Hot Port News from GAC
23-Jun-2020
CESSATION OF FORCE MAJEURE
Gangavaram, India
REVISION OF HEIGHT RESTRICTION IN CRUISE BAY
Singapore
RENEWAL OF CIRCULARS
Suez Canal, Egypt
RECONSTRUCTION WORKS FOR PAK KOK PIER AT LAMMA ISLAND
Hong Kong
REVISED SCALE OF RATES
Vizag, India
CONCESSION FOR VESSELS WITH DRAFT OVER 14M
Mormugao, India
CREW SHORE LEAVE RESTRICTIONS RESCINDED
New Orleans, United States
Cessation of Force Majeure
Tuesday, June 23, 2020, Gangavaram, India
The Force Majeure event that was declared at Gangavaram on 24 March due to the COVID-19 pandemic has ceased with effect from 20 June 2020.
Port services and operations are now gradually resuming to normality, although the local COVID-19 pandemic situation is very much there and evolving, with the number of positive cases rising daily and not controlled.
Gangavaram Port shall not assume any liability/responsibility in respect of the Force Majeure Event from 23 March to 20 June, inclusive.
For information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
Revision of height restriction in Cruise Bay
Tuesday, June 23, 2020, Singapore
From 1 July 2020, the height restriction in the Cruise Bay for all vessels will be revised from 52 metres to 50 metres.
The amendments are as follows:
(a) Under Regulation 49(1) of the MPA (Port) Regulations, a person must not cause or permit a vessel exceeding 50 metres in height to enter or remain in the Cruise Bay.
(b) Under Regulation 49(2) of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Port) Regulations, a person must not cause or permit a vessel in the Cruise Bay to be modified to attain a height exceeding 50 metres.
Pursuant to Regulation 49(4) of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Port) Regulations, the owner, agent, master or person-in-charge of a vessel exceeding 48 metres in height is to obtain prior written approval of the Port Master before entering, manoeuvring within or leaving Cruise Bay. When applying for approval, the following documents must be submitted:
(a) The owner, agent, master or person-in-charge must submit a certificate from any classification society authorised by MPA as a Recognised Organisation, stating the maximum height of the vessel. A list of Recognised Organisations is available at http://www.mpa.gov.sg/web/portal/home/singapore-registry-of-ships/registerwith-srs/additional-information#AI10
(b) The master must give a written undertaking that the height of the vessel will not exceed 50 metres throughout the period of the vessel’s stay within the Cruise Bay.
For the purpose of height restriction, the height of a vessel is measured vertically from the waterline of the vessel to the highest point of the vessel including its cargo, structure, or equipment on board. If there are extendible structures on board, the highest point shall be the maximum height attainable by these structures when fully extended, if such extended height exceeds the height of its cargo, or fixed structures or equipment.
(For information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com)
Source: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Circular No.29 of 2020 dated 23 June 2020
Renewal of circulars
Tuesday, June 23, 2020, Suez Canal, Egypt
The Suez Canal Authority has issued renewals of renewal of the circulars concerning container ships, LNG carriers, tankers and LPG vessels transiting the Canal.
CONTAINER SHIPS
Circular No.3/2020 and its amendments shall be applied to “Containerships” coming from US East Coast and stopping at the geographical areas pre-set by the pre-mentioned circular.
This periodical shall be applicable to vessels sailing from port of origin at US East Coast from 15 June 2020 till the cancellation of circular 3/2020.
LNG TANKERS
Circular No.7/2017 & its renewing and amending periodical issued on 31 March 2020, concerning LNG tankers operating between the “American Gulf” & ports South of the “American Gulf”, the “Arabian Gulf”, India and its eastern ports, shall remain in force till 31 December 2020. Last permissible date for the LNG tanker to transit the Suez Canal is 31 December 2020.
As an encouragement for LNG carriers to transit the Suez Canal, “Article Two” of Circular No.2/2015, by which LNG carriers transiting the Suez Canal are granted a rebate of 25% from Suez Canal normal tolls, is re-effected. Circular No. 2/2015 is applicable to LNG carriers transiting the Suez Canal starting from 1 July.
DRY BULK CARRIERS
Circular No.3/2017 and its renewing and amending periodicals, concerning laden or ballast “Dry Bulk” vessels; operating between “Republic of South Africa” ports and “Mediterranean Sea” and “Black Sea” ports, shall remain in force till the 31 December 2020 (the last permissible sailing date from origin port is 31 December 2020).
Circular No.2/2017 & its renewing and amending periodical issued on 13 November 2020, concerning laden or ballast “Dry Bulk” vessels coming from (or heading to) Australian ports and heading (or coming from) ports at North West Europe, shall remain in force till the 31 December 2020 (the last permissible sailing date from origin port is 31 December 2020).
Circular No.3/2018 concerning the rebate granted to (Laden/Ballast) Dry Bulk Vessels; operating between Americas’ ports and Asian ports, shall remain in force till 31 December 2020 (last permissible sailing date from origin port is 31 December 2020).
TANKERS
Circular no. 1/2018 & its renewing and amending periodical issued on 12 November 2019, concerning “Crude Oil” tankers (Laden or Ballast), operating between ports of the (US Gulf, Caribbean area & Latin America) and Asian ports, shall remain in force till the 31 December 2020 (last permissible sailing date from origin port is 31 December 2020).
LPG CARRIERS
Circular No.4/2020 concerning the rebate granted to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) carriers (Laden or Ballast) operating between the “American Gulf”, India and its Eastern ports, shall remain in force till 31 December 2020 (last permissible sailing date from origin port is 31 December 2020).
