Hot Port News from GAC
30-Nov-2020
KIEL-CANAL DUES REMAIN SUSPENDED
Kiel Canal, Germany
HOLIDAY PORT CLOSURE SCHEDULE
Buan, Philippines
PREVENTING THE DISCHARGE OF EGCS INTO OMANI TERRITORIAL WATERS
Oman
CABLE LAYING WORKS IN THE EAST JOHOR STRAIT
Sngapore
NEW PORT TARIFF
Yemen
FREEPORT WEATHER UPDATE
Freeport, Bahamas
COVID-19 – DENMARK UPDATE
United Kingdom
COVID-19 – UK & IRELAND PORT UPDATES
United Kingdom
CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK ADVISORIES
Worldwide
Kiel-canal dues remain suspended
Monday, November 30, 2020, Kiel Canal, Germany
The Kiel Canal dues will remain suspended beyond 2020 until 31 December 2021.
The suspension of traffic dues is a very important step in restoring the competitiveness of the Canal.
There has not been a single COVID-19 case among its pilots, helmsmen and agents, making the Kiel Canal the safest and most cost-efficient shortcut into and out of the Baltic Sea.
(For information about operations in Germany, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at hub.ae@gac.com)
Source: Sartori & Berger Kiel Canal Operations – GAC agent
Holiday port closure schedule
Monday, November 30, 2020, Buan, Philippines
Buan International Port Inc (BIPI) have advised that port operations and other related activities will be temporarily suspended for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, as follows:
- Christmas: 1900 hours on 24 December to 1900 hours on 25 December
- New Year: 1900 hours on 31 December to 1900 hours on 1 January
During these periods, the following shall be strictly implemented:
All entrances and exits, including Car Storage Area, to be kept closed.
No vessel/barges will be allowed to dock.
No visitors, BIPI employees, on-call stevedores or any other personnel are allowed to enter, except BIPI and its locators’ assigned security personnel and those listed in submitted BIPI and NYK-TDG Skeletal Force.
No personnel movements and operational activities allowed during the period.
All security detailed personnel must report to their duty assignments.
For information about operations in the Philippines, contact GAC Philippines at philippines@gac.com
Preventing the discharge of EGCS into Omani territorial waters
Monday, November 30, 2020, Oman
According to Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications & Information Technology, ships that use open-loop ship exhaust gas cleaning systems are prohibited from discharging washing water into Omani ports and territorial waters.
Ships that use hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems must switch from the open loop mode to the closed loop mode when they reach the territorial waters and keep the washing residues on board and dispose of them at designated facilities at the port.
Ships using closed-loop exhaust gas cleaning systems must keep the washing residues onboard when they reach territorial waters and dispose of them at designated facilities at the port.
For information about operations in Oman, contact GAC Oman at muscat@gac.com
Cable laying works in the East Johor Strait
Monday, November 30, 2020, Sngapore
The working period for cable laying works in the East Johor Strait has been extended. The effective dates are now from 28 November 2020 to 27 May 2021.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.092 of 2020 dated 28 November 2020, the works are being conducted 24 hours daily, including Sundays and Public Holidays.
The works will be carried out in the vicinity of the entrance of Sungei Sembawang, within the working area bounded by the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
Point 1: 101°28·585′ N 103°48·148′ E
Point 2: 01°28·696′ N 103°48·662′ E
Point 3: 01°28·208′ N 103°48·573′ E
Point 4: 01°28·141′ N 103°48·182’ E
The works will involve soil investigation, dredging and cable laying works. The cable laying works will be carried out by a Cable Laying Barge and dredging works will be carried out by dredger within the working area. Safety boats will be deployed to warn other craft in the vicinity of the working area.
When in the vicinity of the working area, mariners are reminded to:
a) Keep well clear and not enter the working area;
b) Maintain a proper lookout;
c) Proceed at a safe speed and navigate with caution;
d) Maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 21 (Sembawang Control);
and
e) Communicate with Sembawang Control on VHF for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
New port tariff
Monday, November 30, 2020, Yemen
The Minister of Transport of the Sana’a national salvation government has issued a new port tariff for the ports of Hodeidah, Saleef and other Red Sea ports of Yemen. The new tariff will come into effect from 1 January 2021.
