Hot Port News from GAC
26-Oct-2020
DRAFT ENHANCEMENT FOR NOVEMBER 2020
Paradip, India
OIL SPILL RESPONSE EQUIPMENT AND VESSEL RATES
Singapore
REDUCTION IN PORT TARIFF
Gujarat, India
NEW PROTOCOL FOR MARITIME CREW
Queensland, Australia
AMENDMENT TO DIRECTION ON CREW CHANGES
Western Australia, Australia
NORMALITY RETURNING AFTER PROTESTS
Nigeria
PORT OPERATIONS STILL SUSPENDED DUE TO STORM
Manila, Philippines
AIRPORT CLOSED (AND RE-OPENED)
Bahamas
Draft enhancement for November 2020
Monday, October 26, 2020, Paradip, India
The draft at following berths are hereby temporarily enhanced as follows for the month of November 2020 considering prevailing weather and tidal conditions.
01. BERTH NO.4 (IOB)
From 0000 hours on 1 Nov to 2400 on 12 Nov: 13.20 metres
From 0000 hours on 18 Nov to 2400 on 30 Nov: 13.20 metres
02. BERTH NO.5 (CB-1)
From 0000 hours on 1 Nov to 2400 on 12 Nov: 15.00 metres
From 0000 hours on 18 Nov to 2400 on 30 Nov: 15.00 metres
03. BERTH NO.7 (EQ-III)
From 0000 hours on 1 Nov to 2400 on 12 Nov: 14.50 metres
From 0000 hours on 18 Nov to 2400 on 30 Nov: 14.50 metres
The above notice is purely temporary and can be withdrawn at any time without prior information due to sudden change in weather conditions.
Draft for other days for above berths and draft for other berths shall remain as per the original notification No: MD/SHS/TECH-26/2020/750 Dt 03.07.2020
(For information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com)
Source: Paradip Port Trust Notice No.: MD/SHS/TECH-26/2018)Vol.1)/1150 dated 22 October 2020
Oil spill response equipment and vessel rates
Monday, October 26, 2020, Singapore
A revision has been made to the charges for the use of oil spill response and anti-pollution services provided by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and its supporting oil spill response service providers.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Circular No.40 of 2020 dated 23 October 2020, Paragraph 9 of Part II of the Schedule to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Scale of Dues, Rates and General Fees) Notification has been amended to reflect these changes, which came into effect from 24 October 2020.
For further details and information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
Reduction in port tariff
Monday, October 26, 2020, Gujarat, India
SOPC rates [are] subject to escalation by Wholesale Price Index (WPI) from 1 April every financial year ad same has been implemented from 1 April 2020.
A proposal was submitted to the Government for waiving of the 1% WPI based charges for the period starting from 1/10/2020 to 31/03/2021. After careful consideration of the present situation and economic condition due to COVID-19, the Government has accorded approval to waive 1% WPI based charges for the period starting from 1 October 2020 to 31 March 2021 in the interest of the state and port users.
In view of the above, it is hereby informed to implement revised rate with effect from 1 October 2020 to 31 March 2021.
(For information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com)
Source: Gujarat Maritime Board Office Order dated 23 October 2020
New protocol for maritime crew
Monday, October 26, 2020, Queensland, Australia
The Protocol for maritime crew has been updated, [effective] from 12:01 24 October 2020. A summary of the major changes are as follows:
The Protocol now only applies to commercial, government and research vessels 50m and over in length, (but does not include ADF or ABF vessels, superyachts, rec boats, cruise vessels).
On-signing maritime crew who goes into a quarantine hotel, must be tested for COVID-19 and receive a negative test conducted by Queensland Health before joining the vessel.
Time at sea is no longer counted towards quarantine time for vessels arriving from overseas.
Crew changeover requirements are captured for Queensland intrastate and interstate voyages. Certain quarantine triggers continue to apply.
Queensland residents who travel to COVID-19 hotspots to work as maritime crew must comply with Border Restriction Directions upon return to Queensland.
Clarification that a maritime crew member who arrives in another State or Territory from overseas, prior to entering Qld to join a vessel, must quarantine for 14 days at point of entry in that jurisdiction unless all approvals obtained (Qld CHO, other jurisdiction and airline/transport company). Equally, maritime crew who arrive in Queensland from overseas before transiting to another jurisdiction, must quarantine for 14 days in Queensland.
PPE during transit is mandatory and anyone found to not be observing the requirement may be directed to quarantine in a government hotel for 14 days prior to joining the vessel as they will be deemed to be operating outside of the protocol.
Supernumaries are now included as maritime crew, and Protocol requirements apply.
Under the updated Protocol for Maritime Crew, if a maritime crew member is required to quarantine in government nominated accommodation, for any duration, prior to joining a vessel they must:
– be tested for COVID-19 in Queensland;
and
– receive a negative test result for COVID-19 from Queensland Health
A maritime crew member will not be permitted to leave quarantine to join a vessel in Queensland until they receive a negative COVID-19 test result from a test completed in Queensland.
All testing for COVID-19 will be conducted by Queensland Health.