For information about operations in the Suez Canal, contact GAC Egypt at suezcanal@gac.com
Reconstruction Works for Pak Kok Pier at Lamma Island
Tuesday, June 23, 2020, Hong Kong
For approximately 24 months, reconstruction works for Pak Kok Pier at Lamma Island are being carried out within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (I) and the adjacent shoreline:
(A) 22 deg. 14.190’N / 114 deg. 06.596’E
(B) 22 deg. 14.189’N / 114 deg. 06.591’E
(C) 22 deg. 14.183’N / 114 deg. 06.592’E
(D) 22 deg. 14.175’N / 114 deg. 06.555’E
(E) 22 deg. 14.213’N / 114 deg. 06.546’E
(F) 22 deg. 14.228’N / 114 deg. 06.572’E
(G) 22 deg. 14.237’N / 114 deg. 06.616’E
(H) 22 deg. 14.201’N / 114 deg. 06.625’E
(I) 22 deg. 14.196’N / 114 deg. 06.601’E
The works are being carried out by one dumb lighter, one launch and one work boat. One tugboat provides assistance.
A working area of approximately 15 metres around the lighter is established. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights are laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the lighter.
Silt curtains fitted with yellow flashing lights will be established within the works area. The silt curtain is a large piece of netting used to contain mud and sediment.
The hours of work are from 0700 to 1900 hours. No works is carried out on Sundays and public holidays. Vessels employed for the works stay in the works area outside the hours of work.
Diving operations will be carried out from time to time during the hours of work.
Vessels engaged in the operations display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.
Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution and keep clear of the works area at slow speed, bearing in mind there are divers working in the works area.
(For information about operations in Hong Kong contact GAC Hong Kong at shipping.hongkong@gac.com)
Source: Government of the Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No.80/2020
Revised Scale of Rates
Tuesday, June 23, 2020, Vizag, India
The Tariff Authority for Major Ports hereby notifies the revised Scale of Rates disposing of the proposal of the Vizag Seaport Private Limited for general revision of its Scale of Rates for the vessels handled by it at berths EQ-8 and EQ-9 at the Visakhapatnam Port Trust…
…This case relates to the proposal received from the Vizag Seaport Private Limited (VSPL) for general revision of its Scale of Rates (SOR) for the vessels handled by it at berths EQ-8 and EQ-9 at the Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT).
The VSPL has filed a proposal following Tariff Policy, 2019 for general revision of its SOR. The proposal was taken on consultation with the VPT and the concerned users/ user organisations. The comments furnished by M/s.Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) was forwarded to the VSPL as feedback information. The VSPL has responded to the comments of SAIL.
VSPL and VPT were requested to furnish additional information/ clarifications. A joint hearing in this case was held, [at which] the VSPL, the VPT and the concerned users/ organisation bodies made their submissions.
The VSPL has furnished information/clarification. While responding to the additional information/ clarifications, the VSPL has furnished revised proposal comprising revised Form-1 (ARR) and revised Form-4 (Revenue Estimation)…
…The next annual indexation of SOR shall be from the date the revised SOR comes into effect. In short, annual indexation of 1.13% announced by this Authority for the year 2020-21 should be applied to the revised SOR and then implemented…
…The revised SOR will come into force after expiry of 30 days from the date of notification of this Order notifying the SOR in the Gazette of India and shall be valid for a period of 3 years from the date the revised SOR comes into effect.
(For further details and information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com)
Source: Extracts from Tariff Authority for Major Ports Notification No.TAMP/11/2020-VSPL dated 10 June 2020
Concession for vessels with draft over 14m
Tuesday, June 23, 2020, Mormugao, India
In order to handle Cape size vessels and vessels arriving with draft beyond 14 metres at Mormugao Port, the Board of Trustees, Mormugao Port Trust has granted the following concession:
To waive off working anchorage charges, wharfage applicable at stream and transhipper/floating crane charges for the lighterage operations at WOB to the vessels lightering at WOB and bringing the lightered cargo to PPP berths and also discharging remaining cargo at PPP berths.
To waive off anchorage charges and transhipper/floating crane charges in addition to the wharfage charges already waived off as per SoR to the vessels lightered at WOB and bringing the lightered cargo the port berths and also discharging remaining cargo at port berths.
This concession shall be valid for a period of two (2) years from the date of approval by the Board (21.04.2020) and may be reviewed thereafter.
(For information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com)
Source: Mormugao Port Trust, Goa, Trade Notice No.6/2020 dated 18 June 2020
Crew shore leave restrictions rescinded
Tuesday, June 23, 2020, New Orleans, United States
This notice rescinds the temporary restrictions specified in Southern Currents 20-023 dated March 21, 2020, that were implemented to address the public health emergency and community spread of COVID-19.
Crew shore leave processing and inspection will now return to previously established procedures.
Requests for crew sign-offs (D-2) which include an overnight stay will now be considered if, the crewmember is not exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, the crewmember has valid travel documents, and there is no other restriction on the crewmember’s travel.
Vessel agents should continue to provide notice of vessel arrivals, and updated vessel arrival information, to the CBP New Orleans Operations Desk email address at neworleansopsdesk@cbp.dhs.gov or telephonically during the hours of 0700 – 1500 hours Sunday – Saturday, via telephone number (504) 670-2270.
Local questions should be directed to Chief Kevin Alombro at (504) 670-2250 or via email at kevin.m.alombro@cbp.dhs.gov.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com)
Source: Port of New Orleans, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Notice to the Area Port of New Orleans Trade Community No.20-035 dated 23 June 2020
