Hot Port News from GAC
03-Aug-2020
IMPLEMENTATION OF SEA CARGO MANIFEST AND TRANSHIPMENT REGULATIONS EXTENDED
India
MODIFIED ENHANCED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE
Philippines
ALL CLEAR SOUNDED AFTER HURRICANE PASSES
Grand Bahama, Bahamas
RESUMING ACTIVITIES WITH SAFETY MEASURES AND CREW CHANGES
United Arab Emirates
SMART LOCKDOWN ENDED
Punjab province, Pakistan
UPDATED COVID-19 MEASURES (3 AUGUST)
Australia
MARINE SITE INVESTIGATION AT KAU SAI VILLAGE PIER, KAU SAI CHAU
Hong Kong
TRIAL DEPLOYMENT OF ARTIFICIAL REEF IN THE BROTHERS MARINE PARK
Hong Kong
CREW CHANGES NOW PERMITTED
South Africa
ISAIAS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL TODAY
East Coast, United States
Implementation of Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations extended
Monday, August 3, 2020, India
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs hereby makes the following regulations further to amend the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations, 2018, namely:
Short title and commencement:
(1) These regulations may be called the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations, 2020.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
In the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations, 2018, in regulation 15:
a. in sub-regulations (1), for the expression “from 15th May, 2020 till 1st August, 2020”, the expression “from 15th May, 2020 till 30th September, 2020” shall be substituted.
b. in sub-regulation (2), for the words, figures and letters “till 1st August, 2020” the words, figures and letters “till 30th September, 2020” shall be substituted.
(For information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com)
Source: Government of India Department of Revenue (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs) Notification No.66/2020-Customs (N.T.) dated 31 July 2020
Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine
Monday, August 3, 2020, Philippines
Metro Manila and other high-risk areas have been put back to a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) for 15 days effective from tomorrow, Tuesday 4 August.
Due to a rising number of COVID-19 cases, the National Capital Region and the provinces of Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, and Rizal will remain under MECQ until 18 August.
Metro Manila had moved from an MECQ to a less strict general community quarantine (GCQ) on June 1 even as cases continued to rise across the national capital region and elsewhere across the country. GCQ allowed more Metro Manila businesses to open, and more forms of public transportation to operate, albeit still at a limited capacity.
The number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines reached six figures on Sunday (2 August), as a record 5,032 new infections pushed the total to 103,185.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the Philippines, contact GAC Philippines at philippines@gac.com
All clear sounded after hurricane passes
Monday, August 3, 2020, Grand Bahama, Bahamas
The Government has now given the “ALL CLEAR for the island of Grand Bahama after the passing of Hurricane Isaias.
Buckeye Bahamas Hub is currently carrying-out post storm assessments and remains in Port Close Condition.
(For information about operations in the Bahamas, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com)
Source: Elnet Maritime – GAC agent
Resuming activities with safety measures and crew changes
Monday, August 3, 2020, United Arab Emirates
In light of the continuous coordination with the competent authorities and the success of the efforts to contain the pandemic Corona Virus (COVID-19 ) in UAE, the Federal Transport Authority has decided to adopt and enforce from the date of this circular the Protocol of resuming UAE Maritime activities with safety measures as part of the procedures for the gradual return of maritime activities in UAE.
In recognition of the seafarer’s role in the shipping industry and the continuity of global supply chains and cargo flow and based on the outcomes of the Maritime Summit on Crew Changes held on 9 July 2020 with the participation of UAE to facilitate crew changes, the protocol includes the permission to resume of crew changes activities in UAE ports and waters.
For further clarification please contact: SHIPPING@fta.gov.ae
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the UAE, contact GAC at abudhabi@gac.com, dubai@gac.com, fujairah@gac.com, rasalkhaimah@gac.com, sharjah@gac.com or crewdesk.ae@gac.com)
Source: UAE Federal Transport Authority – Land & Maritime Circular No. (12) 2020 dated 2 August 2020
Smart lockdown ended
Monday, August 3, 2020, Punjab province, Pakistan
The Government of Punjab province has ended the smart lockdown enforced for Eid, to prevent a spike in cases ahead of schedule. Other general restrictions will remain in place.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Pakistan, contact GAC Pakistan at pakistan@gac.com
Updated COVID-19 measures (3 August)
Monday, August 3, 2020, Australia
The Victorian Government has implemented a State of Emergency for six weeks from today (3 August) and introducing severe restrictions on movements, as follows:
From 6pm on 2 August, stage 4 restrictions are in place across metropolitan Melbourne.
From 11:59pm on 2 August, the use of face coverings is mandatory throughout Victoria.
