Hot Port News from GAC
06-Oct-2020
COVID-19 TEST AVAILABLE AT AIRPORT
Muscat, Oman
OMAN-INDIA AIR BUBBLE AGREEMENT
Oman
COLLECTION OF PORT CHARGES AT OUTER ANCHORAGE
Cochin, India
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE CONDITIONS EXPECTED
Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
AIR DRAFT LIMITS DURING BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION
Dardanelles, Turkey
COVID-19 test available at airport
Tuesday, October 6, 2020, Muscat, Oman
A new drive-through PCR facility has been launched at Muscat Airport where people can get tested for COVID-19, as part of a ramping up of facilities to ensure all incoming passengers are able to meet entry conditions.
The results will be sent after 24 hours through SMS or E-mail. Passengers can also receive the certificate of their PCR test for the Covid-19 virus, approved by the Ministry of Health, at the drive-through location at Muscat International Airport parking for RO5.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Oman, contact GAC Oman at muscat@gac.com
Oman-India air bubble agreement
Tuesday, October 6, 2020, Oman
The air bubble agreement between Oman and India is now in place, allowing passengers with valid visas from both sides to travel freely.
Under the temporary agreement, airlines will be permitted to serve 11 Indian cities on an average of two flights a week per airline with no more than 10,000 passengers a week from either sector.
The agreement is effective from 1 October until 30 November.
Indian and Omani airlines while operating inbound flights into India can carry the following passengers – Indian nationals stranded in Oman, All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding passports of Oman, nationals of Oman (including diplomats) holding a valid visa issued by an Indian mission in any category covered under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines dated June 30, as amended from time to time.
While operating outbound flights from India, both Indian and Omani airlines can carry the following passengers – Nationals/residents of Oman, any Indian national holding a valid residency permit of Oman, and destined for Oman only.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Oman, contact GAC Oman at muscat@gac.com
Collection of port charges at outer anchorage
Tuesday, October 6, 2020, Cochin, India
It has been decided to collect port charges for vessels calling at outer anchorage for maritime services such as crew change, bunkering, ship stores, ship repairs, etc. on an ad-hoc basis as detailed below:
i) The charges to be called “Port Charges for vessels calling at outer anchorage for maritime services such as crew change, bunkering, ship stores, ship repairs, etc.”
ii) The rate will be Rs. 5500/- per hour or part thereof irrespective of the size/category of the vessel.
iii) The charges will come into effect from 15 October 2020.
iv) The charges will apply from the time of letting go of anchor to anchor aweigh and, in the case of ships not anchoring, it will apply from the time the vessel arrives at the designated position to the time it completes the service.
v) This charge is in addition to anchorage charges & tug hire charges which are separately notified in the Scale of Rates.
The above ad-hoc charges are subject to approval of the Tariff Authority for Major Ports.
(For information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com)
Source: Cochin Port Trust Trade Circular dated 5 October 2020
Extremely dangerous hurricane conditions expected
Tuesday, October 6, 2020, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
The government of Mexico has extended the Hurricane Warning westward along the north coast of the Yucatan Peninsula to Dzilam. A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Tulum to Dzilam Mexico, and Cozumel…
…A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion…
…At 500am EDT (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Delta was near latitude 17.5 North, longitude 81.3 West. Delta is moving toward the west-northwest near 15 mph (24 km/h). A faster northwestward motion is expected to begin later today through Wednesday night. On the forecast track, the center of Delta is expected to pass southwest of the Cayman Islands this morning, and move over the northeastern portion of the Yucatan peninsula early Wednesday. Delta is forecast to move over the southern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday afternoon, and be over the southern or central Gulf of Mexico through Thursday.
Data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 100 mph (155 km/h) with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Delta is expected to be a major hurricane over the Yucatan Peninsula Wednesday and over the Gulf of Mexico through Thursday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km)…
…An extremely dangerous storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 6 to 9 feet above normal tide levels along coast of the Yucatan peninsula within the hurricane warning area, near and to right of where the center makes landfall. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves.
Tropical storm conditions are expected in the Cayman Islands later this morning. In the Yucatan Peninsula, hurricane conditions are expected in the warning area early Wednesday, with tropical storm conditions expected later today…
…Delta is expected to produce 4 to 6 inches of rain, with isolated maximum totals of 10 inches, across portions of the northern Yucatan Peninsula through midweek. This rainfall may result in areas of significant flash flooding…
(For information about operations in Mexico, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com)
Source: Extracts from National Hurricane Center, Miami FL, Hurricane Delta Advisory No.7 issued at 500am EDT on Tuesday 6 October 2020
Air draft limits during bridge construction
Tuesday, October 6, 2020, Dardanelles, Turkey
Construction of the 1915 Canakkale Bridge is underway and expected to be completed around the first quarter of 2022, with a planned air draft in the Dardanelles of 66-70 metres.
For arriving vessels with an air draft 66-70 metres, the assigned agent for the Turkish Straits musty notify the authorities at least 30 days prior to arrival, in order to obtain sailing permission to transit the Dardanelles.
Until work to install the bridge deck begins, arriving vessels with an air draft of 73-92 metres may be able to transit. During this period, vessels planning to transit with an air draft of 70 metres and over contact their agent to confirm transit possibilities.
After the bridge deck installation work begins, air draft restrictions will be applied with a maximum of 70 metres. Arriving vessels with an air draft of 70 metres and over will NOT be allowed to transit at Dardanelles.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the Turkish Straits, contact GAC Istanbul at turkey@gac.com
