Hot Port News from GAC
29-May-2020
DREDGING OFF CAFHI JETTY
Singapore
BRAZIL ADDED TO LIST OF RESTRICTED COUNTRIES
United States
CURFEW & CREW CHANGES UPDATE
Sri Lanka
STRONG WINDS WARNING
Pakistan
CURFEW & WEEKEND LOCKDOWN TO CONTINUE
Bahamas
CREW CHANGES RESUME, WITH RESTRICTIONS
Indonesia
GARBAGE COLLECTION FROM SHIPS
India
QUARANTINE EXTENDED, CREW CHANGES POSSIBLE
Lithuania
PORT OPERATIONS DURING STAGE 1 COVID-19 LOCKDOWN
Walvis Bay, Namibia
EASING OF RESTRICTIONS FOR ATTENDANCE OF TRANSIT VESSELS
Turkish Straits, Turkey
Dredging off CAFHI Jetty
Friday, May 29, 2020, Singapore
From 8 June to 31 July, dredging works will be carried out off CAFHI Jetty.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.031 of 2020 dated 27 May 2020, the works will be conducted 24 hours daily – including Sundays & Public Holidays – within the working area bounded by the following co-ordinates:
1) 01 deg. 23·421’N / 103 deg. 59·947’E
2) 01 deg. 23·461’N / 103 deg. 59·862’E
3) 01 deg. 23·547’N / 103 deg. 59·901’E
4) 01 deg. 23·506’N / 103 deg. 59·987’E
5) 01 deg. 23·412’N / 104 deg. 00·001’E
6) 01 deg. 23·416’N / 103 deg. 59·993’E
Dredging works will be carried out by grab dredger, supported by hopper barges and pusher tugs. The dredger will be held in position by anchors marked by anchor buoys with flashing lights.
A safety boat will be in attendance to warn and direct craft in the vicinity to keep clear of 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 to enter the work 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 for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
Brazil added to list of restricted countries
Friday, May 29, 2020, United States
The United States has added Brazil to the list of countries with restrictions for crew and vessel arrivals, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As advised in the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Information Bulletin Number: 02-20 (Change 5) dated 27 May 2020, Presidential Proclamations have now placed entry restrictions on persons arriving from or through the following countries:
Iran
China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau)
European states within the Schengen Area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland)
United Kingdom
Republic of Ireland
Brazil
Non-passenger Commercial Vessels:
The Coast Guard considers it a hazardous condition if a vessel has been to one of the countries noted above or has embarked a crewmember who has been in one of the countries noted above within the past 14 days. This requires immediate notification to the nearest Coast Guard Captain of the Port.
Non-passenger commercial vessels that have been to the above countries or embarked crewmembers from the above countries within the last 14 days, with no sick crewmembers, will be permitted to enter the U.S. and conduct normal operations, provided that crewmembers remain aboard the vessel except to conduct specific activities directly related to vessel cargo or provisioning operations.
Passenger Vessels:
On 15 April 2020, the CDC updated the existing No Sail Order, requiring all cruise ship operators to provide “an appropriate, actionable and robust plan to prevent, mitigate, and respond to the spread of COVID-19 on board cruise ships” prior to operating in waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction. There are further restrictions on crew member and vessel movements.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com
Curfew & crew changes update
Friday, May 29, 2020, Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan curfew will be in force island-wide on Sunday 31 May. It will effective in all districts, only between 10pm and 4am daily, from Monday 1 June to Wednesday 3 June.
Thereafter, the curfew will be in force island-wide on Thursday 4 June and Friday 5 June. From Saturday 6 June onwards, it will be effective in all the districts, as before, from 10pm to 4am daily until further notice.
As the COVID-19 pandemic is currently being well controlled in Sri Lanka, a positive response from authorities on foreign crew changes is expected soon. In the meantime, bulk crew change of foreign seafarers is permitted using charter flights, subject to approval from authorities.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Sri Lanka, contact GAC Sri Lanka at srilanka@gac.com
Strong winds warning
Friday, May 29, 2020, Pakistan
Due to persistence of large pressure difference between accentuated heat low over South Pakistan and high pressure areas over the North Arabian Sea, strong winds from West/Southwest with 20-25kts speed gusting to 30 kts will continue to blow over Karachi for the next 2-3 days.
