Hot Port News from GAC
24-Aug-2020
TROPICAL STORM MARCO
United States
TROPICAL STORM LAURA
United States
COVID-19 UPDATES (21 AUGUST)
Cape Town, South Africa
COVID-19 UPDATE (24 AUGUST)
PORT CLOSED DUE TO TROPICAL STORM LAURA
Freeport, Bahamas
Tropical storm Marco
Monday, August 24, 2020, United States
As of 23 August 2200 CDT, Marco is expected to change very little the next 24 hours with sustained winds near 60 knots. Deteriorating environmental conditions beyond 24 hours should result in steady weakening and dissipation. Tropical storm force winds have contracted back down to roughly 60 nm from the centre and should persist for the next 12 hours before gradually contracting further, with winds diminishing within 36 to 48 hours. A small area of hurricane force winds is located within 15 nm of the centre and should persist for the next 12 hours or so before diminishing. Rough to very rough seas currently extend out to 120+ nm from the centre and may expand out to 150+ nm as it continues to move through the Gulf of Mexico. A small area of high seas will also be likely near the centre of the cyclone for at least the next 12-18 hours.
Port conditions:
Beaumont/Port Arthur – Open, X-ray as of 2000, 22 Aug. Expected Yankee on 25 Aug, Zulu on midday 26 Aug
Corpus Christi – Open, Whiskey as of 1200, 22 Aug. Safety zone in place due to channel fire
Freeport – Open, Whiskey as of 0800, 22 Aug
Houston – Open, Whiskey as of 0800, 22 Aug
Lake Charles – Open, Whiskey as of 0700, 22 Aug. Expected Yankee on 24 Aug, Zulu on 25 Aug
Mobile – Open, X-ray as of 1800, 22 Aug
New Orleans – Closed, Zulu as of 2200, 23 Aug
Pascagoula – Open, X-ray as of 1800, 22 Aug
Port Canaveral – Open, X-ray as of 1100, 22 Aug
Port Everglades – Open, Normal as of 1200, 23 Aug
Tampa – Open, X-ray as of 1100, 22 Aug
For information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com
Tropical storm Laura
Monday, August 24, 2020, United States
As of 23 August 2200 CDT, Laura may move along much of southern Cuba’s coastline over the next 36 hours. Partial exposure to the Caribbean Sea may allow for steady intensification into a hurricane within 24 hours. Tropical storm force winds are within 120 nm, primarily along the eastern side of the storm. Similar wind radii are forecast prior to landfall along the Gulf Coast. Hurricane force winds may develop within 24 hours, and expand 20-40nm from the centre over the Gulf. Once over the Gulf, rough seas will span over 300nm from the centre by Wednesday. An area of high seas nearly 200nm in length is likely to develop by Wednesday.
Port conditions:
Beaumont/Port Arthur – Open, X-ray as of 2000, 22 Aug. Expected Yankee on 25 Aug, Zulu on midday 26 Aug
Corpus Christi – Open, Whiskey as of 1200, 22 Aug. Safety zone in place due to channel fire
Freeport – Open, Whiskey as of 0800, 22 Aug
Houston – Open, Whiskey as of 0800, 22 Aug
Lake Charles – Open, Whiskey as of 0700, 22 Aug. Expected Yankee on 24 Aug, Zulu on 25 Aug
Mobile – Open, X-ray as of 1800, 22 Aug
New Orleans – Closed, Zulu as of 2200, 23 Aug
Pascagoula – Open, X-ray as of 1800, 22 Aug
Port Canaveral – Open, X-ray as of 1100, 22 Aug
Port Everglades – Open, Normal as of 1200, 23 Aug
Tampa – Open, X-ray as of 1100, 22 Aug
For information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com
COVID-19 updates (21 August)
Monday, August 24, 2020, Cape Town, South Africa
PORT STATUS
Port is fully operational, however giving priority to vessels carrying essential cargo. Government have reduced restriction level to 2 as at 18 August. Increasing economic activity.
