Hot Port news from GAC
22-Dec-2020
CONSTRUCTION OF HONG KONG OFFSHORE LNG TERMINAL MARINE WORKS EAST OF SOKO ISLANDS
Hong Kong
PORT DUES TO RISE
Basra Oil Terminal, Iraq
INCREASE OF PORT COSTS
Novorossiysk, Russia
TUG OPERATOR TO STAY IN PORT
Port Jackson, Australia
BERTH DECOMMISSIONED
Mumbai, India
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS: UNITED KINGDOM/SOUTH AFRICA
Mauritius
OFFSHORE WIND WORKERS CREWING UPDATE
United Kingdom
BORDERS CLOSED FOR A WEEK
Oman
CURFEW AND QUARANTINE FOR ARRIVALS FROM EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST
Maharashtra State, India
SUSPENSION OF UK-INDIA FLIGHTS
India
TERMINAL RE-OPENED
Buckeye Bahamas Hub, Bahamas
Construction of Hong Kong Offshore LNG Terminal marine works east of Soko Islands
Tuesday, December 22, 2020, Hong Kong
For approximately 12 months, marine works involving construction of jetty will be carried out within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (D):
(A) 22° 10.109’N 113° 57.280’E
(B) 22° 10.109’N 113° 58.293’E
(C) 22° 08.910’N 113° 58.293’E
(D) 22° 08.910’N 113° 57.280’E
The works will be carried out from one installation barge. One cargo barge, two passenger launches, two tugboats and three guard boats will provide assistance. The number of vessels engaged in the works will change from time to time to suit operational requirements.
A working area of approximately 900 metres around the installation barge will be established. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights and radar reflectors will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the installation barge.
The hours of work will be round-the-clock. Diving operations will be carried out from time to time during the hours of work.
Vessels engaged in the operations will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.
Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution and keep clear of the works area at slow speed, bearing in mind there are divers working in the works 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.180/2020
Port dues to rise
Tuesday, December 22, 2020, Basra Oil Terminal, Iraq
The Iraqi Port Authority (IPA) will increase port dues for all vessels calling at Basra Oil Terminal from 1 January 2021 as follows:
GRT above 50,000
Jetty
- Present Tariff: GRT x IQD 1900
- New Tariff: GRT x IQD 2000
SPM - Present Tariff: GRT x IQD 1900
- New Tariff: GRT x IQD 2100
VHF Cable Fee
Jetty
- Present Tariff: IQD 90,000
- New Tariff: IQD 100,000
SPM - Present Tariff: IQD 90,000
- New Tariff: IQD 100,000
All vessels berthing at Jetty & SPM from 1 January 2021 will have to pay port dues as per new tariff.
For further details and information about operations in Iraq, contact GAC Iraq at iraq@gac.com
Increase of port costs
Tuesday, December 22, 2020, Novorossiysk, Russia
The Federal Authorities Rosmorport have announced that, as of 1 January 2020, the following port costs will be increased:
Novorossiysk port (tankers):
- Pilotage dues – 0.48 per operation (up from 0.47)
- Pilotage dues – 0.15 per mile (up from 0.14)
- Launch hire for the pilot at Novorossiysk – RUR 12,400 per one trip (up from 12,000)
- Launch hire for the pilot at CPC terminal – RUR 25,800 per trip (up from 25,000)
- Safety Transport dues – 0.63 against 0.61
For information about operations in Russia, contact GAC Russia at russia@gac.com
Tug operator to stay in port
Tuesday, December 22, 2020, Port Jackson, Australia
Tug operator Svitzer Australia yesterday (21 December) confirmed that it will not be exiting Port Jackson and will continue to provide towage services in the port.
The decision is the result of a period of extensive consultation in which management, employees and the unions worked collaboratively to come up with a solution that enables Svitzer to continue operating in Port Jackson.
There will, however, be redundancies as a new roster is introduced to address the significant financial losses Svitzer was incurring at the port.
For information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
Berth decommissioned
Tuesday, December 22, 2020, Mumbai, India
The Dock Master at Jawahar Dweep – Mumbai has advised that No.2 JD Berth will not be available for shipping movements for ten days from today (22 December) until 31 December, due to work to recondition existing fire-fighting systems.
For information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
Travel restrictions: United Kingdom/South Africa
Tuesday, December 22, 2020, Mauritius
The Principal Public Health & Food Safety Inspector of Mauritius has advised that any vessel planning to call at Port Louis harbour with crew member with a travel history to/from the United Kingdom and South Africa within the last fifteen (15) days will not be allowed to enter or transit.
(For information about operations in Mauritius, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at hub.ae@gac.com)
Source: Celero Shipping, Mauritius – GAC agent
Offshore wind workers crewing update
Tuesday, December 22, 2020, United Kingdom
The Offshore Wind Immigration construction workers concession which allows ILO108 seafarers and now Visa Free nationals to work within the UK 12nm border has been further extended. It will now currently end at 23:59 on 30 June 2021.
Crew working on these wind projects will need to obtain the relevant visa or permit to work after 30th June 2021 if the concession is not renewed past this date.
For further information and guidance please check out the Home Office December 2020 update at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/946763/offshore-wind-farm-workers-immigration-concession-dec-2020.pdf
For information about operations in the United Kingdom, contact GAC UK at uk@gac.com
Borders closed for a week
Tuesday, December 22, 2020, Oman
Oman has shut its land, air and sea borders from today, 22 December. The border closure is in effect for one week, and is subject to extension.
The decision was reached by the Supreme Committee in Oman came after examining what has been announced by the authorities in a number of countries about the emergence of a new strain of the Coronavirus.
Further, the Civil Aviation Authority has announced the temporary suspension of all international flights for passengers travelling to/from the Sultanate from today until 29 December. Cargo flights are exempted from this decision.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Oman, contact GAC Oman at oman@gac.com
Curfew and quarantine for arrivals from Europe & Middle East
Tuesday, December 22, 2020, Maharashtra State, India
The Maharashtra state government has imposed a 11pm-6am night curfew in Maharashtra for the next 15 days from tonight (22 December). It has also imposed a compulsory 14-day institutional quarantine for those returning to the state from Europe and the Middle East. Returnees from other countries will have to be home quarantined.
This applies to the following European countries: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
Middle East includes 18 countries: Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Masks will continue to be mandatory in the state for the next six months.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
Suspension of UK-India flights
Tuesday, December 22, 2020, India
All flights connecting the UK and India will remain suspended from tomorrow (23 December) until 31 December, the country’s Civil Aviation Ministry has announced. The suspension will start after 23.59 hours tonight. Flights from India to the UK will also be temporarily suspended for the same period.
Passengers arriving from UK in all transit flights, those which have taken off or flights which reach India before 23.59 hours tonight should be subject to mandatory RT-PCR test on arrival.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
Terminal re-opened
Tuesday, December 22, 2020, Buckeye Bahamas Hub, Bahamas
At 08:00 hours local time today (22 December), the port condition of Buckeye Bahamas Hub Terminal was upgraded from Closed to Open.
(For information about operations in the Bahamas, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com)
Source: Elnet Maritime – GAC agent
