Hot Port News from GAC
20-Jul-2020
FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS FOR PANAMA EXTENDED FOR 30 DAYS
Panama
COVID-19 UPDATES
Bahamas
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti
CREW CHANGE OPERATION
Djibouti
COVID-19 UPDATE
Port Elizabeth
Flight restrictions for Panama extended for 30 days
Monday, July 20, 2020, Panama
The Government of Panama announced the extension of the current flight restrictions in and out of Panama for 30 days from 22 July.
For further details and updates, contact GAC Panama at operations.panama@gac.com
COVID-19 updates
Monday, July 20, 2020, Bahamas
Prime Minister of the Bahamas has announced that international commercial flights and commercial vessels carrying passengers will not be permitted to enter Bahamas borders, except for commercial flights from Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union. This will come into effect from Wednesday, 22 July 2020 at midnight. Bahamasair will cease outgoing flights to the United States of America with immediate effect. To accommodate visitors scheduled to leave after 22 July, outgoing commercial flights will be permitted. Private international flights and charters for Bahamians, residents and visitors will be permitted. Pleasure craft and yachts will also be permitted.
The 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 ten (10) days of arrival. Travellers will be required to complete an electronic Bahamas Health Visa application before departure from the place of embarkation. This can be found at travel.gov.bs. Travellers are required to upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test and provide contact information.
The port of Freeport, Grand Bahama remains open for business, i.e., Buckeye, Bahama Rock, Freeport Container Port (FCP), Offshore bunkering and Offshore Lightering.
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 – GAC agent
COVID-19 protocols
Monday, July 20, 2020, Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti
According to the Ministry of Health protocol, passengers travelling to and from the Republic of Djibouti by any means (aircraft, boats, trains, collective transport vehicles) must:
Be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival at air, land or seaports of entry and the test will cost $30
Have the results of a COVID-19 test at the time of departure if required by the authorities of their country of destination
Be equipped with protective masks when leaving or arriving at points of entry
Respect the physical distance of one metre, if possible at all stages of the journey
Have hydro-alcoholic gel on hand throughout the journey
At the airports, railway stations, and land borders of the Republic of Djibouti, there will be waiting areas for the movement of passengers to ensure that passengers are kept at a safe distance from one another and that their temperatures are taken at an appropriate level, as well as isolation zones.
The Republic of Djibouti has instituted COVID-19 testing under the following conditions:
For arriving travellers:
All passengers (except for transit passengers and crew members) arriving in the territory and over 11 years of age will be tested (saliva test)
Passengers must refrain from ingesting solid food within half an hour before the time of the test
The test will be carried out at the airport and the results will be delivered to them within one hour after the end of the test
Pending the results, no passengers will be allowed to enter the national territory
Passengers who test positive will be cared for by the health services following the guidelines in force in the country
Arrival testing point will be available:
At Djibouti International Airport
Nagad Central Station
At the land border crossings of Loyada, Galilee, Galafi, and Balho; At the ports of Tadjourah and Obock
For departing passengers, the provisions are as follows:
The screening centre for passengers departing from Djibouti will be at the Bouffard testing and care centre
Testing samples will be taken every day from 8am to 12pm
This is a PCR test, the results of which will be available after 4 hours
The test is valid for 72 hours, and passengers are responsible for arranging to have a valid test when they leave the country
Passengers who test negative will be issued a COVID-19 “negative” test certificate
Departing passengers who test positive will not be allowed to board or cross the land or sea border
In order to facilitate the continuity of flights while preventing the spread of COVID-19, crew members who will be required to stay in the Republic of Djibouti:
Will be exempted from screening tests on the express condition that they submit a medical follow-up file from the airline companies, in particular concerning COVID-19 screening tests
