Hot Port News from GAC
07-Oct-2020
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR OFFSHORE SUPPLY VESSELS’ OPERATIONS
Ras Laffan, Qatar
TRANSITING TOWARDS A DIGITAL AND LOW-CARBON FUTURE
Singapore
CALCASIEU WATERWAY IN PORT CONDITION RECOVERY
Lake Charles, United States
PROCEDURES FOR INCOMING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
Pakistan
CURFEW DECLARED
Gamapha District, Sri Lanka
TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF SEAFARER ARRIVALS
Sri Lanka
COVID-19 protocols for offshore supply vessels’ operations
Wednesday, October 7, 2020, Ras Laffan, Qatar
Qatar Petroleum has published COVID-19 protocols for offshore supply vessels’ operations in Ras Laffan port.
In accordance with the protocol, all personnel intending to board offshore support vessels (OSVs) in Ras Laffan Port and/or personnel working in the port needing to interact with them will be required to undergo COVID-19 screening.
This screening shall be in addition to existing procedures including but not limited to; Guidelines for personnel transfer by vessels in RLC to and from offshore workplaces DOC NO: IML-PTR-GDL-015.
For details of the protocols, as well as information about operations in Qatar, contact GAC Qatar at qatar@gac.com
Transiting towards a digital and low-carbon future
Wednesday, October 7, 2020, Singapore
The 21st edition of the Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON) returns from 6 to 8 October 2020. Organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), SIBCON 2020 takes place on an interactive virtual platform for the first time.
In line with growing industry focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the theme is ‘Powering Fuels of the Future, Driving towards Decarbonisation’…
…Delivering the opening address, Mr Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shared that the Port of Singapore saw year-on-year growth in bunker sales. Singapore remains the largest bunkering hub in the world. Bunker sales volume in Singapore stood at 32.9 million tonnes from January to August 2020, a 5.3% increase in volume from the same period in 2019.
He added that there are opportunities to transform the bunkering industry in the areas of decarbonisation and digitalisation. He challenged participants to re-envision the industry for the future.
Mr Chee also announced the launch of the Sea Transport (Bunkering) Industry Digital Plan (IDP). MPA, in partnership with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Enterprise Singapore and SkillsFuture Singapore, rolled out the IDP as part of the SMEs Go Digital programme to support the digitalisation efforts of the bunkering sector. Sea Transport IDPs, aligned with the Sea Transport Industry Transformation Map, were introduced for the ship agency and harbour craft sectors in 2019. IDPs provide SMEs with a step-by-step guide on the digital solutions to adopt at each stage of their growth.
The Sea Transport (Bunkering) IDP will help bunker suppliers, traders, barge operators and surveyors identify digital solutions that meet their business needs. The Government will co-fund the adoption of pre-approved digital solutions, which include the bunker barge planning system, bunker fuel data profiling and bunker sales management system.
Eligible SMEs can receive funding support of up to S$30,000 each per year, which covers up to 50% of hardware costs and 70% of adoption costs for software subscription, professional services and training.
In line with meeting the International Maritime Organization’s greenhouse gas emissions target, LNG serves as a viable and clean transitional marine fuel to reduce carbon emissions from ships. Singapore has co-developed standards and procedures for LNG bunkering, including safe simultaneous operations (“SIMOPS”), with industry and government partners. To date, Singapore has safely conducted more than 270 truck-to-ship LNG bunkering operations.
Singapore will have an LNG bunker supply capacity of up to 1 million tonnes per annum from 2021. This quantity translates to about 300 ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operations annually. To facilitate regular ship-to-ship LNG bunkering in the Port of Singapore, two MPA co-funded LNG bunker vessels will be delivered to Singapore by 2021…
…MPA, together with the Port of Rotterdam Authority and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan, signed an MoC at SIBCON 2020 to form a Future Fuels Port Network. The port network will align the efforts of signatory partners in driving the development of new fuels across participating ports.
Under the MoC, parties will undertake the development of a roadmap on the adoption of clean marine fuels in support of decarbonisation. Besides research and development, parties will cooperate on possible joint bunkering pilot runs with identified shipping lines to support the decarbonisation of the shipping industry…
…MPA and SMI also commenced the ‘Biofuel Compatibility Study for Singapore Harbour craft’… …The study will examine the environmental, technical, operational and economic viability of bunkering biofuels. It is part of MPA’s R&D efforts to study alternative marine fuels and energy decarbonisation processes such as electrification and on-board carbon capture…
(For information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com)
Source: Extracts from Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore news release dated 6 October 2020
Calcasieu Waterway in Port Condition Recovery
Wednesday, October 7, 2020, Lake Charles, United States
As of 7:00 a.m. October 06, 2020, Port Condition – Recovery remains in effect for the Calcasieu Waterway.
The Calcasieu Waterway is open with restrictions. Shoaling of the Calcasieu Bar and River is restricting maximum vessel drafts.
1. Vessels with a beam less than 106-feet and freshwater draft of 40-feet may transit the Calcasieu River from the “CC” buoy to Lake Charles.
2. Vessels with a beam greater than 106-feet and a freshwater draft of 39-feet or less may transit the Calcasieu River from the “CC” buoy to Lake Charles.
3. Monkey Island Loop surveys indicate significant debris. Vessels desiring to enter this waterway are advised to do so at their own discretion and to exercise due caution.
The Coast Guard will issue a Broadcast Notice to Mariners and Vessel Traffic Service Advisories updating Port Conditions and restrictions as needed.
(For information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com)
Source: U. S. Coast Guard, Port Arthur, Marine Safety Information Bulletin 33-20 dated 6 October 2020
Procedures for incoming international travel
Wednesday, October 7, 2020, Pakistan
Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority has issued ‘Operational SOPs for International Inbound Passenger Flights’ in effect from 5 October to 31 December.
The complete SOPs for travelling to Pakistan can be found at: https://covid.gov.pk/intl_travellers/guidelines_for_travellers
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Pakistan, contact GAC Pakistan at pakistan@gac.com
Curfew declared
Wednesday, October 7, 2020, Gamapha District, Sri Lanka
The Government of Sri Lanka has declared a curfew in several police areas in the Gampaha District from yesterday (6 October) until further notice, following the recent identification of a COVID-19 positive cluster.
During the curfew hours all movements to and from those areas are banned.
Further as informed by the Ministry of Health, all public gatherings in the country has been prohibited and citizens are advised to follow strict health protocols to prevent transmission of COVID-19.
This is not affecting port activities and all related services continue to operate as usual.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Sri Lanka, contact GAC Sri Lanka at srilanka@gac.com
Temporary suspension of seafarer arrivals
Wednesday, October 7, 2020, Sri Lanka
All arrivals into Sri Lanka by air, including seafarers, have been temporarily suspended with immediate effect until further notice, following the identification of a new COVID-19 cluster on 4 October.
However, disembarkation/embarkation through sea ports and departure/transit through Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) will be permitted. Further bulk crew transfers as per the health protocols will also be permitted.
Approvals already granted for seafarers could be permitted to arrive. No new approvals will be given until the situation improves.
Other husbandry services including dry docking, hot lay-up, launch services, ship spares logistics, supply of bunkers/ lubricants/ provisions/ fresh water, hull cleaning & underwater services, etc. can be carried out in Sri Lankan waters without interruption.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Sri Lanka, contact GAC Sri Lanka at srilanka@gac.com
