelled calls, and none are planned.
Figures published by the port authorities reveal that container volumes at the 10 largest ports in Europe fell by an average of 5% during the first quarter compared with last year. In contrast, container volumes at the Port of Gothenburg increased by 8% during the same period…
…Large numbers of calls by ocean-going vessels were cancelled at European ports during the first quarter, disrupting freight flows. In Gothenburg, no direct calls have been cancelled – services to and from Asia using the world’s largest vessels have continued, week in, week out…
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Sweden, contact GAC Sweden at sweden@gac.com)
Source: Extracts from Port of Gothenburg (www.portofgothenburg.com) press release dated 20 May 2020
Planned easing of COVID-19 restrictions
Monday, May 25, 2020, South Africa
South Africa plans to reduce its COVID-19 lockdown restrictions to Level 3 from next Monday, 1 June. Level 3 involves the easing of some restrictions, including on work and social activities.
Until then, the country is continuing to operate under Level 4, which means some activity can resume, subject to extreme precautions required to limit community transmission and outbreaks.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in South Africa, contact GAC South Africa at shipping.capetown@gac.com
