Hot Port News from GAC
14-Dec-2020
DOLPHIN REPAIRS IN NEW YAU MA TEI TYPHOON SHELTER
Hong Kong
QUARANTINE PERIOD CHANGE
Malaysia
GATUN LOCKS LANE OUTAGE
Panama Canal, Panama
TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF ADVANCE PAYMENT FOR TRANSIT RESERVATION (BOOKING) FEES: 2ND EXTENSION
Panama Canal, Panama
MARINE MOVEMENTS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED AFTER TANKER EXPLOSION
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Dolphin repairs in New Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter
Monday, December 14, 2020, Hong Kong
For approximately 5 months, repair works for twelve dolphins will be carried out in the New Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter.
The works will be carried out by one crane boat. A working area of approximately 15 metres around the boat will be established. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the boat.
A silt curtain, extending from the sea surface to the seabed, will be established around the dolphins for repair. Yellow flashing lights will be laid along the surface of the silt curtain to mark the extent of the silt curtain.
The hours of work will be from 0700 to 1900 hours. No works will be carried out on Sundays and public holidays. The boat employed for the works will stay in the works area outside the hours of work.
Diving operations will be carried out from time to time during the hours of work.
The boat engaged in the works will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.
Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution and keep clear of the working area at slow speed, bearing in mind there are divers working in the area.
(For information about operations in Hong Kong, contact GAC Hong Kong at shipping.hongkong@gac.com)
Source: Government of the Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No.174/2020
Quarantine period change
Monday, December 14, 2020, Malaysia
Malaysia’s Ministry of Health has announced that the quarantine period has been reduced to 10 days from 14 for all travellers across Peninsular Malaysia, including Labuan. The standard SOP with swab test to be followed.
However, this reduction is not currently applicable for East Malaysia ports (Sabah and Sarawak), where the 14 day quarantine period remains.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Malaysia, contact GAC Malaysia at shipping.malaysia@gac.com
Gatun Locks lane outage
Monday, December 14, 2020, Panama Canal, Panama
Beginning at 1800 hours on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, until 0600 hours on Thursday, December 17, 2020 (36 hours), the East Lane of Gatun Locks will be out of service for scheduled miter gate repairs. Concurrently, the East Lane of Miraflores Locks and the West Lane of Pedro Miguel Locks will also be out of service for 24 and 12 hours respectively, in order to perform miter gate maintenance.
As a result, and in accordance with the rules governing the Transit Reservation System (NT Notice to Shipping No. N-7-2020), Condition 2 for the Panamax locks will be in effect on Wednesday, December 16, 2020. Applications for reserved transits while Condition 2 is in effect will be received beginning at 0900 hours on Sunday, December 13, 2020. The Just-In-Time (JIT) transit slots available for supers and regulars transiting without restrictions will be one for each direction. The booking slots available through the auction process, and the slots for Neopanamax vessels, will remain unchanged during this period.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Panama, contact GAC Panama at operations.panama@gac.com)
Source: Panama Canal Authority Advisory to Shipping No.A-41-2020 dated 10 December 2020
Temporary suspension of advance payment for transit reservation (booking) fees: 2nd extension
Monday, December 14, 2020, Panama Canal, Panama
Due to the adverse effects that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have on the maritime industry, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announces a second extension of the temporary suspension for the advance payment of reservation (booking) fees and other related measures that were announced in Advisory to Shipping A-17-2020.
Accordingly, the temporary suspension is hereby extended until 0859 hours, Wednesday, June 30, 2021
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Panama, contact GAC Panama at operations.panama@gac.com)
Source: Panama Canal Authority Advisory to Shipping No.A-42-2020 dated 10 December 2020
Marine movements temporarily suspended after tanker explosion
Monday, December 14, 2020, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Port Authority suspended marine movements early this morning (Monday 14 December) after a tanker suffered an explosion. Operations were resumed at approximately 1500 hours local time.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), an Energy Ministry spokesman said the vessel was attacked by an explosive-laden boat in the early hours of the morning while anchored in the fuel terminal in Jeddah. The explosion caused a small fire which was extinguished by crew members on board. No casualties or damages to the port’s fuel unloading facilities were reported.
For information about operations in Saudi Arabia contact GAC Saudi Arabia at saudi@gac.com