Under the influence of this weather system, the following may be experienced:
Higher tidal conditions off the coast with extraordinary swell heighs or 2.5 to 2.8 metres
Tidal surge of 3-4 feet or higher may be experienced in harbours, in particular Karachi and Ormara
Wind speeds of 23-30 kts gusting up to 35 kts in harbours may be source of concern for vessels berthed on jetties requiring extra measures for safe securing
(For information about operations in Paskistan, contact GAC Pakistan at pakistan@gac.com)
Source: Joint Maritime Information Coordination Center (JMICC) alert issued at 2100 on 28 May 2020
Curfew & weekend lockdown to continue
Friday, May 29, 2020, Bahamas
The Bahamas weekday curfew from 21:00 to 05:00 in the Bahamas will continue until 29 June.
Further, the island will go on lockdown every weekend for the time period stated below until the end of June:
2100 hours local time on Fri 5 Jun – 0500 hours local time on Mon 8 June
2100 hours local time on Fri 12 Jun – 0500 hours local time on Mon 15 June
2100 hours local time on Fri 19 Jun – 0500 hours local time on Mon 22 June
2100 hours local time on Fri 26 Jun – 0500 hours local time on Mon 29 June
(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
Crew changes resume, with restrictions
Friday, May 29, 2020, Indonesia
Crew changes are once again officially possible in Indonesia, albeit with restrictions, and currently only at Nipah, Galang and Tanjung Balai Karimun only.
Any foreign crew joining or visitor must hold Indonesia transit visa index 211. This visa can be applied at the nearest Indonesian Embassy. Upon submission, applicants must provide health certificate issued by relevant health authorities from their respective countries.
Crew sign-off is possible as long as long as the crew member is in good health, holds a health certificate and has an available flight.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Indonesia, contact Andhika GAC at shipping.indonesia@gac.com
Garbage collection from ships
Friday, May 29, 2020, India
The Directorate has received representations from shipping industry that certain ports are not providing permission for landing the garbage to shore reception facility in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Annex V Regulation 7(1) of International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) 1973 / 78 mandates the Government of each Party to the Convention undertakes to ensure the provision of facilities at ports and terminals for the reception of garbage, without causing undue delay to ships, and according to the needs of the ships using them.
Also, section 7(1) of the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Garbage from Ships) Rules 2009 mandates that Central Government shall ensure that adequate reception facilities are provided at ports and terminals for the reception of garbage, without causing undue delay to ships.
This matter of landing garbage ashore due to the COVID-19 pandemic was considered and para 5.2 DGS Order No. 02 of 2020 dated 16.03.2020 addresses the issue. The said para 5.2 DGS Order No. 02 of 2020 dated 16.03.2020 is as follows:
“Garbage required to be landed ashore from vessels may need to be properly disinfected to ensure that there is no possibility of transmission of the COVID-I9 disease from the landed garbage.”
All concerned shall comply after taking adequate precautions with the aforesaid para 5.2 of DGS Order No. 02 of 2020 dated 16.03.2020.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com)
Source: Ministry of Shipping, Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai, Notice 10 of 2020 dated 27 May 2020
Quarantine extended, crew changes possible
Friday, May 29, 2020, Lithuania
Lithuania’s national quarantine has been extended until 16 June, however the Government is reducing restrictions every week.
Crew changes are possible but subject to travel logistics. On-signers are being checked for temperature at the border crossing point (in case of fever, on-signers will not be allowed to join vessel). Off-signers are being checked for temperature before disembarkation (in case of fever, they will not be allowed to disembark).
The port is operating normally, with no delays expected.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Lithuania, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at hub.ae@gac.com
Port operations during Stage 1 COVID-19 lockdown
Friday, May 29, 2020, Walvis Bay, Namibia
Walvis Bay Local Authority area has reverted back to Stage 1 of lockdown measures with immediate effect from 0700 hours today (29 May) until 0000 hours on Monday 8 June.
Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) operations have been declared essential service during the initial phase of the lockdown, so will continue to provide services.
Namport advises that the following divisions will be working as normal:
Security and Emergency Services
Port Caption, VTS and Pilotage
Marine Services
Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ)
All division within Port Operations including Syncrolift.
Non-essential division staff are working from home.
The Port of Lüderitz is unaffected by the latest alert level of Walvis Bay and continues to operate as normal.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Namibia, contact the GAC Namibia at shipping.walvisbay@gac.com
Easing of restrictions for attendance of transit vessels
Friday, May 29, 2020, Turkish Straits, Turkey
All attendance services for transit vessels in the Turkish Straits (SE, Supt, Tech, and other visitors) will be permitted from Monday (1 June), under the following conditions:
– after fever control at the shore
– wearing personal protective equipment
– no contact with the living place on board
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Turkey, contact GAC Turkey at turkey@gac.com
