Hot Port News from GAC
17-Sep-2020
END OF MONSOON SEASON
Mormugao, India
STRIKE NOTICE GIVEN
France
PORT CONDITION NORMAL
New Orleans, United States
HANDLING OF ONBOARD COVID-19 POSITIVE CASES
Fujairah, United Arab Emirates
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TO RESUME
South Africa
End of monsoon season
Thursday, September 17, 2020, Mormugao, India
Fair weather season will be commencing at this port from 0700 on 17 September 2020, and hence vessels will be permitted to operate West of Breakwater.
However, all concerned are advised to exercise due caution as the weather is liable to deteriorate without warning. Vessels loading West of Breakwater will be permitted to load to their seasonal mark.
The LOA and draft limitations for alongside berths will be as follows and will continue till further notice. All berthing and unberthing operations for loaded vessels will be in conjunction with high tide, taking into account the Under Keel Clearance, Nautical Depth, prevailing sea and weather conditions on the day in question. Vessels intending to make use of the tide and load to the declared draft should request the Dy. Conservator/Harbour Master for permission 24 hours before completion as per the present practice.
(a) Break water berth
– LOA 210 mtrs in fair weather (*)
– 08.50 mtrs at high tide
Mole berth
– LOA 200 mtrs in fair weather
– 08.50 mtrs at high tide
(b) Berth 1, 2, 3
– Not in use
(c) Berth No.4
– LOA 180 mtrs in fair weather
– 07.50 mtrs at high tide
(d) Berth No.5 ****
– LOA 200 mtrs (***)
– 14.00 mtrs at high tide
(e) Berth No.6 ****
– LOA 240 mtrs (***)
– 14.00 mtrs at high tide
(f) Berth No.7 ****
– LOA 280 mtrs
– 14.00 mtrs at high tide
(g) Berth No.8
– LOA 190 mtrs
– 12.00 mtrs at high tide
(h) Berth No.9
– LOA 300 mtrs
– 13.10 mtrs at high tide
(i) Berth No.10
– LOA 225 mtrs
– 12.80 mtrs at high tide
(j) Berth No.11
– LOA 225 mtrs
– 12.80 mtrs at high tide
(k) Mooring Dolphins 1 & 2
– LOA 225 mtrs
– 13.10 mtrs at high tide
(l) Mooring Dolphins 2 & 3
– LOA 225 mtrs
– 12.80 mtrs at high tide
(m) Mooring Dolphins 3 & 4
– LOA 225 mtrs
– 12.80 mtrs at high tide
(n) Mooring Dolphins 4 & 5
– LOA 225 mtrs
– 12.80 mtrs at high tide
(o) Mooring Dolphins 5 & 6
– LOA 225 mtrs
– 12.80 mtrs at high tide
Kindly note Mooring Dophins are numbered from East (Kharewado Jetty side) as No.1 and Westward to No.2 and No.3 towards Breakwater.
(*) Passenger/cruise ships of up to 360 mtrs LOA with good maneuverability can be handled in fair weather conditions.
(***) Maximum working length of Berth 5 & 6 is 440 mtrs.
(****) Berth 5 and 6 can accommodate cape vessels.
(For information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com)
Source: MOrmugao Port Trust Marine Department Harbour Notice No.12 (TEMP) 2020 dated 16 September 2020
Strike notice given
Thursday, September 17, 2020, France
A 24-hour stoppage by mob/demob gangway staff at Nantes-St. Nazaire (St. Nazaire basin/RORO Terminal) has been announced from 0500 hours tomorrow (18 September) to 0500 hours on Saturday 19 September. This follows today’s planned stoppage from 0900 hours to the same time tomorrow.
Port workers at Calais have also announced plans to strike for 24 hours next Thursday, 24 September.
(For information about operations in France, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at hub.ae@gac.com)
Source: SEA-Invest Shipping Agency – GAC agent
Port Condition Normal
Thursday, September 17, 2020, New Orleans, United States
Effective at 1200 local time (noon) on September 16, 2020, the Captain of the Port (COPT) New Orleans has set port condition NORMAL for the COTP New Orleans Zone, as described in Title 33 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 3.40-15 as follows:
On the Lower Mississippi River from Mile Marker (MM) 20 Below Head of Passes (BHP) to MM 303 Above Head of Passes (AHP)
On the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) from MM 20 West of Harvey Lock (WHL) to MM 44.2 East of Harvey Lock (EHL)
On the GIWW Port Allen – Morgan City Alternate Route from MM 30 to MM 65
On the Atchafalaya River from MM 0 to MM 45
Mariners are reminded that the IHNC Lock and St. Claude Avenue Bridge are closed.
The GIWW Alternate Route remains closed.
Although waterways are open to traffic, shoaling, storm debris and other hazards may still exist. Mariners must be mindful of their vessel wake, as flooding conditions may exist in many communities near waterways. Aids to Navigation may also be damaged or missing. Marines transiting the area should use caution, and report any Aids to Navigation damage or other waterways issues to VTS LMR via VHF-FM Channel 05A, 12, or 67, or via landline at (504) 365-2514.
(For information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com)
Source: United States Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Marine Safety Information Bulletin dated 16 September 2020
Handling of onboard COVID-19 positive cases
Thursday, September 17, 2020, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates
Please follow the below given procedures, in case if any crew onboarded tested positive for COVID-19.
Positive cases should be isolated individually and avoid direct contact with others on board the vessel.
Suspend all maritime services and activities, such as bunkering, supply of stores/provisions, etc. until further instructions.
Provide a list of bunker barge, utility boats which had come alongside the vessel and persons visited onboard from shore.
All primary contacts (vessel/s which were alongside and persons visited onboard) since the vessel’s arrival should conduct PCR test and their results should be submitted to the Control Tower.
The proposed sign-off crew whose test result was negative should proceed for another test after 24 hours from the first test. He will be considered normal if the second test result is negative.
Ship’s master to submit a declaration confirming compliance to the aforementioned points.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Fujairah, contact GAC Fujairah at fujairah@gac.com)
Source: Port of Fujairah Notice To Agent No.73/2020 dated 17 September 2020
International travel to resume
Thursday, September 17, 2020, South Africa
International travel to/from South Africa will be reinstated from October, which means flights can resume.
A negative COVID-19 test (conducted within 72 hours prior to departure) will be required to enter the country.
Travel will be restricted to/from high risk countries, the list of which will be shared once published by authorities. Only King Shaka International, OR Tambo International and Cape Town International Airports will be open for international flights. A limited number of border posts will remain open at South Africa’s land borders.
Crew of any nationality may transfer without a visa, provided they meet the following criteria:
they are bona-fide crew members and not supernumeraries (e.g. crew members wives and children etc.)
they carry a valid passport with a minimum of 3 blank pages and 3 months validity
they carry a valid seaman’s book
GAC South Africa will issue an OKTB and LOG for on-signers to enter South Africa. Upon arrival in the country, they will be issued with a temporary transit visa valid for seven days.
The country will move to Level 1 from Monday 21 September.
For information about operations in South Africa, contact GAC South Africa at shipping.capetown@gac.com