On arrival, they will be subject to temperature control and interrogation in search of symptoms suggestive of the disease
From the time they disembark until the time of their departure, they will move within a sanitary corridor, making sure that they wear masks and respect the rules of physical distance
Any person diagnosed as positive will be in accordance with national guidelines:
All Djiboutians or foreigners residing in the Republic of Djibouti diagnosed positive for COVID-19 may, following an initial assessment of their clinical condition, be offered care in a hospital identified structure for this purpose or isolation and care at home if the clinical conditions permit
All foreigners not residing in the Republic of Djibouti who tests positive for COVID-19 will, depending on their clinical condition, will be offered isolation and treatment at their own expense in a specially designated hotel or a hospital
For further details and updates, contact GAC Dubai Hub at hub.ae@gac.com
Crew change operation
Monday, July 20, 2020,Djibouti
Djibouti Ports & Free Zones Authority has advised that the following information must be provided 24 hours before any crew change operation:
To notify port authority via email
To send them via mail scanned copies of the passports of on-signers and off-signers
To communicate if crew change operation will be at berth or anchorage
Flight details
Check with Djibouti-based airline office if the airline or final destination requires COVID-19 test prior to departure
On-signers must carry and pay $30 for COVID-19 test upon arrival
Before disembarking seafarers who are unwell and requiring medical attention, the port health office must be informed so that necessary precautions can be taken
If the airline or final destination requires off-signers to take COVID-19 test prior to departure, the port health office must be informed prior to disembarkation so that the testing structure can be put in place at the port by the health ministry. Off-signers must carry and pay $30 for the COVID-19 test
Ship agent/shipping line should provide COVID-19 protection equipment for off-signers (face mask and gloves) and the principal should provide the same for on-signers at the country of departure
Crew change service charge will be communicated on demand
Hotel accommodation arrangement is pending approval from the Ministry of Health
For further details and updates, contact GAC Dubai Hub at hub.ae@gac.com
COVID-19 Update
Monday, July 20, 2020, Port Elizabeth
PORT STATUS
Ports of Ngqura and Port Elizabeth is open and fully operational.
Harbour masters permission is required prior to vessels docking.
Bunker surveyors are permitted to board vessels at anchorage under strict SOP.
Garbage is permitted to be landed in port subject to harbour master approval.
Strict port authority regulations have been implemented for all port users.
Ports are currently operating on ISPS level 2.
South Africa is currently on level 3 lockdown status.
PEBOT (PORT ELIZABETH BULK ORE TERMINAL)
This terminal is operating at a 60% effective level over the 1 berth with 2 day shifts and no night shift.
PECT (PORT ELIZABETH CONTAINER TERMINAL)
Please note that the port of Port Elizabeth has x 2 mobile cranes available.
Limited Operations over the 2 berths. Berths 102 and 103.
PEMPT (PORT ELIZABETH MULTI-PURPOSE TERMINAL)
Limited Operations across 4 berths. Berths 08,09,10 and 11.
The port has allowed for all cargoes to be worked through this facility inclusive of manganese ore.
Berthing congestion can be expected.
Wheat imports are ongoing.
Fruit citrus fruit are ongoing.
NCT (PORT OF NGQURA CONTAINER TERMINAL)
Port of Ngqura is open and operational for all vessels.
STS operations is currently on going at the Finger Jetty terminal.
TANKER BERTHS (PORT ELIZABETH TANKER TERMINAL)
Tanker operations are currently on going. Congestion can be expected due to regular STS operations.
OPL’S
OPL jobs are ongoing at present with some ease of restrictions , essential services are considered as 1st preference IE spare parts / provisions & stores etc.
CREW CHANGES
Still no crew changes being permitted due to country lockdown. Please see attached latest SAMSA regulations in regards to crew change in SA.
SHIP SPARES
Ongoing as per normal delays can be expected with consignments stuck in countries where flights are restricted.
OFFSHORE BUNKERING
Ongoing as per normal.
CUSTOMS
Agents responsibility to liaise and pass all necessary clearances with customs working remotely.
IMMIGRATION
Immigration are attending to vessels, all official business is to be conducted by the ships gangway or 1st deck area.
NOTICES RECEIVED
Please contact GAC South Africa for the latest notices received from various authorities.
(For information about operations in South Africa, contact GAC South Africa at shipping.southafrica@gac.com)
