Lloyd's Register
The American Club
Panama Consulate
London Shipping Law Center
Home ShipmanagementBunkering Hot Port News from GAC

Hot Port News from GAC

by admin

Hot Port News from GAC

24-Sep-2020

SEA PARADE
Hong Kong

SHIP-TO-SHIP OPERATIONS FOR BUNKERING OUTSIDE HARBOUR
Port Louis, Mauritius

FURTHER EXTENSION OF STCW CERTIFICATES
Singapore

UPDATED VISA APPLICATION & CREW CHANGE PROCEDURE
Indonesia

CORAL SURVEY IN CHEUNG CHAU TYPHOON SHELTER
Hong Kong

LOCKDOWN TO BE LIFTED
Oman

Sea Parade
Thursday, September 24, 2020, Hong Kong

A flag raising ceremony will be held at 0800 hours on 1 October 2020 at the Golden Bauhinia Square outside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) to celebrate the 71st Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China.

During the ceremony, a sea parade made up of launches of the disciplinary services will proceed from Causeway Bay to HKCEC between 0745 hours and 0805 hours, and display water jets off HKCEC at 0800 hours.

Masters, coxswains and persons-in-charge of all vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution and give a wide berth to the parade fleet.

(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.134/2020

Ship-to-ship operations for bunkering outside harbour
Thursday, September 24, 2020, Port Louis, Mauritius

The Port Master at Port Louis has advised that ship-to-ship (STS) operations for bunkering and replenishment outside the harbour is allowed, with immediate effect, with a cut off time of 21h00.

Request to conduct such operation beyond daylight hours made to Mauritius Ports Authority prior to starting the STS operation and with a firm commitment to stop the operation at 21h00.

The below timing should be allowed for Inward & Bunkering formalities:
– 72 hours for pre-arrival formalities and Inward clearance
– 48 hours for bunkering formalities

(For information about operations in Mauritius, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Center at hub.ae@gac.com)

Source: Celero Shipping, Mauritius – GAC network agent

Further extension of STCW certificates
Thursday, September 24, 2020, Singapore

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) note that due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, some seafarers face challenges in renewing their certificates issued under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers 1978, as amended (the STCW Convention).

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has on 2 April 2020, issued a Circular Letter No.4204/Add.5/Rev.1 to encourage STCW certificates issuing administrations to take a pragmatic and practical approach regarding the extension of certificates, including medical certificates, and endorsements due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

In line with the IMO’s guidelines and considering the persistent difficulties in revalidating STCW certificates due to COVID-19 pandemic, MPA and IMDA have decided to extend the validity of STCW certificates issued by Singapore as follows:

All Certificate of Competency, associated endorsements (e.g. tanker endorsements) and other certificates issued under Chapter VI of the STCW issued by MPA expiring between 01 October 2020 and 31 March 2021 may be extended for a period of six months from the date of expiry of the respective certificates;
and

All GMDSS General/Restricted Operator certificates (GOC/ROC) issued by IMDA expiring between 01 October 2020 and 31 March 2021 may be extended for a period of six months from the date of expiry of the respective certificate.
The Seafarer shall complete the declaration form and submit to MPA(COC@mpa.gov.sg) and/or IMDA( info@imda.gov.sg) respectively for the request to extend the validity of their certificate(s). MPA/IMDA will carry out assessment of the request accordingly and issue a letter or an email for confirmation of extension if the request is approved. If required, MPA/IMDA may schedule a telephone call or video-conference call with the Seafarer as part of the assessment.

A copy of the completed declaration form and the confirmation of extension issued by MPA and/or IMDA should be kept with the seafarer and may be used as proof of MPA/IMDA’s approval.

REVALIDATION OF CERTIFICATES

Notwithstanding the above, seafarers who can renew their certificates before the expiry date of the certificate are strongly encouraged to apply for revalidation of the certificate before the expiry date. Certificates that are revalidated successfully will be extended for 5 years from the date of issue printed on the certificate.

Any queries regarding this circular should be directed to MPA (Email: COC@mpa.gov.sg) or IMDA (Email: info@imda.gov.sg)

(For information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com)

Source: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Shipping Circular No.16 of 2020 dated 23 September 2020

Updated visa application & crew change procedure
Thursday, September 24, 2020, Indonesia

Indonesia’s updated visa application and crew change procedure, in light of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, is as follows:

ON-SIGNERS
– Any foreign crew joining vessel in Indonesia must hold transit visa index 211
– Validity of passport minimum 6 months
– On-signers must have PCR test result with validity 14 days
– When arriving in Indonesia, crew must show negative PCR test result at the airport
– PCR result must be shown to quarantine before joining vessel at respective port
– On-signers are allowed to join the vessel once the sign-on process done

[Note: PT Andhika GAC can apply Telex Visa at Immigration office and provides LOI as supporting documents for joiner to apply for visa 211 at the Indonesia embassy in their home country. There are 3 options to get telex visa as follows:
1. Less than 2 days process
2. 3-5 days process
3. 14 days process]

OFF-SIGNERS
– Vessel must show the daily body temperature check of the crew
– Off-signers must take rapid test and PCR test. In some ports, rapid test will be done by quarantine on board but for other ports, rapid and PCR test will be done in hospital
– The off-signer will be taken to the local hospital for PCR test then will be transported to the recommended hotel by Covid-19 task force for quarantine while waiting the PCR test result. Approximately 3-7 days.
– Crew members whose test are negative are allowed to go back to their home countries after Immigration process is done.
– Those whose test are positive will be taken to regional referral quarantine hospital by ambulance.