(For information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com)
Source: Extract from Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) update No.126
Amendment to direction on crew changes
Monday, October 26, 2020, Western Australia, Australia
The Western Australian State Government made changes to their “closing the borders” direction in relation to crew changes. A summary of these changes are as follows:
A maritime crew member can only disembark from an affected vessel:
1. at a Perth Port;
2. at a port other than a Perth Port if, as soon as possible (within 8 hours) after they disembark the vessel they board a charter flight to Perth airport;
3. at any port to undertake port activities;
or
4. at any port to transfer to another vessel in the port;
When the crew member disembarks an affected vessel or charter flight in Perth they must:
if the flight out of Australia leaves within 8 hours of disembarking the affected vessel in Perth or the arrival of the charter flight, travel directly to Perth airport for their flight out of Australia;
or
if the flight out of Australia does not leave within 8 hours of disembarking the affected vessel in Perth or the arrival of the charter flight, travel directly to a relevant place, which may include a quarantine centre or an approved crew hotel, and remain there while they wait for their flight out of Australia.
A crew member who is ordinarily resident in Australia may, in addition to the above, disembark a vessel in a Perth Port and go directly to a quarantine centre for 14 days. Or, if they disembark in a port other than a Perth Port, as soon as possible after they disembark the vessel, board a charter flight to an airport in the Perth metropolitan region and then go directly to a quarantine centre where they will undergo 14 days’ quarantine.
PERSONS FLYING INTO WESTERN AUSTRALIA TO BECOME CREW MEMBERS:
No real changes. Arrive in Perth and will go to either a Crew Hotel (Interstate Travellers) or a Quarantine Centre (International).
A Crew Member disembarking at a port that is not a Perth Port, and leaving Perth on a flight within 8 hours (arriving by vessel):
– can take a private chartered vehicle to a nearby regional airport
– must take a private chartered flight to Perth, to meet a flight leaving Australia
A Crew Member disembarking at a port that is not a Perth Port, and Leaving Perth on a flight more than 8 hours later (arriving by vessel):
– can take a private chartered vehicle to a regional airport
– must take a private chartered flight to Perth
– will be transported directly to a Quarantine Centre
– can leave the Quarantine Centre to meet a flight leaving Australia
Any crew member who disembarks in a port other than Perth will not be allowed to board a commercial flight.
In order to disembark a non-Australian resident must have a ticket or other confirmed booking for a flight to a destination outside of Australia.
SIGNING ON:
Crew must obtain a Visitor Visa (Subclass 600 or 651) well in advance before arriving in Western Australia.
WA Police Department exemption required before departing home country, processing of documentation can take 4+ days.
14 days Quarantine self-isolation required at a WA Police Quarantine registered Perth Hotel once arrived.
Domestic Flight required from Perth to Karratha/Port Hedland after 14 days Quarantine completed.
On-signing crew that transit through another Australian State, i.e, NSW, Victoria or Queensland, require permission to enter WA and could be required to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival unless otherwise exempted by the State Authorities.
SIGNING OFF:
Maritime Crew Visa (Subclass 988) required prior arrival in Western Australia. This allows 5 days ashore once disembarked, can be extended to 30 days by WA Immigration upon request.
WA Police Department exemption required before disembarking vessel, processing of documentation can take 4+ days.
14 days Quarantine self-isolation not required if a flight is booked to exit Western Australia within 24/48 hours of coming ashore.
Flights into Perth are very limited, the WA Government has reduced arrival capacity from overseas to 525 persons per week.
On-signing crew that transit through another Australian State, i.e. NSW, Victoria or Queensland, require permission to enter WA and could be required to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival unless otherwise exempted by the State Authorities.
For information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
Normality returning after protests
Monday, October 26, 2020, Nigeria
Following last week’s protests and disruption, some degree of normality has returned to Lagos, with the local curfew time adjusted to 6:00am-8:00pm. Port activities at Lagos ports are expected to recommence today (26 October).
In Port Harcourt, a curfew is still in forced in some areas of the state. However, this is not affecting activities at the ports.
The curfew in Warri has been adjusted to 8:00am to 6:00pm, and port activities are expected to return to normal today.
Everything is back to normal in Akwa Ibom.
For information about operations in Nigeria, contact GAC Nigeria at nigeria@gac.com
Port operations still suspended due to storm
Monday, October 26, 2020, Manila, Philippines
Operations in Manila Port are still suspended today (26 October) due to Tropical Storm Quinta. Operations look set to resume at 0600 hours local time tomorrow.
According to the Severe Weather Bulletin #17 issued at 1100 hours local time today, Quinta is forecast to continue to move westward until this afternoon, after which it will turn west-northwestward towards the western boundary of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) before exiting the area tomorrow morning
Quinta is forecast to re-intensify and may reach its peak intensity within 24-48 hours.
For information about operations in the Philippines, contact GAC Philippines at philippines@gac.com
Airport closed (and re-opened)
Monday, October 26, 2020, Bahamas
Following the incident on 24 October in which an aircraft overran the runway in Freeport Grand Bahama International airport is closed until further notice to allow the Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority investigation.
UPDATE: Grand Bahama International Airport has now re-opened.
(For information about operations in the Bahamas, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com)
Source: Elnet Maritime – GAC agent