Port operating under Maritime Security level 2. Vessels to specify on Paragraph J what they are going to do at the Port on their PAN application.
No persons allowed to board vessels, unless on official business and must wear necessary PPE.
Bunkering is proceeding as normal. Bunkers supplied via pipeline and barge.
OPLs / SHIP SPARES
Off port limit operations are permitted only for supplying of provisions/stores & ships spares.
Ships spares are ongoing, however shipments need to be booked and dispatched early as there are limited flights. At this stage there are still no direct flights to Cape Town, shipments are routed via Johannesburg.
CREW CHANGE
A meeting is set to be held tomorrow (Tuesday 25 August) to discuss concerns on procedure regarding crew change. The details will be shared once a conclusion has been finalized.
PORT AUTHORITIES
Immigration office is open between 0700 – 1900 hrs. No attendance onboard until further notice. All arrival/sailing documents submitted to agent and submitted to immigrations.
Customs offices are operating between 0700 – 2000 hrs remotely. All clearances are sent via email. Electronic clearance will be issued to vessels until further notice.
Port Health will clear all in port vessels before any interaction with the vessel.
Note: South Africa is still in level 2 lockdown and international flights are currently not permitted. Any crew change will have to be carried out via chartered flights, but these are very limited at the moment.
For more information, please contact GAC Cape Town at shipping.capetown@gac.com
COVID-19 Update (24 August)
Monday, August 24, 2020,
PORT STATUS
Ports of Ngqura and Port Elizabeth are 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 2 lockdown status and will allow for more economic activity.
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)
Berth 11 is exclusively being used for the export of Citrus Fruit.
The port has allowed for all cargoes to be worked through this facility inclusive of manganese ore.
Berthing congestion can be expected.
Wheat , breakbulk cargo and cement imports are ongoing.
Export Season of Citrus Fruit is current ongoing.
NCT (PORT OF NGQURA CONTAINER TERMINAL)
Port of Ngqura ( Coega ) is open and operational for all vessels.
Export of Bulk Manganese Ore and Import of Cement is on going at the Finger Jetty terminal.
STS operations are currently on going at the Finger Jetty terminal.
TANKER BERTHS (PORT ELIZABETH TANKER TERMINAL)
Tanker operations are ongoing. This Facility is currently be used for the handling of LPG / ULP products.
OPLs
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
Port authorities advise restrictions remain in place until a procedure is established crew changes may be allowed only at the Ports Of Cape Town and Durban.
STOWAWAY SEARCH – ONBOARD
Stowaway Searches via shore team have now been Approved under strict control of their SOP.
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. Delays to bunkering can be expected due to adverse weather conditions.
CUSTOMS
It is the agent’s 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 / 1st deck area or via the Agent.
For information about operations in South Africa contact GAC South Africa at shipping.capetown@gac.com
Port closed due to tropical storm Laura
Monday, August 24, 2020, Freeport, Bahamas
With effect from 1430 hrs Sunday 23 August, the port condition was downgraded to closed and remains closed. Weather conditions are expected to improve between Wednesday and Thursday of this week (subject to change).
Tight pressure gradient over the region will support elevated winds and seas in the area until Tuesday. Tropical Cyclone Laura should continue well off to the south then west today into Tuesday. Sometimes brisk east to southeast winds from mid-week will taper off and veer southerly by the weekend.
At 5 am AST Tropical Storm Laura was located some 175 miles ese of Cayo Largo moving WNW at 21 mph. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts. gradual strengthening is forecast and Laura is forecast to become a hurricane by early Tuesday. Interests in the NW Bahamas should continue to keep an eye on its progress.
At 4 am CDT Tropical Storm Marco was located some 115 SSE of the mouth of the Mississippi river moving NW at 10 mph. Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph with higher gusts. further weakening is expected and Marco is forecast to become a Tropical depression late Tuesday and dissipate on Wednesday.
For information about operations in the Bahamas, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com
Source: Elnet Maritime – GAC agent
