Hot Port News from GAC
13-Jul-2020
REPAIR WORKS FOR DOLPHINS IN CHEUNG CHAU TYPHOON SHELTER
Hong Kong
REPAIR WORKS FOR DOLPHINS IN TUEN MUN TYPHOON SHELTER
Hong Kong
BERTHING POLICY 2020-21 APPROVED
Paradip, India
ANCHORAGE CLOSURE DUE TO BAD WEATHER
Port Kembla, Australia
CREW CHANGES PROCEDURE AT ANCHORAGE (UPDATE)
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
HEALTH VISA REQUIRED
Bahamas
PORT RESTRICTED DUE TO BAD WEATHER
Buckeye Bahamas Hub Terminal, Bahamas
AUTHORISATION FOR CRUISE VESSELS
Le Havre, France
Repair works for dolphins in Cheung Chau Typhoon Shelter
Monday, July 13, 2020, Hong Kong
For approximately 5 months, repair works for dolphins will be carried out in Cheung Chau Typhoon Shelter.
The works will be carried out by one crane boat. A working area of approximately 15 metres around the boat will be established. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the boat.
A silt curtain, extending from the sea surface to the seabed, will be established around the dolphins for repair. Yellow flashing lights will be laid along the surface of the silt curtain to mark the extent of the silt curtain.
The hours of work will be carried out from 0700 to 1900 hours. No works will be carried out on Sundays and public holidays. The boat employed for the works will 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.
The boat engaged in the works will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.
Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution and keep clear of the working area at slow speed, bearing in mind there are divers working in the 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.98/2020
Repair works for dolphins in Tuen Mun Typhoon Shelter
Monday, July 13, 2020, Hong Kong
For approximately 4 months, repair works for dolphins will be carried out in Tuen Mun Typhoon Shelter.
The works will be carried out by one crane boat. A working area of approximately 15 metres around the boat will be established. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the boat.
A silt curtain, extending from the sea surface to the seabed, will be established around the dolphins for repair. Yellow flashing lights will be laid along the surface of the silt curtain to mark the extent of the silt curtain.
The hours of work will be carried out from 0700 to 1900 hours. No works will be carried out on Sundays and public holidays. The boat employed for the works will 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.
The boat engaged in the works will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.
Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution and keep clear of the working area at slow speed, bearing in mind there are divers working in the 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.97/2020
Berthing Policy 2020-21 approved
Monday, July 13, 2020, Paradip, India
The Board of Trustees of Paradip Port Trust have approved the following Berthing Policy for vessels for the financial year 2020-21 (with effect from 1 August 2020 to 31 March 2021) along with the Priority Berthing Scheme (PBS) for Dry Bulk Cargo at CB-1 & CB-2 of MCHP and General Cargo Berths.
For details of the new Berthing Policy and PBS, as well as information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
Anchorage closure due to bad weather
Monday, July 13, 2020, Port Kembla, Australia
The Port Authority at Port Kembla has advised that the anchorage will be closed to shipping from 2000 hours local time today (13 July) due to forecast adverse weather, gale force winds and large swells.
All ships at anchor will be required to leave the anchorage and drift more than 12NM from the coast.
Vessels presently alongside a berth in the Outer Harbour are also to return back to sea by 2000 hours.
Ships in the Inner Harbour can remain alongside and are required to drop their seaside anchor and run extra lines as necessary.
Shipping movements may be affected by the weather and the Duty Pilot will determine arrivals and departures on a case-by-case basis at this stage.
For information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
Crew changes procedure at Anchorage (update)
Monday, July 13, 2020, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
According to verbal instructions from Dubai Immigration, the updated procedures for crew changes at Dubai Anchorage are as follows:
On Signers
1. Crew to arrive with 96 hours Seaman Visa
2. Crew should carry their PCR test results (valid for 96 hours) upon their arrival to Dubai Airport.
3. If vessel is in port, crew can go direct to the ship. Otherwise, hotel accommodation to be provided.
Important Note: Crew must join the vessel within 96 hours of their COVID Test Report.
Off Signers
1. Medical Team to board the vessel to collect crew samples for COVID19 PCR TEST
2. Results will be available within 3-4 days
3. Upon visa approval and confirmation of flight, crew may depart to Dubai
4. Off signers may not stay in hotels
Charges for Swab Collection at anchorage
– Launch Hire as per Agreed Tariff
– One Medical Staff visit to Anchorage – AED 3,500/- per attendance
– Assistance visit to Anchorage – AED 750/- per attendance
– Registration under Dubai Health Authority – AED 200/- per crew member
– SWAB for PCR Covid Test – AED 450/- per crew member
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Dubai, contact GAC Dubai at dubai@gac.com or crewdesk.ae@gac.com
Health Visa required
Monday, July 13, 2020, Bahamas
The Bahamas Ministry of Health has advised that travellers must complete a Bahamas Health Visa application and present a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test with a sample taken within 10 days of arrival.
Effective immediately, all travellers must complete an electronic Bahamas Health Visa application before departure from the place of embarkation. This can be found at http://travel.gov.bs.
Travellers are also required to upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test and provide contact information.
(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 Agency, Bahamas – GAC agent
Port restricted due to bad weather
Monday, July 13, 2020, Buckeye Bahamas Hub Terminal, Bahamas
Operations and movements at the Buckeye Bahamas Hub Terminal have been restricted since yesterday (12 July) due to bad weather.
A weather assessment performed at 0545 hours local time today confirm that conditions are still unfavourable for berthing operations at the offshore platforms.
(For information about operations in the Bahamas, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com)
Source: Elnet Maritime Ltd – GAC agent
Authorisation for cruise vessels
Monday, July 13, 2020, Le Havre, France
Cruise vessels with fewer than 250 passengers are authorised to call at the port of Le Havre, but only if the passengers have boarded in a European port and the vessel has only called at European ports.
(For information about operations in France, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at hub.ae@gac.com)
Source: SEA-Invest Shipping Agency, France – GAC agent