For details of the new tariff and information about operations in Yemen, contact GAC Yemen at yemen@gac.com
Freeport Weather Update
Monday, November 30, 2020, Freeport, Bahamas
ADVERSE WEATHER THREAT
The terminal pilot has confirmed that the port closed at 0542hrs 30 November due to adverse sea conditions from an incoming cold front. The port is expected to remain closed until late PM on the 01 December when weather conditions are expected to improve.
The weather conditions are being closely monitored by terminal pilots and updates will be provided as weather conditions change daily.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the Bahamas, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com)
Source: Elnet Maritime – GAC agent
COVID-19 – Denmark Update
Monday, November 30, 2020, United Kingdom
The travel ban on Denmark has been removed. From 04:00 on Saturday 28 November the additional restrictions on travel from Denmark ended however it has not yet been added to the travel corridor list.
Please follow our latest quarantine guidelines relating to seafarer self-isolation exemptions which will apply. All non-seafarer arrivals from Denmark will need to complete a self-isolation period of 14 days.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the UK, contact GAC UK at uk@gac.com
COVID-19 – UK & Ireland Port Updates
Monday, November 30, 2020, United Kingdom
Crew changes can currently be carried out in the U.K. as long as usual visas and/or ILO 108 Seaman’s Books are carried. There is no requirement for seafarers to self-isolate in the U.K. however they are required to complete an online health check form 48 hours before arrival or departure. There are also some restrictions in place to limit launch and taxis passenger numbers and hotel rooms can carry extra cost in comparison to normal operations. GAC UK can arrange testing and isolation rooms in hotels on a case by case basis. It is also advisable but not mandatory that crew carry a letter from their employer stating details such as employer, vessel, rank, working location and period of employment.
According to the latest Government guidelines you do not need to complete the passenger locator form when departing a vessel in the UK if you are a recognised seafarer in ownership of a seaman’s book. However, we have had a few instances recently when local Border Force officers have still requested the forms for offsigning marine and project crew so it may be recommendable to continue to complete passenger locator forms for both arrival/departure UK by air in order to avoid any possible delays/fines. To clarify seafarers arriving into the UK by air MUST still complete the online passenger form regardless. The statement reads that this is no longer required but that is referring to those arriving by sea only.
The UK Government travel corridor list is being continually updated on a week-by-week basis, please double check the list before planning any crew travel.
If a person has been to, or stopped in, a country that is NOT on the travel corridor list in the last two weeks they will still need to self-isolate until 14 days has passed since they left that country. If you have crew travelling to the UK who are NOT from a country listed on the corridor list (ie USA, Philippines) then please follow our latest quarantine guidelines attached relating to seafarer self-isolation exemptions.
If you are planning to perform any crew changes, including on-signing non-ship crew (Inspectors, Engineers, Superintendents etc) please contact your local GAC branch in advance with all the details. They will check with their local Border Force office to ensure compliance with all the latest rulings.
The below ports currently have some restrictions in place for crew change. All other UK & Irish ports are currently permitting crew change operations:
Braefoot Bay – no crew changes unless emergency
Flotta – crew changes not permitted
Ineos LPG & Hound Point – crew changes not permitted (Ineos J & E Jetties still permitting)
Milford Haven – crew changes only permitted at VPOT via Boat. Crew changes permitted via jetty at Puma. Crew changes permitted at Dragon LNG & South Hook LNG
Pembroke – crew changes permitted at Valero via Boat only
Sullom Voe – crew change considered on a case by case basis
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the UK, contact GAC UK at uk@gac.com
Coronavirus Outbreak Advisories
Monday, November 30, 2020, Worldwide
Please find links below for the latest updates for the COVID-19 outbreak advisories as compiled from the information received from our various port offices.
Zone (Asia Pacific)
Link: GAC Hub Corona Virus Updates – APAC
Zone (ME, ISC, AF) + EU
Link: GAC Hub Corona Virus Updates – ME ISC AF EU
Zone (Americas)
Link: GAC Hub Corona Virus Updates – Americas
Due to file size being large, we have created a OneDrive folder to share the content via links above. Please download the Word documents to view the embedded content.