From 11:59pm on 5 August, stage three restrictions will apply throughout regional Victoria.
Due to a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in New South Wales, Victoria’s border with New South Wales is closed. Victorian residents require a permit to enter New South Wales.
Meanwhile, flights into New South Wales have been limited to 350 passengers per week and a maximum of 50 passengers per day.
Crew changes in the state remain very difficult. Whilst officially there is provision in place for granting of exemptions these remain very difficult to obtain. Crew entering the country through New South Wales must enter a 14-day quarantine period. There is no official exemption that allows crew to sign off a vessel in New South Wales and depart Australia without first completing the 14-day quarantine period.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
Marine site investigation at Kau Sai Village Pier, Kau Sai Chau
Monday, August 3, 2020, Hong Kong
For approximately two months, marine site investigation works involving drilling of boreholes will be carried out within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (D):
(A) 22 deg. 20.542’N / 114 deg. 19.214’E
(B) 22 deg. 20.542’N / 114 deg. 19.243’E
(C) 22 deg. 20.535’N / 114 deg. 19.243’E
(D) 22 deg. 20.535’N / 114 deg. 19.214’E
The works will be carried out by one jack-up barge. One work boat and one tugboat will provide assistance.
A working area of approximately 20 metres around the barge will be established. Yellow flashing lights will be installed at the four corners of the barge to indicate its position.
The hours of work will be from 0800 to 1800 hours. No works will be carried out on Sundays and public holidays. Vessels employed for the works will stay in the works area outside the hours of work.
Vessels engaged in the operations will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.
Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution.
(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.110/2020
Trial deployment of artificial reef in The Brothers Marine Park
Monday, August 3, 2020, Hong Kong
For approximately two months, trial deployment of one artificial reef will be temporarily established on the seabed in one of the following locations (WGS 84 Datum):
(A) 22 deg. 19.959’N / 113 deg. 58.737’E
(B) 22 deg. 19.975’N / 113 deg. 58.989’E
(C) 22 deg. 19.958’N / 113 deg. 59.092’E
(D) 22 deg. 19.881’N / 113 deg. 59.014’E
The artificial reef is cubical in shape with a height of about 6.3 metres and a base of about 4.2 metres by 4.2 metres. There will be a vertical clearance of about 4.5 metres from top of the artificial reef to sea level. After each trial deployment, the artificial reef will be relocated to another location.
A yellow marker buoy fitted with yellow flashing light will be laid to mark the position of the artificial reef.
The works for the trial deployment will be carried out by one crane barge and one flat top barge. Two tugboats will provide assistance.
A working area of approximately 50 metres around each barge will be established. Yellow markers buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from each barge.
The hours of work will be from 0700 to 1900 hours from Monday to Saturday. No works will be carried out on Sundays and public holidays.
Vessels employed for the works will stay in the above locations outside the hours of work.
Diving operations for checking the artificial reef will be carried out from time to time.
Vessels engaged in the operations will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.
Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution, bearing in mind there are divers working in the above locations.
(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.111/2020
Crew changes now permitted
Monday, August 3, 2020, South Africa
Crew changes are now permitted, effective from 1 August, in South Africa, following the amendment of the regulation closing all borders of the Republic.
The amendment has added ports used for exchanging sea crew among the exceptions to the regulation. Other exceptions include those use for the transportation of fuel, cargo and goods; and humanitarian operations, repatriations, evacuations, medical emergencies, movement of staff of diplomatic and international organisations.
The protocol is yet to be finalised by port & government authorities. Once this this information is available, we shall share an update.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in South Africa, contact GAC South Africa at shipping.capetown@gac.com
Isaias expected to make landfall today
Monday, August 3, 2020, East Coast, United States
At 0800 EDT today (3 August), Tropical Storm Isaias was centred at 30.2N / 80.1W, 100NM ESE of Jacksonville, and heading north at 11knots. It is looking less organized as it approaches the Carolinas. Landfall is expected later today.
In northeast Florida and Georgia, tropical storm force conditions remain possible but should slowly subside today as Isaias moves north and eventually inland. Additional rainfall amounts of 1-2 inches are possible.
In the Carolinas into Mid Atlantic, strong tropical storm force winds will be possible throughout the area today into Tuesday. In addition, storm surge of 1 4 feet is possible, particularly in the Carolinas. Heavy to torrential rainfall is still expected, with 3-6 inches still anticipated and localized totals in excess of 8 inches not completely ruled out.
On the U.S East Coast, the ports of Charleston and Wilmington remain closed and at Port Condition Zulu.
For information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com
