Hot Port News from GAC
21-Sep-2020
MARINE WORKS AT WEST KOWLOON CULTURAL DISTRICT
Hong Kong
LIMITED OPENING OF BRIDGE FOR TALL VESSELS
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Marine works at West Kowloon Cultural District
Monday, September 21, 2020, Hong Kong
For approximately 13 months, marine works involving seawall modification and outfall culvert installation will be carried out within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (D) and the adjacent shoreline:
(A) 22 deg. 18.020’N / 114 deg. 09.671’E
(B) 22 deg. 17.978’N / 114 deg. 09.677’E
(C) 22 deg. 17.971’N / 114 deg. 09.620’E
(D) 22 deg. 18.013’N / 114 deg. 09.614’E
The works will be carried out by one derrick barge, one crane barge and one dry cargo ship. One tugboat and one work boat will provide assistance. The number of vessels engaged in the works will change from time to time to suit operational requirements.
A working area of approximately 15 metres around each barge will be established. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of anchors extending from the barges.
A silt curtain fitted with yellow flashing lights extending from the sea surface to the seabed will be established along the shoreline within the works area. The silt curtain is a large piece of netting used to contain mud and sediments.
The hours of work will be from 0700 to 1900 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.
Diving operations will be carried out from time to time during 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 and keep clear of the works area at slow speed, bearing in mind there are divers working in the works area.
(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.130/2020
Limited opening of bridge for tall vessels
Monday, September 21, 2020, Rotterdam, Netherlands
The Port of Rotterdam Authority, the Municipality of Rotterdam and RET have made agreements regarding limited openings at Erasmus Bridge for tall vessels (with an air draught of over 12.5 m +NAP) during repairs on the bridge.
On Monday morning [14 September], a section of the steel overhead line at Erasmus Bridge came loose during the closing of the bridge leaf. RET has since installed a provisional overhead line for its tram services via this route. From Sunday, 20 September on, the RET contractors will be able to remove this temporary overhead line so vessels can pass underneath the bridge. However, they prefer to do this as little as possible since it is a complicated, time-consuming operation.
The planned openings are on:
– Monday (1 a.m. to 2 a.m. – the night of Sunday to Monday)
– Wednesday (1 a.m. to 2 a.m. – the night of Tuesday to Wednesday)
– Friday (1 a.m. to 2 a.m. – the night of Thursday to Friday)
This temporary opening schedule was drawn up in close consultation with the key users. If vessels want to take advantage of one of these planned openings, they need to notify the operator at least 24 hours in advance. Tall vessels that do not wish to wait this long can take a detour via Oude Maas.
It is not yet clear how long it will take to round off the bridge repairs.
(For information about operations in the Netherlands, contact GAC Netherlands at agency.netherlands@gac.com)
Source: Port of Rotterdam (www.portofrotterdam.com) press release dated 18 September 2020
