Hot Port News from GAC
10-Sep-2020
ENTRY RESTRICTIONS ON FOREIGN TRAVELERS
Malaysia
MARINE SITE INVESTIGATION AT LAI CHI CHONG PIER, TAI PO
Hong Kong
WAREHOUSE FIRE UNDER CONTROL
Beirut, Lebanon
Entry restrictions on foreign travelers
Thursday, September 10, 2020, Malaysia
Since 7 September, the Government of Malaysia is imposing entry restrictions into Malaysia on foreign travelers traveling from countries that have recorded over 150,000 COVID-19 cases, as listed below:
USA
Brazil
India
Russia
Peru
Colombia
South Africa
Mexico
Spain
Argentina
Chile
Iran
UK
Bangladesh
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
France
Turkey
Italy
Germany
Iraq
Philippines
Indonesia
The entry restrictions include travelers who are citizens of/holders of long-term passes of the countries listed above, residing in or traveling from those countries.
The latest decision is part of continuing efforts by the Government of Malaysia to contain the spread of COVID-19 and in view of the recent increase in the number of imported COVID-19 cases detected at international points of entry to Malaysia among travelers coming from the listed countries. The restriction is a temporary measure and will be reviewed regularly.
The entry restrictions cover travelers holding long-term passes from Malaysia including:
i. Permanent Residents (PR);
ii. Malaysia My Second Home Program (MM2H) pass holders;
iii. All Expatriates (including Employment pass Category I, II and III; Residence Pass-Talent (RPT); Professional Visit pass; and Dependent pass);
iv. Resident pass holders;
v. Spouse/Child of Malaysians with long-term social visit pass;
vi. Student pass holders; and
vii. Temporary Employment pass holders.
Exemptions may be considered under the following categories:
i. Diplomats and their dependents who are eligible under the Exemption Order. However, for Diplomats or Embassy staff who do not have required passes such as first time entry into Malaysia; residents in other countries who holds the United Nations (UN) / World Health Organization (WHO) / United Nations Development Program (UNDP) passport are required to obtain approval from the Director General of the Immigration Department of Malaysia through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia prior to traveling;
ii. Ship crew members who are involved in sign-on/joint-ship and sign-off activities. A Letter of Guarantee (LG) and Seaman Book must be provided as additional required documents during entry;
iii. Flight crew members for commercial or private flights. A General Declaration for the next flight operation must be provided as additional required documents during entry;
iv. Professional crew/workers in the oil and gas industry with existing passes and prior entry approval from the Director General of the Immigration Department of Malaysia.
Exception appeals may be considered, on a case-by-case basis, in cases of emergencies and on compassionate grounds.
The mechanism for the entry restrictions at all Malaysian entry points is as follows:
i. Inspection of travel documents, including place of issue, departure stamp on passport, and flight ticket;
ii. Travelers holding travel documents/long term visas from the countries listed above, or who are residents of the listed countries, will be prevented from entry into Malaysia;
iii. Travelers who have been denied entry into Malaysia will be directed to the respective airlines to be repatriated.
The entry restrictions do not apply to travelers who are transiting in Malaysia for departure to another country, provided the transit travelers do not leave the departure terminal and do not go through immigration inspection.
Malaysian citizens are exempted from this ruling. Malaysian citizens who wish to return to Malaysia, including from the countries listed above, may do so provided they have a Travel Notice issued by the Embassy and a Letter of Undertaking to bear the costs of quarantine upon arrival. All Malaysians are also reminded to download, register, and activate the MySejahtera online application before entering Malaysia. The application can be downloaded at: https://mysejahtera.malaysia.gov.my.
For further inquiry/information/assistance, please contact the Embassy:
Email: mwwashington@kln.gov.my / consularwdc@kln.gov.my
Telephone: +1-202-572-9700 (Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm) & +1-202-376 4396 (Outside Office Hours)
Travelers seeking clarifications at the Malaysian international point of entry may call the KLIA Operation Room (24 hours) at: +603-8776-3681.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Malaysia, contact GAC Malaysia at shipping.malaysia@gac.com
Marine site investigation at Lai Chi Chong Pier, Tai Po
Thursday, September 10, 2020, Hong Kong
For approximately 2 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 (F) and the adjacent pier:
(A) 22 deg. 27.416’N / 114 deg. 17.988’E
(B) 22 deg. 27.421’N / 114 deg. 17.976’E
(C) 22 deg. 27.431’N / 114 deg. 17.981’E
(D) 22 deg. 27.417’N / 114 deg. 18.014’E
(E) 22 deg. 27.407’N / 114 deg. 18.009’E
(F) 22 deg. 27.411’N / 114 deg. 18.001’E
The works will be carried out by one jack-up barge and one work boat. 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.127/2020 dated 8 September 2020
Warehouse fire under control
Thursday, September 10, 2020, Beirut, Lebanon
Firefighters and Lebanese Armed Forces helicopters have brought under control a fire that broke out earlier today (10 September) in a warehouse containing lube oil and tyres at the port of Beirut.
As a safety precaution, roads to the port area were closed.
The fire comes a month after a massive explosion shook Beirut, killing some 190 people.
For information about operations in Lebanon, contact GAC Lebanon at lebanon@gac.com
