Hot Port News from GAC
21-Oct-2020
TRAFFIC SUSPENSION FOR YACHT RACE
Bosphorus, Turkey
SAFETY ZONE ESTABLISHED AROUND RIG
Sabine Bank Channel, United States
24-HOUR CURFEW IMPOSED
Lagos, Nigeria
UPDATED LIST OF COUNTRIES FROM WHICH VISITORS ARE PERMITTED
Seychelles
Traffic suspension for yacht race
Wednesday, October 21, 2020, Bosphorus, Turkey
Vessel traffic in the Bosphorus will be suspended from 12:00 to 16:00 hours local time on Saturday, 24 October, due to the Visa Bosphorus Regatta Yacht Race.
For information about operations in the Turkish Straits, contact GAC Istanbul at turkey@gac.com
Safety zone established around rig
Wednesday, October 21, 2020, Sabine Bank Channel, United States
The large semi-submersible rig JASMINIA remains stationary in Sabine Bank Channel near gated buoys 17 and 18. Salvage operations are ongoing. Personnel are on board the rig energizing and configuring equipment. The Captain of the Port (COTP) has established a 250-yard moving safety zone around the rig.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has surveyed the area outside the federal channel to 600-feet on both sides of the channel and a distance of 1-mile parallel to the channel. Survey assets remain on standby to survey the channel once the rig has been relocated. The Captain of the Port has reviewed the surveys, consulted with the Sabine Pilots and approved a plan to run two test ships at 36’6” and 36’8” under ideal hydrological conditions. The test runs were successful.
Therefore, the COTP, in consultation with the Sabine pilots has approved the movement of vessels with drafts of 36-feet or less, day or night, with a positive 1-foot tide. The COTP will entertain movement requests exceeding the 36-foot limitation on a case-by-case basis after consultation with the pilots and vessel master.
Survey data is posted on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website (https://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Portals/26/docs/Navigation/Channel_Survey_Maps/SN/SP_02_OBK.pdf) and VTS Port Arthur website (https://www.atlanticarea.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/District-8/District-Units/Sector-Houston-Galveston/Units/VTS-Port-Arthur/Downloads/)…
(For information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com)
Source: U.S. Coast Guard, Lake Charles, Marine Safety Information Bulletin 46-20 issued on 20 October 2020
24-hour curfew imposed
Wednesday, October 21, 2020, Lagos, Nigeria
Following the on-going protests in Nigeria, the Lagos state government has extended the 24-hour curfew which started from 4pm yesterday (20 October) for 72 hours.
All terminals and ports in Lagos have been shut down. Government agencies such as Nigeria Customs and Excise and NIMASA are maintaining skeletal operations for the moment.
For information about operations in Nigeria, contact GAC Nigeria at nigeria@gac.com
Updated list of countries from which visitors are permitted
Wednesday, October 21, 2020, Seychelles
The list of countries from which visitors are permitted to enter the Seychelles has been updated, as follows:
Australia
Austria
Botswana
Burundi
Cambodia
Canada
China
Cote d’Ivoire
Cyprus
Denmark
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
Germany
Ghana
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Kenya
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Malawi
Malaysia
Mauritius
Monaco
New Zealand
Niger
Norway
Pakistan
Portugal
Qatar
Rwanda
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Vietnam
Zimbabwe
Conditions for entry remain the same.
In addition to the above, from 1 October, visitors from France, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom are permitted to enter Seychelles subject to additional health security measures (details at www.health.gov.sc and www.tourism.gov.sc).
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the Seychelles, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Center at hub.ae@gac.com)
Source: Mahe Shipping Company Limited – GAC agent