Changes / recent updates:
Indonesia
Refer to immigration, all Nationalities can be processed for E-Visa and Telex Visa in Immigration Jakarta.
Starting on 23 Nov 20, Indonesia re-open for calling visa for following “High Risk Countries”. See below the list of countries that required calling visa:
Afghanistan
Guinea
Israel
North Korea
Cameron
Liberia
Nigeria
Somalia
China – Maoming Port
3 Ship crew tested positive by nucleic acid test at Maoming port recently.
Maoming port authorities issued new anti-Covid-19 restrictions as follows:
- Pilot station
If there are crew change before vessel arrives, on-signers should stay on board for 14 days.
If not, pilot refuse to be on board. - Customs
When vessel alongside at berth, either
A) there has been crew change within 14 days or at last port ; or
B) there is a crew change during vessel’s berthing at Maoming port; or
C) there are crews feeling sick or their body temperature is more than 37.3 deg c;
Customs officer will make nucleic acid test of above crews, and the result will be issued at the next am.
It is not allowed to make hose connection/loading/discharging operation until the nucleic acid report (negative)is issued.
Inspector/superintendent /repairman is not allowed to stay on board overnight.
Taiwan
Latest News Announcements:
- Foreign national entry & Crew change information
The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that the Fall-Winter COVID-19 Prevention Program would be implemented starting from December 1, and under this program, travelers shall present a certificate of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result issued within three days prior to boarding the flight to Taiwan.
Regarding the prevention program, the CECC announced more details. In cases where travelers are unable to provide a COVID-19 RT-PCR test result issued within three days prior to boarding, such travelers are not subject to penalties if they fail to provide such a test result under the three circumstances listed below. The provision is applicable to Taiwan nationals, foreign nationals with an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC), Hong Kong and Macao residents with an ARC; it is not applicable to transit passengers in Taiwan. The above-mentioned three circumstances are as follows: - Emergency situations: for example, if the traveler comes to Taiwan for reasons including attending a funeral of a deceased first or second degree relative, visiting a first or second relative with serious illness, or seeking emergency medical treatment, the traveler shall voluntarily make an affidavit and prepare supporting documents (a death certificate, notice of critical condition, and certificate of diagnosis, and so on) when checking in with the airline and shall be seated in a designated area on the flight as arranged by the airline; upon arrival, the traveler shall undergo the specimen collection procedure for COVID-19 testing at his or her own expense.
- The traveler arrives from a country where self-paid COVID-19 tests are not available: if the traveler comes from countries in Oceania such as Tuvalu, Niue, Fiji, and Tonga, or other countries, the traveler shall voluntarily make an affidavit and shall be seated in a designated area on the flight as arranged by the airline; upon arrival, the traveler shall undergo the specimen collection procedure for COVID-19 testing at his or her own expense.
- Programs managed by relevant ministries and agencies and approved by the CECC: if the traveler comes to Taiwan for necessary and short-term official business or business purposes and has taken appropriate disease prevention measures before arriving in Taiwan, the traveler shall voluntarily make an affidavit and prepare supporting documents which prove relevant authorities’ approval when checking in with the airline and shall be seated in a designated area on the flight as arranged by the airline; upon arrival, the traveler shall observe prevention and quarantine measures approved under the program of the ministry or agency.
The CECC explained that if travelers are unable to provide a COVID-19 RT-PCR test result issued with three days of boarding and come to Taiwan without meeting the above-mentioned requirements, such travelers shall still sit in a designated area on the flight as arranged by the airline they fly with and shall undergo the specimen collection procedure at their own expense upon arrival; moreover, such travelers may not apply for disease prevention compensation after entry. They are also subject to a fine between NT$10,000 to NT$150,000 pursuant to Articles 58 and 69 of the Communicable Disease Control Act. If such travelers are diagnosed with COVID-19 and are at risk of infecting others, related criminal liability shall also be imposed on such travelers.
Malaysia
Covid-19 cases continue to be on a high in Malaysia presently.
Present CMCO is until 06th December and we will further know of any changes in the CMCO on around 05th Dec-06th Dec
For further details and assistance contact the following:
Asia Pacific Region
Hub.sg@gac.com
Middle East/Africa/ISC/EU
Hub.ae@gac.com
Americas
Hub.us@gac.com