[NOTE: Off-signing is possible in Indonesia as far as the flight ticket is available for repatriation.]

Telex visas are subject to Immigration discretion.

Costs of LOI and telex will still apply as soon as submission process started.

For information about operations in Indonesia, please contact PT Andhika GAC at shipping.indonesia@gac.com

Coral survey in Cheung Chau Typhoon Shelter
Thursday, September 24, 2020, Hong Kong

For approximately 2 weeks, coral survey involving diving operations [is being] carried out in the following works areas:

WORKS AREA 1
This area is bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (D) and the adjacent shoreline:
(A) 22 deg. 12.711’N / 114 deg. 01.582’E
(B) 22 deg. 12.702’N / 114 deg. 01.584’E
(C) 22 deg. 12.699’N / 114 deg. 01.561’E
(D) 22 deg. 12.707’N / 114 deg. 01.559’E

WORKS AREA 2
This area is bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (E) to (H) and the adjacent shoreline:
(E) 22 deg. 12.564’N / 114 deg. 01.710’E
(F) 22 deg. 12.531’N / 114 deg. 01.597’E
(G) 22 deg. 12.552’N / 114 deg. 01.590’E
(H) 22 deg. 12.585’N / 114 deg. 01.707’E

WORKS AREA 3
This area is bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (I) to (K) with the adjacent shoreline and the pier respectively:
(I) 22 deg. 12.440’N / 114 deg. 01.691’E
(J) 22 deg. 12.442’N / 114 deg. 01.682’E
(K) 22 deg. 12.476’N / 114 deg. 01.695’E

WORKS AREA 4
This area is bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (L) to (O), (P) to (Q) with the adjacent shoreline and the pier respectively:
(L) 22 deg. 12.333’N / 114 deg. 01.584’E
(M) 22 deg. 12.447’N / 114 deg. 01.558’E
(N) 22 deg. 12.467’N / 114 deg. 01.566’E
(O) 22 deg. 12.428’N / 114 deg. 01.677’E
(P) 22 deg. 12.408’N / 114 deg. 01.669’E
(Q) 22 deg. 12.337’N / 114 deg. 01.608’E

WORKS AREA 5
This area is bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (R) to (U) and the adjacent shoreline:
(R) 22 deg. 12.104’N / 114 deg. 01.131’E
(S) 22 deg. 12.124’N / 114 deg. 01.131’E
(T) 22 deg. 12.124’N / 114 deg. 01.175’E
(U) 22 deg. 12.100’N / 114 deg. 01.175’E

The works [are being] carried out by one work boat. A working area of approximately 15 metres around the work boat is established.

The hours of work are from 0900 to 1700 hours. No works are carried out on Sundays and public holidays. Vessel employed for the works do not stay in the works areas outside the hours of work.

Diving operations [are] carried out from time to time during the hours of work.

Vessel 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 areas at slow speed, bearing in mind there are divers working in the works areas.

(For information about operations in Hong Kong, contact shipping.hongkong@gac.com)

Source: Government of the Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No. 136/202

Lockdown to be lifted
Thursday, September 24, 2020, Oman

Oman’s Supreme Committee on COVID-19 has announced new measures to restore normal life in the country after months of restrictions and lockdowns.

Lockdown will be lifted from 1 October to facilitate the movement of citizens and residents. All individuals and institutions must adhere to precautionary and preventive measures.

Also from 1 October, expats with residency can return to the Sultanate provided they undergo a laboratory examination upon arrival and are committed to quarantine for a period of 14 days.

Crew changes and the embarkation/disembarkation of security advisors, technical personnel, superintendent, etc. remain suspended at all ports in Oman until further notice.

Disembarkation of crew only under medical grounds/medical evacuation can be arranged for which permits/prior approvals from the concerned authorities must be obtained on a case by case basis after submission of required details/history/condition of crew.

All incoming vessels have to follow/adhere to Ministry of Health/Ministry of Transport/respective Port authority guidelines.

Immigration authorities have suspended accepting visa applications until further notice.

Supply of provisions/stores/spares etc. can be arranged which is subject to prior approvals from the authorities.

International air traffic will resume from 1 October. Oman Air started operating six flights per week between Muscat and Duqm on 20 September.

For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Oman, contact GAC Oman at muscat@gac.com

You may also like

Leave a Comment